Nebraska advertiser., 1869-08-05

Amusing Scene Between General fSrnnt
and a C1sh0lle Female, "Mimber iv the
Dlsaecraey.
The President, Mrs. Grant and little
daughter arrived in this city unexpec-
tedly about half-past nine yesterday
morning, by the boat from Long
Branch. The prOprietOrs Of the AstOr
House had been previously instructed
that, as the visit was only one of q
few hours, and made for the purpose
of making necessary purchases here,
the President dessired what little time
he would be in the AstOr House, to be
spared from the intrusion of visitors.
The President, his wife and little
daughter drove from Barclay street
Pier, and, almost unObserved, entered
and very shortly left, the AstOr House
by the Barclay street entrance. They
had arrived and gone on their shop
ping expedition that hrs. Grant had
made extensive purchases before the
small gathering of uninterested look
ing persons, (whO, having no better
way of amusing themselves, had
assembled themselves in the hall Of
the AstOF House TO look at the Presi-
dent, were aware of his arrival. Gen.
Grant accompanied his wife and
daughter TO the various stores to which
they went. The greater part of the
time was spent by them at Stewards,
where they bought a quantity of
goods more remarkable for their vari-
ETY. than cOstliness. They had finish
ed their shopping and returned to the
AstOr House by 3 3P. NJ. They entered
as before, quietly and unObserved,
and partOok of a slight lunch, and
again leaving the hotel nOislessly,
arrived at Barclay street pier to take
the steamer for Long Branch. Wheth-
er it was that the visit did not interest
the public. or that fact of their visit
was not generally known, or, again,
that the people were willing to leave
the President TO himself as much as he
could desire, very few of them went
to the pier to get glimpse of him
the persons there consisting mainly of
passengers of the boats for Long
Branch or Newark, and of labOrers
who work on the wharf. There were
no manifestations of any kind, no
rush to get nearer view Os the Cen
eral, no syeOphantic gathering of the
wOrshippers at the shrine Of office.
The President stood for some time
on the lower deck, and there shook
hands with several who came forward
the only prOminente eitizenRmOngthem
being Peter Cooper. While the Pres
ident was standing there a ludierOus
scene was enacted. An old Irish wO-
man well known on the pier went up
to the President, shook hands with
him and taking from her orange bas-
two as good oranges as she could find
among the far from being tempting
thrust them into the Presi-
dents hand, and insisted on his ac-
eepting them. Theaet caused cOnsid-
erable merriment among the by
but General Grant did not
the joke. He looked first
at the oranges which had seen better
days, and then with a bewildered ex.
pression at the genial looking VOluble
old woman, and after a little time,
that she meant these
treasures from her humble store as a
present to him, put them int his
pocket He then ascended to the up
per deck and sat down beside his wife
and daughter. The old Irish woman
was enthusiastic over the little event
in which she had been prominent
figure, and amid the laughter of the
crowd cried Outin the Musha
but he's q very fOiLe looking gentle
man intirely. here yees are, four
beautiful oranges for tin eints," This
was followed by "Shure / shook hands
with the President, so I did, on
which a wag in the crowd cried out
IA nice thing for Democrat like you
10 shake hands with q Republican
ike him." This blow at her devotion
10 prineipleseemed to stagger her for J
but recovering her presence
Of mind she retorted, 9Devil a bit of
Black Republican blood in his body - !
The crowd laughed loudly, and She
woman evidently feeling that she had /
not yet redeemed herself in the eyes |
)f the great "DimOcracy," exclaimed,
'Shure Andy Johnson was a rale |
pure DmiOcrat intirely! Arrah, bu the |
vas the Jewel iv man II
At half-past four the steamer left |
he pier for Long Branch, General
Grant, with his wife and child, being /
eated among the passengers on the
upper deck, no demonstrations being /
made by the small group of persons |
Who watched the departure.