National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-09-08

commanders took pace uhucT H''
apple tree, which has consequently
been crowned with historic associa'
tons. This is false. The fact is,
that, in the morning Of the 9th of
April, Gen. Leee, with single mem
her of his staff. was resting under
an apple tree, when Col. BabcOck.
Of Gen. Grants staff, rode up under
flag of truce, saying that If Gen.
Lee remained where he was, Gen.
Grant would come to him by the
road the latter was then pursuing.
This was the only interview under
or near the apple tree; and it may
be mentioned here, that the follow
ing day Coz. Marshall, who attended
Gen. Lee on the occasion, was sur
priscd to find Federal soldiers hack
ing at the tree, and was amused at
their idea of obtaining from it me
,nentoes of the surrender. Obtain
ing news of Grants approach, Gen.
Lee at once ordered Col. Marshall
to find fit and convenient house
for the interview. Col. Marshall
applied to the first citizen he met,
Mr.. Wilmer Mclean, and was di'
rected to u house vacant and dis
mantled. He refused to use it,
and Mr.. Mclean then offered to
conduct him and the General to his
own residence, IA comfortable frame
house, with long pOrtico aud con.
venient "sitting room," furnished
after the bare style OF the times.
The house was about half II mile
distant from Gen. Lees camp. The
Confederate commander was attend.
ed only by one of his aids, Col. Mar
shall, youthful, boyish looking
scion of the old anu illustrious Mar
shall family of Virginia, who had
been the constant companion of
Gen. Lee in all his campaigns. and,
as his private secretary, had done
good literary service in the prepare.
ton of reports of battles, &c, which
are now historical. With Grant
there were several of his staff Off
GERS, and IA number of Federal gen
erals, including Ord and Sheridan,
entered the room, and joined in the
slight general con> ersation that took
place there.
The interview opened without the
least ceremony. The story has been
frequently repeated, that Gen. Lee
rendered his sword, and that Gen
Grant returned it with compliment
tary remark. There was no sucl
absurdity. Gen. Lee wore his sword
(which was not his usual habiO;-
and, on the exchange of salutatiOns
Gen. Grant remarked 81 must
apologize, general, for not wearing
my sword it had gone off in my
baggage when | received your note
Gen. Lee bowed, and at once, with.
out further conversation, ASKED that
Gen. Grant would state, in writing
if he preferred it. the terms on
which he would receive the surrcn
der of the army of Northern Nir
GINA. Gen. Grant complied by sit
tin at a table in the room, and
writing with common lead pencil
the note so well remenbered.-Otd
anil Ne,r.
A New York wholesale grocer.
who has become rich in bis business,
lately gave one of his fundamental
rules If action. When he sold a
bill o. goods on credit, it was his
custom to immediately subscribe for
the local paper of his debtor. Sc
long as his customer advertised lib
orally and vigorously he rested, but
soon as he began to contract his adj
vertising space lie took the fact as
evidence that there was trouble
ahead, and invariably went for his
debt. "For," said he, "the maj
who feels too poor to make his bust
ness known, is too poor to do bust
ness" THIS withdrawal of an all
vertisemeut is an evidence of weak
ness that business men are not slow
to observe.
BLITZ OUTDoNE.-This story is
told about Bltz. When the dig
sings in California were paying wei
Signor Blitz visited q gulch, and
before large audience, exhibited
his legerdemain. During the per
Torrance he took out his handker
chief, threw it into the all, caught
ii again. when he took "A twenty dol
lar piece out of it, asking the boys
if they could do that. Old Pete, ;
"forty niner," who had never chang
ed his mining shirt since he cam,
into the diggings, Immediately wen