The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1868-11-26

looking father OF Mrs. Grant, Is also OF tne
family and so closely allied to the private
matters of the General are the members of
his staff, that Coils. Badeau and Cofustoek
may be denominated part of Grants
household. Nothing more clearly eyinces
the modest and undemonstrative character
of Gen Grant than what he said to a
gentleman recently /: ~ stay here" said
he, ''because 1 like the place and my good
neighbors, and because l want quiet. L
did think could spend some time at the
watering places but, on second athought
/ came to the conclusion that stay at
Saratoga or Long Branch would be a kind
of martyrdom that not did care to endure"
MRS. JULIA GRANT.
1t was not necessary for me to enjoy the
spirited affability, the exquisite conversa-
tional powers of Mrs. Grant, in order to
learn that Ulysses Grant has a well-de-
teloped domestic nature that his love Of
home and of family is of the purest, high
est order; that his home relations are
refreshingly sweet and beautiful. A visit
or two at his freside will disclose these
facts, and they are seen, too, not in the
grand dana of ''family exhibition" with
the astonishing reality behind the curtain, }
but in those small, intimate, and familiar
matters which, combined, form the de-
lightful superstructure of a happy home.
Gen. Grant takes great delight in his
children, particularly the youngest-the
family pet-Master Jessie. He is, indeed,
dear, bright boy, and worthy any fathers
affection but Grant makes him a COM
panion, and is both father and friend
to the young scion. Speaking of the COM
ing cares and responsibilities of the Exec
utive mansion, and of the old-time joys
when they lived in rented brick cottage
on the towering side in West Galena, Mrs.
Grant said to me:
''Those were the happiest days of my
life We had a sweet little home, with
every convenience and comfort the yard
was large; you saw it. Well, it doesn't
look half so lovely now as then the grass
grew luxuriantly, and bright flowers and
fresh trees made it little paradise In
the evening, Mr.. Grant would come home
and [ would have the children all dressed
and myself in an evening robe, and we
"Oro just ao happy ars nc ooC.d wish. Or
ten we would ride out with the children,
and l did really love to keep house then"
AS she spoke these words, her eyes
sparkled, and they were uttered with an
earnestness which plainly indicated their
depth of meaning, She spoke of pub
lished statement in Paris journal, allie
ging that Grants military discipline was
SO severe that he even practised the most
painful exhibition of it in his family. and
related, as an instance, certain infiction
on son, which was made severer by his
mother for some trivial offense Mrs.
Grant said it was wholly unfounded, and
''the children are never punished-never.
by either of us we are extremely lenient
to them, and try to conquer and rule by
love. If General Grant determined on
furnishing them, L know | should protest" !"
And all that [ saw of Jessie and his older
sister goes to confirm my opinion that the
domestic peace is never disturbed. and
that few indeed are the Family lars"
which interfere with the marital lows of
Ulysses and Julia Grant.
need not desi signate the multiplied in
stances where pride, vice, and stupidity
have prevailed in the White House-in
Its feminine management Now that a
quiet man OF the people is to assume the
Presidential office, the inquiry turns nat
urally to the qualities Mrs Grant will
bring into the honorable position she will
soon be called ON to fill. In a general
way, it might be said that she is in all
respects lady that she is true woman,
a good wife, fond mother, and that the
fashionable world need feel no apprehen-
sion that so long as she presides over the
Presidential Mansion, its conduction will
not be of a character to crafty and charm
the most scrupulous admirer and most fas-
tidious critic of what is fit and proper in
that high place.
During my sojourn in Galena, I have
had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Grant
IN her parlor on several occasions. Tho
L had met her at the grand, crowded re-
ceptions In Washington, | never before
converSed with her, and l an, upon ac-
quaintance, charmed with her fascinating
manners. She is the fortunate possessor
of delightful colloquial powers, vivacious,
discriminating, sympathetic, and generous,
and | have met no lady of late years with
a broader comprehensiveness of duty as a
mother and woman. She discussed the
great requirements of the White House in
spirit of perfect understanding I am
satisfied there is no lady in the land more
capable of lending to the Executive Man
sion its due charm, or of conducting it
with greater good sense. In anticipation
of the responsibilities coming upon her,
she seems to have made the subject one of
considerate reflection, and while she will
scrupulously shun the scylla of tinsel,
pride, and hautev, she will, with equal
watchfulness, guard against the charybdis
of aristocratic retirement and seclusion.-
Frank, affable, amiable, and true, lover
of friends and of cultivated society, with
most excellent tastes and a sentient
conception of the duties and proprieties of
IN q n Il -.