Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-05-17
g. LANCASTER, WISCONSIN, TUESDAY, MAY IT, 1870
A Pen Picture of the President.
BY GRACE GREENWOOD.


BY GRACE GREENWOOD.
Though so quiet and undemonstra-
tive, President Grants manner is not
cold. Though somewhat set and
quite reticent in expression, his face
is neither hard nor forbidding.-
Though his eyes Of greyish blue GER
tainly do not radiate geniality and
good fellowship, | have always seen
in them still and steady friendlness
impartial, almost undiscriminating,
but singularly unforgetful. His look
into your eyes on first meeting is
clear, direct but not piercing. He
"mskes no deep scrutiny" into your
character, but you feel that he reads
you well, &c far as he goes, and you
may DO sure he will know you the
next time. His words are few, as
he has occasionally remarked, and
his address simplicity itself. Some
one once called it q courageous
simplicity" don't think the term
suited to him; it implies too much
consciousness. Franklin's appearance
at the Court of Versailles was "cour-
ageous simplicity" Jefferon's rid
ing on horseback from the White
House TO the Capitol was dramatic
simplicity. But Grant gives no
thought to effect-makes no parade
OF not making parade. In walk
ing be carries his head-that won
derIully compact, evenly modelled
head slightly forward ; and he has
in public places an absent yet acuui-
escent air, as Of one being taken
somewhere rather than going of his
own v0lition-- which is usually the
the case as he 10 the most obliging
informal and nnmagesterial of Chief
Magistrates. To nae there is some
thing strange in the ordinary pass
witty Of such q will as his. He seems
not only modest, but . diffident
man. Great heroes before him have
been so. This diffidence may often
be taken for indifference and insen-
sibility. | think | have seen the
sure marks of il in bis intercourse
with children, for whom he really
has the tondnoss characteristic of
Mr.. Linccin H. has no small-talk
for small interviewera but ne il not
above listening 20 them, and | have
noticed that they never account him
hard or cold. They have, perhaps,
the instinct to understand and the
grace TO interpret that riddle for
statesmen, reporters and fine ladies
the face of President Grant.
A few evenings ago, as little
party of us assembled to witness
some private theatricals of the SIM
plest and most Juvenile sort, at the
house of one Of the Cabinet Minis
ters, the family ffom the White House
called, quite Unexpectedly. On be-
ing told what was on the tapis, the
President expressed desire TO see
the performance, eff the children
would not object" OF course thoy
did not though Guaking in their bus
kins, but did their best before their
august audience, and were rewarded
byPresidential laughter and applause.
Watching our President as he sat
smiling kindly al that little comedy,
that bit Of childish mimic-hte, it
seemed almost impossible to realize
that he was indeed that great Captain
of Captains, who, few short years
ago, was the central figure in a
mighty drama Of battle, whose stage
was 6 continent, and whose audience
was the world. i think we ought to
strive to realize shis more it seems
to me there Is TOP much petty csvil
at this mans .non-observance of
some Of the small conventionalities
which we call "the etiquette of the
position" too many newspaper plat
itudes that be enjoys his cigar, that
he loves horses (bless him for that,
that he docs lot make speeches on all
trivial occasions bless him for that,
too }, ia short, that he does not "do
the department" of his place, ac-
cording to the aristocratic democratic
theories, that he is not the President
OF precedent.
ave had eyes and chose him
Let us remember that God gives to
ohe soul 9 genius to think and to
aspire TO another to do and to be.
There is the inspired prophet brain,
which says, ~ soe-I believe" and
there is the imperial, compulsive
brain, which says, 81 AMI will !"
Who shall say which is the greater 2
Each by q divine law, ancient as
time, gravitates to its period and
place. Because the night Of our
tribulation is past, do not let us cease
to thank God for the strong hand
that upheld and guided Ms through
its heaviest darkness +; above all, let
US not quarrel with that hand, If it
takes not kindly to Paris kids, or il
the grip it learned upon the sword
hilt sometimes makes slippery, self
q L