The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-06-03
PERSONAL HISTORY 0E GENERAL
GRANT,

Albert D. Richardson, the well-known au
thor and journalist, will issue his d" Life o
General Grant On the first Of the present
month. The following extract is from ad
vance sheets of his work:
| Some still see in him only the darling Of
| fortune-energetic mediocrity, which has
| blundered into success. l think such are
misled by two of his peculiar qualities
l. His unimag inativeness. When he has
nothing to say he says nothing. In private
he fills no interstices of conversation by re-
marks upon the weather, or inquiries after
the babies of his visitor. In public he can
make no speeches simply of form or COM
pliment and since the world cared to hear
his opinions on affairs, his official position
has never allowed him to speak freely. But
in public or private, when he has anything
to utter by tongue or pen, he says it with
extreme rapidly and clearness, in terse,
marrowy, idiomatic English. Even then
he clothes his thoughts in no flowers of
rhetoric, but presents them in the lainest,
homeliest words. Napoleon's memorable
savings are all OF this order: /" From these
SUBMITS forty centuries look down upon"
g We will carry our victorious eagles beyond
the pillars of Hercules" Grants are the
exact antipodes " | have no terms but I'M
move Immediately upon your works" 81
shall fight it ont on this line if it takes all
Summer" 81 found the army like baulky
horse" Said the dramatic Corsican after
AustCrli'z " Soldiers, | am satisfied with
you. You have decorated your eagles with
immortal glory" Said the matter-of-fact
American to his shouting men after Port
Gibson "Soldiers, | thank you. This is
all can say. You have done a good days
work to-day, but you must do a better one
tomorrow. No shining rhetoric, no
poetic gushes; only the simple un2dorned |
act.
Scott was nicknamed by his enemies Fuss
ma Feathers" Grant has less fuss and
ever feathers than any other public man of
lis day. He believes with the Chinese pro-
'erb that That which is u.s." He accepts
hing just as he finds them, not troubling
himself about the" Eternal Verities," but
loing promptly, thoroughly, and subordin-
tely the duty which lies right before him,
however prosaic and disagrecable. He acts
lis convictions instead Of talking them.
He is utterly genuine and guile
ess. He still preserves in his high estate
he sweetness and simplicity Of his country
oyhood. Altogether free from cant, his
Ups, obeying the teachings Of his mother,
ave uttered no oath, been soiled BY no
oarseness. He is miracle of serenity and
elf-pOi>e. During the terriers OF Belmont,
hen all aide, with pallid cheeks, cried,
Why, General. we are surrounded ~ there
'as perceptible change in his pleasant
ace or calm voice as he answered, " Then
e will cut our way out" Three years
,ter, as he read Lees dispatch proposing
lie surrender OF the army Of Northern Viz ,
mia. he was equally unmoved : no elation
lone in his face, or sounded in the ordinary
ne in which he asked, Well, General
awlins, how do you think that will do =
Tried by both extremes of fortune, and I
ever disturbed by either" he remains a.
mp!e and unagect"d to-day as in his years o.
poverty and obscurity.