Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-01-26


DAyA's OPINION o GRAST-The following
extract from camp ign life Of General Grant,
by Charles A. Oar :. editor Of the New York
Sun, Published in 1868, shows what Mr.. Dlns's
opinion Of The Pr sident was, before he hsd re-
fused to give Mr.. Dana an important and lucrs-
tive Office, for v lich Dana had neither cl.im or
ftnels:
Early IL lSf 0 he accepted a proposition from
bis father to remove 10 Galens, and join his
brothers In h leather butinesE. Devoting him
self with ldrstry and good sense to his new &C.
cupStion, he soon became familiar with all its
branches. and achieved fair degree Of success.
But, not being st all demonstrstiye in his man
ners, II inclined to take an active part in the
affairs Of the town, he made but few acqualnt-
ances, and those mostly smong the people with
Ehori lie had business. A lev Of the best cit
zens had broken through his natural reserve and
dis covered the sterling qualities Of the man,
tn ough L is but fair to say that no one suspected
II at the modest, quiet and obscure lesther-dealer
would ever become the most distinguished man
Of his time. When the rebellion was precipitated
upon the country by the attack on Fort Sumter,
Grant had Just attained his thirty-n:nth year,
and having been blessed with a strong and elas-
Tic constitution, and equsbie temper, a stout and
We .l-set figure, capable Of great endurance, he
hE passed through the varied stsges Of
is life with continually increasing pow
ers. lie he'd not reached full men
tai development with manhood, but mad
increased steadily in mental aud moral stature
by the trials through which he had gone, rather
than by the years that had passed over his head.
He had neither whine nor hobbies, neither pet
theories nor visionary schemes, but vas entirely
free from prejudices Of every sort, and, better
than all, he hsd reached that perfection Of COM
mon senEe which. combined with truthfulness
and stesdfsst courage, is superior to genius
Plain and simple in his address, =" with manners
unspoiled by the world" direct in his purposes,
slow to anger, spsring Of every words in public,
free from guile and shame Of every sort, and
faithful in all things, be was regarded as true
friend, good citizen and an honest man.
In his preface, Mr. Dams says he has collected
for the people " all the information they nEtur-
ally dssr respecting this great soldier, sincere
patriot and naturally Astute statesman" Con-
corning the political predictions Of General
Grant. Dana says that although he had voted
for Buchanan. he - had become convinced before
the war thl, this, his first and only vote, had been
a grievous mistake Since 1868 General Grant
has been steadily advancing in the affection and
cor hdence of the people and it is truly heart
ren ding tina. his biOgrapher shoald hsve deserted
hin. But It can be borne.
a young couple got married down town a few
DAYS ago. The bridegroom gs We a male friend
the domine's fee in an envelope. Male friend
pu the envelope in the inside breast pocket Of
hiE coat along with another envelope. When the
time come to pay, he handed the dominic the en-
v'.lope and departed. DOmir lie opened his en-
velope and found an invitation to Phoenix Hose
ball Male friend had made mistake, which
was soon after rectiied. The dominic respect-
fully declined the invitation TO the ball. Poughs
ksspsie Eagle.