The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-30
The Scupper NODg Letters-FrOm the Ma
tiOnal Capita1-An Inter view with
General Grant
1Y MARK TWAIN.
wAsr1NaroN, Thursday. nov. 2s.

WAsHINGToN, Thursday. Nov. 2S-l2 NJ
have not observed the announcement by
any of the specials" of my arrival in this poll
tical metropolis (Which TO my mind is rather q
drink -opolis) as your occasional correspondent.
OF course 1 do not employ occasional In the
Forney sense, which is daily, and not untre-
quently tt0ice a day. but in the regular diction'
Rry sense of now and then. But though un-
heralded, like many greater men, I did arrive on
time and on the train early Wednesday morn
ing last, which fact in itself would be neither
here nor there, were 1t not for what is to follow
Having read the papers pretty generally, con.
Bidering my limited opportunities among your
exchanges, of course had learned enough to
know that the first duty of any Washington
correspondent, of whatever grade or rank, is
to ascertain the views of the General of our
armies on political matters. 1t was rather
early in the morning, it is true, for formal
call but business is ever before pleasure. And
as the train whirled into the Baltimore depot
at o'clock, / made ready for my descent upon
the General. The Douglas row, where he re-
sides, is, as you know, nearly directly north Of
the depot and the Capitol, cornering upon New
Jersey avenue.
Fastening out of the depot started on a fast
walk with satchel in hand, disguised in
patent paper shirt-bosom and cuffs, directly
towards the Generals house. which suppose
1 ought to call mansion. What was my sur
prise TO discover six other correspondent-look-
ing individuals like myself, bound In the same
direction, They walked fast, but 1 walked
faster It was evident that we tnstinctively
understood each other. Directly we all broke
into q run, and being somewhat given to rum
ming am free to say that your correspondent
fairly dlstanced the others and made the first
and only quarter in very fair time. The man
servant stood on the steps with broom in hand.
was the first to break the silence before the
others were in hearing, and hurriedly asked
for General Grant. HE is just waking him.
SELF" was the reply, with his second cigar
and by looking to see what the Chronicle
found out about him yesterday" Tell
him." said 1, assuming Senatorial
pect, "that a gentleman, who has always
been a friend Of his and of his fathers first
cousin, desires to see him on very special bust
ness" Tne major domo, suppose ne was, in
stantly disappeared, after showing me into
private room on the left, which was guarded by
captured at DoneIsOn l chuokled to myself at
hearing, soon after, the gentlemen, who had
meanwhile arrived, ushered into larger room
together in front. 1t seemed a full half hour,
and IL doubtless was that long, before the Gene
raj appeared. He was clad in full uniform, and
had buekled on his last sword from the sant
tary fairs, to do honor to the occasion. AS he
entered l arose and introduced myself as Hon.
Scupper Nong late OF New York, presenting
MY 70 ormayy and tooe 4 9
saying not word. thought he did not seem
very happy, nor as cordial as an old friend
could have wished. But attributed 10 to the
early hour and the possible lack OF his morning
coffee After Rancing at my papers, he sat
uoWn and looked at me as III 10 say, "Well,
Mnht oo You Want?" though he actually said
nOtnlhg ,Whereupon l spoke. at is a fine
morning" said I. He merely glanced out of the
WINDOW, out sat pensiVely silent He did NOT
appear 70 % IN his usual communicative mood
and ieiI my ardor rather dampened Think.
my t sro S,Uitest @ way TO be the quickest after
putting on my most winning ana frSteTna5I 5 'Ho ~
preston, came sideways 10 the noint Hflar
Grant" said J, "the Whole countrv indaed
may say the world, is very anxis,,Ss ~ iSn =
Just what you think on tue reconstruc ~ 90 SNOW NOV,
tion and on politics generally, The noIidd1 duoS 20
breathlessly waiting 10 hear you sneak tSor5 20
/ am a friend of yours / have no peraopaI
ends in view. / have always been "a friand
perfect confidence. Let me humbly Chere
laid my hand on my paper dicky in.
adVeTtently solling and displacing it)-let me
humbly suggest that you say something to re-
men in general aud OF myself in particular.
Just say one word, single word, Do you sus-
tain the President or do you stand by Com
gresS9v / thought 1t was time for me to pause
for a reply He twitcbed nerVously in his
chair for q minute, pushed his hands down
deem into his pock cts, and looked as If he was
absorbed in thought. After sitting Few
moments he looked up at his desk sun un-
opened before him, and said "HaVe you seen
the Jeff. Davis pOny2 / captured IL at Vleks'
full in the face, said, General Grant, you
needn't think TO put off an old friend, who SIM
eerelV desires your welfare, win talking morse
i know nothing OF horses. have only my
co lntry (rolling my eyes lovingly TO an Ameri-
can flag which hung over Jne mantel) my dear
country In view-I may say love IL would
have willingly died for tt, only had a small
Ontract for furnishing blankets In the army