Chapter 1

           Aslongagoas1860itwastheproperthingtobebornathome.Atpresent,soIamtold,thehighgodsofmedicinehavedecreedthatthefirstcriesoftheyoungshallbeutteredupontheanaestheticairofahospital,preferablyafashionableone.SoyoungMr.andMrs.RogerButtonwerefiftyyearsaheadofstylewhentheydecided,onedayinthesummerof1860,thattheirfirstbabyshouldbeborninahospital.WhetherthisanachronismhadanybearingupontheastonishinghistoryIamabouttosetdownwillneverbeknown.

           Ishalltellyouwhatoccurred,andletyoujudgeforyourself.

           TheRogerButtonsheldanenviableposition,bothsocialandfinancial,inante-bellumBaltimore.TheywererelatedtotheThisFamilyandtheThatFamily,which,aseverySouthernerknew,entitledthemtomembershipinthatenormouspeeragewhichlargelypopulatedtheConfederacy.Thiswastheirfirstexperiencewiththecharmingoldcustomofhavingbabies—Mr.Buttonwasnaturallynervous.HehopeditwouldbeaboysothathecouldbesenttoYaleCollegeinConnecticut,atwhichinstitutionMr.Buttonhimselfhadbeenknownforfouryearsbythesomewhatobviousnicknameof"Cuff."

           OntheSeptembermorningconsecratedtotheenormouseventhearosenervouslyatsixo’clockdressedhimself,adjustedanimpeccablestock,andhurriedforththroughthestreetsofBaltimoretothehospital,todeterminewhetherthedarknessofthenighthadborneinnewlifeuponitsbosom.

           WhenhewasapproximatelyahundredyardsfromtheMarylandPrivateHospitalforLadiesandGentlemenhesawDoctorKeene,thefamilyphysician,descendingthefrontsteps,rubbinghishandstogetherwithawashingmovement—asalldoctorsarerequiredtodobytheunwrittenethicsoftheirprofession.