Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-02-22
President Grant.

Grace Greenwood, who has been writing
some exceedingly pleasant letters from Wash
ngton to the Tribune, has the following on
President Grant. 1t is the more valuable as
we happen to know, from the fact that the
writer's estimate is made up not from one or
two interviews, but after meeting the Presi-
dent many times, and with the best opportun-
tiles for observation
1t is surprising to observe how few marks Of
wearuess or heavy care the face Of President
Grant presents, after more than year of bur-
densome official responsibility and worriment,
Of, to him, unprecedented confinement aud lab
or. Still freshlooking, comfortable, quite
self possessed, strong Of will and of nerve is
he, man who keeps his own counsel, amid a
multitude of counselors," who can keep silent
amid the eternal blathering," interviewing
aud inquisiton of the talkingest and askingest
Capital in the world. Yet no man is pleasant
er, kinder, or gentler in private life than Pres
/ ident Grant. | think it ought to be known,
that the domestic life of the President of the
United States is singularly happy and beautiful
IA noble example for American homes.
have this from the best authority-fro friends
who have Of late been guests at the White
House, and who, day after day, have been
witnesses of the harmony and loving kindness
of its inmates, uuspoiled by prosperity, fiat
terry, fame, and power. That White House
stands like lighthouse, surged about by sea
of hungry office seeking and more hungry cur
iosty--but what privacy they can secure is
doubly sweet to that merry and affectionate
family circle, who find nothing better in their
exalted position, in state dinners, balls, and
reception, than the dear old love that united
them in their home on the Western prairies,
and which they wisely brought along with
them, as their chief household god. No Que
can deny to the President and his wife rare
propriety and evenness Of manner, alike with
out touch Of arrogance or superciliousness.
Under their maryelously changed condition OF
life, remain yet the real man and the real
woman maryelousy unchanged. This is diff.
cult topic to treat of just here, where genuine
old-fashioned hero-worship gives way to syco.
phantic subserviency or blind party animosity
and where honest, respectful loyalty toward
rulers and magistrates, and all having auth.
ority over us is "an exploded idea"
Though so quiet and undemonstrative
President Grants manner is not cold.--
Though somewhat set and quite reticent in
expression, his face is neither hard nor for
bidding. Though his eyes Of grayish blue cer-
tainly do not radate geniality and good fell
lowship, have always seen in them a still
and steady friendliness, impartial, almost un-
discriminating, but singularly uuiorgetlal.
His look into your eyes on first meeting, is
clear, direct but not piercing. He "makes
no deep scrutiny" into your character, but
7 you feel that he reads you we'll, as far as he
goes, and you may be sure he will know you
the next time. His words are few, as has
been occasionally remarked, and his address
simplicity itself Some one once called II a
courageous simplicity" | don't think the
term suited to him il implies too much con-
sciousness Franklin's appearance at tho
Court of Versailles was courageous simpli-
| city," Jefersons riding on horseback from