The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-09-14
Gen. Grant standing ON his Head.

Gen. Grant standing on his Head.
Years ago, long before any railroad had
crossed the Alleghanies, a line Of eight stage
coaches started from Cumberland one morn
ing, taking the National Road West The
Grst coach carried the mail, with a few pas
pengers, and was drawn by four quick.step
ping, bobtailed grays, that had been long
time on tho road, and knew the route quite
as well as the driver. This team was driven
by a harum scnrum young fellow, who was
very proud of his horses and their excellent
training, and fond Of attracting attention TO
their good points. On the morning referred
10, the train of coaches had not gone many
miles before this youth, for the purpose, as
he expressed it, of aggravating" the
drivers who were following him, proceeded
10 indulge in some extraordinary dcmonstra-
tons. While his team was dashing away at
q sharp trot he fastened the lines, and,
mounting the roof Of the coach with his
back turned TO his horses, commenced
lively wardance, finishing his performance
by standing on his head, and derisively
kicking his heels in the mir.
The drivers following this eccentric youth,
considering these strange proceedings as a
personal atfront, became highly indignant;
while their outside passengers, affrighted Mt
the young mans recklessness, were unspar-
Ing in their denuncations of such criminal
disregard of the safety of passengers. As a
natural consequence, formal complaints werc
laid before tho projectors Of the stage line,
md the delinquent was called upon to nm
swer to the charges preferred against him.
Of course, he could not deny the facts; bat
he pleaded in excuse that he had run no risk
Of accident as tie horses were so we'll train
ed that they would drive themse selves"
"If the horses will drive themselves"
said the propretors, 4" there is certainly no
need of our paying you for driving them =
and forthwith they gave the young man q
summary discharge. But they put careful
and skilful driver in his place, well knowing
that the team always required tho eUiding
hand of a competent reinsman.
Gen. GRANT seems to think that the
Government of the United States lie a team
porters appear to be of the same opinion.
Indeed, 80 prominent an individual as Sena-
tor HARLAN, in letter apologizing for the
shortc llnings Of the present Administration,
has argued substantially that tie organiza-
ton of'our Government is so simple and com.
plete that it does not require a person of my
great talent TO fill the position OF President,
and that therefore Gen. GRANT will answer
the purposc as well as man Of real ability.
And SO Gen. GRANT, even Al a time when
every hour is fraught with events of the
greatest moment, feels himself free to desert
the seat Of government, and go junketine
about the country wherever he can find free
passes and free quarters; 20 spend his time
at horse races, in fishing excursions, or in
standing on his head, if he sees fit; neglect
Ing his duties setting bad example, and an
effectual one, to his subordinates, and quite
as indifferent to tue responsibilities of bis
station or the requirements of propriety n
the young stage driver who came to gric
through his untimely gymnastics on the
National Road.
But the sorely taxed people of tho United
States are scarcely in the Lumor to pay fol
driving team which will drive itself
Neither are they of the belief that it was evel
intended that tho President should be til,
fifth wheel to a coach And when Gen
GRANTS present term Of Office expires, hi:
Disguised fellow couutryInen VIII be likely :
put the rcins Of government in the hands o
some one who not only posses ~ tho rrqui
site SIX II to drive the oh of state, bu
MISC the honesty to devote Lis bost ex rtioni
perform.