, 1860-07-14

CI1rTos sr4isGs July j, is5o
Passing the day here. l Was glad to accept
the Offer by resident Of the village of M iin.
Mr. Granger many years ago married thewidow
Of Dr.. Douglas, Of Brandon, Vt., md the mo-
ther Of Stephen A. Douglas, the Democratic
candidate for the Presidency.
The residence Of the venerable but most
agreeable couple lies about two miles south Of
the Clifton Springs Hotel OF fthemany clegalt
farm houses of Ontario county, that Of Mr.:
Granger will rank among the first. It is Of
wood, three stories, and covers considerable
ground. Its snowy Hhiteuess, with Venetian
blinds and latticed doors, the well-cared-for
walks approaching and surr ~undiuE it, hemmed
in by shrubbery aud plants, and ut-houses, at
once neat and ample, and the broad fields
stretching to the north and south, mark the
tpot az the home Of the thrifty and contented
farmer. 1t is just such picture Of rural quiet
and elegance that poets hare celebrated in
verse; that drauatists have painted to my lady
love in the play, aud deuizens Of cities envy so
often ~ they pnss, and thiLk Of the inmates as
those who have nothing left to sigh for:
-%Eka1 Is the world to them.
il. ponap, its plkasutts, and It's nonA nse ALL"
The fumily consists Of Sir. and Mrs. Granger,
the son, julius n. Granger, E'q., and his wife.
An unusuai relationship exists between the
older aud the younger married couples. The
wife, the latter being the only sistar Of Stephen
i. Douglns. The younger hr. Granger was ab-
sent ut tue time OF my visit. lie WAS daily ex-
pected here with Mr. Douglas himself.
The ncatoess and elegance Of the residence
outside, and the grounds. are we'll reflected by
the taste and order which prevail within. Tie
duy was dump and co1d, witch made the cheer
Quoted us the more pleasant. Among the wall
adornmenta, - fit though few" WIS not sur
p1ised to find very elegant steel Plate eugrav-
ing Of the "Llt.le Giant"
The first Of the household to meet us, was
tue younger Mrs. Granger. She is q lady Of
some forty years. accomplished, and Of intel!i.
gent and agreeable discourse. It was apparent
that ehe had just pride aud interest in the
name and fame Of her distinguished brother.
In the course OF the conversation she remarked
that the family had Of late received many let
ters inqurinS whether this or that fact stated
Of Mr. Douglas early history was true: if, in-
deed, hts mother was SO rs1y poor; md if young
/ for bis board, ETC. and she said many anec-
dotes were related Of her brothers youthful
| days, which she knew not to be true. The cub.
| met maker story had this for its foundation
and no more: Mrs. Douglas, the mother, had
| both the means ind inclination to give Stephen
| thorough education, and TO that end kept him
at achooi. The boy tired of this, importuned
paTtiality for cabinet-makiug. To "work in
wood" wns at tia: time the only ambition that
be knew or felt. Mrs. D. refused repeatedly,
and consented at last, with the thought that tbs
| way to cure the boys liking for a trade-for
which he was physically unit. being weak and
foresight was not at fault. Three mor1hs' an
premiership in the shop sufdced. at the end
| Of that time be returned to his mother, saE inc
the work was too hard for him, and that, with
| her consent, he would resume the Bcho1! and
| remain there Us long as she desired This he
did; ard when the widow Douglas became Mrs
| Granger and removed to Ontario couty, Stephen
| was sent to the Canaudaigua Academy-at1 ex.
| cellens inAtitution-as boarding student, and
remained there until fit to enter Law office
| lie remained "reading law" at Canandaiguu
as long as he could restrain his impotence tc
strike out and " SET up for himself" Ambition
far more than necessity, led him to push on tc
by too much study, and q constitution which nj
that time appeared feeble, also had much 70 dc
| with his venture.
| That Mr. Douglas when young was selfrelian
and quite disposed to do tor himself rather thar
hare others do for him, would seem to be true
That his seft. reliance was from choice, rathel
thad from necessity, is all the more creditablt
to him. But the stories Of his having been al
extremely poor boy, deprived Of all early I'D
rautages in youth, ETC., are simple exaRgeEa
tious34he coinage of electioneering b1ogra
piers and other humbugs.
Mrs. Granger, the mother Of Ar. Dougias, j.
very active, spright!y and intelligent lady
She told me she was over seventy; had guessed
her age from appearance and conversation,
should hare said ut least fifteen years younger
In height she is not over five feet, aud probably
weighs legs than one hundred pounds. She SAT-
she expected Stephen almost every train, bu
that it was altogether uncertain when he woult
come. TIVE Jsars ago" said she, "when W
| made long visit. He never writes when W
may expect him" 1t was quite evident the oil
lady fully understood the circumstances unde
which her son was running for the Presidency
and she seemed to assent to remark Of be-
husband that with the Democratic party diyi
ded be stood no chance. "He has alway tolt
the Presidency, but that lis friends were presa
ing him to do So" (The " did not want" fea
was boys tale to his motherD "1fh he couls
be elected" she continued, one good wonis
come Of it; !; be would stop making speeche
and saye his health" She expressed consider
mosher.like. appeared far mo1e concerned
about that than his political prospects OF on
thing she felt entirely sure-that to bs beate,
would not hurt her son At all; aud speaking o
attacks upon him, she good naturedly rema1ke e
she thought the newspapers had already sal
al the natsn lungs they could say Of htn. B
his running for the Presidency now could max
no difference about that
Mr. Granger, the step: father Of Mr. Douglas
ia tall. erect old gentleman Of eight. years
With the exception Of being little deaf, he
in the enjoyment Of every faculty: He cam
here from Suffisld, Conn, in 1900, md purchase
the'noble farm {then awilderuess), on which b
now lives. lie boasts that in al the change
and revolutions Of politics he has always vote
the democratic ticket. Himself and family o.
joy the estsem and love of al their neighbors,