The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-07-23
TEE PREs1DEnr's WHIT.

General and Mrs. Grant On a Quiet ahOypgmg
Expcditien-ssIse& Mo Have No Intruslou's-
Amusing Scene Between General Grant
and a Ceitsc Female sshIimber Nv the Di.soc-
rncy.o
The President Mrs. Grant ana little daughter ar
rived In this city Unexpectedly about halfpast
yesterday morning, by tho boat from Long Branch.
The proprietors Of tue Astor House had been pre-
viou5y instructed that the visit was only one Of
a few hours ana made for the purpose of making
certain necessary purchases here, the President
desired, during the little time he would 10 in
the Ast0r House. TO be spared from the ,ntru-
sion or visitors. The President. his wife ana
little daughter drove from che Barclay street pier and.
almost unObserved entered, and very shortly after
wards left the Aston House by the Barclay street. en-
trance. They had arrived ana projected on their
shopping expedition 50 quietly that Mrs Grant hat
made extensive purchases OF dry goods before the
small gathering OF unintercsted looking persons
lwho. having no better way Of amusing themselves.
81 ihe Prcsdent were aware OF his arrival General
Grant accompanied his wife and daaga.
S to a me arsar paS Of 60 the wpUa s
spent by them at Stewards where they bought y
quantity Of goods more remarkable for their variety
than cOstliness. Thcy had finished their shopping
and returned 10 the Aston House by Mllee = ~
They entered as before, quietly and almost unob-
served paVtoOk ore slight luncn and again leaving
the hotel noiselessly, arrived at SIX O'CLOCK at tho
barclay street pier to take the steamer for Long
Branch. whether 1t was that the visit did not ~
.erest the public muc or that the fact Of their visit
was not generally known, or, again, that the po0p'o
wore Wiling TO leave tho President as much 70 him.
a glimpse OF him--the persons there consisting
mainly VI the passengers by the p0at3 rQF Long
Branch or Newark and OF s9e iaDot r. VINO wofk ON
kind no rush TO get view OF General Grant.
no syoopnantic gathering Of worshippers ~ too
The President stood for some time on the lower
deck, and there shook hands with several pers0hs
who came forward the only prom me- cis .ss,
dent was standing there ludlcrous scene waa en-
acted. An old irishwOman well known on the
him, aud taking from her orange basket two as
good oranges as she could find among Che fae
from tempting collection, thrust them into the Presi-
dents hand. aud INSISTED on his accepting them The
act caused considerable merrlmenC among the by
ISLANDERS but General Grant dld not seem 70 anpla
ciate the Joke. He looked first at the oranges Which
expression at the genial looking voluble old woman.
meant these treasures from her humble store as
present to him, put them IN his pocket. he then
to the upper deck ana sat down BESIDE NV
thasiastic over the little event in which she had
been prominent figure. and amid the laughter OF
"Musha, but he's rale fone looking g!n-
tleman intireiy-here yees are four ;, oe ss4
shook hands wild The President, so did. ;" on which
| wag In the crowd cried out "A nice thing for y
democrat IKE you to shake hands with republican
like him. This blow at her devotion TO principle
seemed to stagger her for moment. but recoyern.
her presence OF mnd She retorted, "DWil bic OF
black republican blood In his body" The crowd
laughed loudly, and the old woman, evidently feel
ing that she had not yet redeemed herself IN tho oyes
johnson WINS the rale pure dimocrat entirely Arra.
but he was the jewel Nv mann
AT alfpast four the steamer left the pier for Long
branch, General Grant, with his wife aud chld,
being seated among the passengers on the upper
daok, no demonstrations being made BY the slasal
group OF persons who watched the departure.