The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1869-01-23
".yENKINSANIA."

''JENKINSANlA." leca
Through sources, which we are not at present
allowed to divulge, we were yesterday quietly,
secretly and confdentially informed of the ex-
pscted arrival in our city Of our illustrious and
reticent president-elect, General Ulysses s.
Grant, Esq. Accordingly very select and
recherche party, composed of the elite, the very
creme dc Ia creme, in fact, of our most polished
| society-myself among the number-proceeded
to the depot of the Hot Air and Bee Line r. R.,
there to wait the arrival of the 660 p. NJ. train,
which was expected at sharp o'clock. Soon
that we had not long to wait, and at exactly 60
minutes to eight the train with its noble eccu-
pants was at its destination. Very prompt and
reliable road is the II. A. 81 B. I will not here
attempt to give you pen picture Of the renown-
ed hero of Pittsburg Landing, as that has al
ready been done once before. The party arriv-
ed-consisting of the General himself, his
| father-in-law, Gen. Rawlins and the Honorable
Mr.. E. B. Washburne himself On alighting
from the magnificent smoking car of this special
train Note by Agustus] with great Difference,
l would here venture the assertion, that the
great U. S. had been enjoying smoke, a habit,
which I'm informed, he but seldom INDUCES in)
the party Immediately proceeded to the carriages
in waiting. With quick and determined mo-
ton the General placed his right pedal extremi-
ty upon the step,-a foreshawdowing Of his flu
ture policy, that l.. But alas for all human
| n1a 1o%;z u i
ing had by some misohanoe lodged upon the
steps, and only for the timely assistance of
Messrs. Dent. Rawlins, Washburne and myself,
the falling general might have received injurious
injuries. A bad omen, thought 1, of the forego-
ing foreshadswing. As authorized and special
reporter of one of "my two dailies"-bOth papers,
l was invited to accompany our noble guests in
their carriage, al invitation which 1 reluctantly
accepted, but which / shall never, no never for.
| get or regret, as it gave me the splendid oppor-
tunity of observing closely all that TRANSFERRED
within during that memorable ride from the
depot to the hotel, and which have the honor,
my dear public, of presenting to you in this
mornings edition of onr enteyprising sheet In
the carriage, the dtsttngue occupants were ar
ranged as follows BY the side and on the right
Of the General sat Mr.. Washburne, and ois-a-cis
to them sat Messrs. Dent and Rawlins, while be-
tween and in front of the quartette Of ,eibreties
stood I'D. Augustus Quincy Jenkins, your hum
bic servant. AS the carriages moved away, the
general says to his chief of staff, "Rawlins, what
did the Governor of Illinois say to the Governor
of Indiana" The question was replied to by
the aids exhibiting very curious 'Iorcine"
shaped earthen vessel, from which, all sparingly
of its contents partook. Like a true Bohemian,
1 never imbibe, "No, not even when asked"
"Have cigar" says the staff. "No," replies
the general, 81 wish to remain iacQg. while en-
tering our hotel" A hearty laugh from all
Including MYSELF rewarded the hero for his
splendid witticism. Tn sure the general knew
that it was doubly appreciated by me, for my
mirth was quite boisterous Nay, I'm inclined
to think since, that it might have been just in
the least rude. But trust that his excellency
will not view it in that light. The weather,
which had been quite warm and pleasant during
the day, was now several degrees colder, and
Mr.. Dent who is ever watchful of his son-in-
laws health, requested that the driver be in
strueted to stop at 'mode de dpparelists' and an
overcoat procured for the general. / suggested
that suitable one might be selected from the
large stock of Levi, Shyloek u Isenbaum. A
suppressed litter from the three lesser lights and
terrible frown FROM the general, admonished
Inc that somehow or other had put my foot in
it. a silence OF at least half minutes duration
was ut length broken by the driver shouting,
"Erc's II clothes shop aud the entire party
alighting, lin oluding myself We're soon viewing
the latest purchases of Seward, Ripem L. Co.
After trying several, one was ultimately decided
upon, which seemed to fill the bill in the eyes Of
all myself includcd) and was secured for twenty
nine dollars and twenty-six cents. (S29.26.)
Which amount Mr.. Washburne paid, remarking
at the same time something about retrench-
ment and reform. "What u splendid fit" says
Rawlins "How well it becomes you" says Mr..
Dent. "Pretty stiff price," muttcred Mr.. w.
| "But you didn't have to jeo them any" says /.
"D-n the jews" was the exclamation that
burst upon my astonishsd hearing, Us the gem
eral bolted from the carriage, followed by Dent,
Washburne, Rawlins, and Jenkins.
| A short and silent ride sbrou hit us to the
hotel, where elegant and osmmodius rooms had
been engaged, and soon the party myself not
included) were receiving the congratulations Of
tha ra1ack &. T.. cene~ y1ovknuod A tuinnta