The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-22
Particulars of the Preparations for
the Brilliant Occasion.
The Romance Of the Career Of the Republican
Warrior and Ruler...LOve's Young Dream
in the Old Dent Mansion When the
General Was Only a Captain.
Domestic. Influence Upon
the National Destiny.


years ago the present head OF the nation, then
simple captain in the army, was welded in st.
Louis to Miss Julia T. Dent, daughter OF Frederick
Dent, a farmer, who, taking the world pacidly and
contented with moderate competence, lived q
simple quiet life on o small farm within seven
miles OF ST. Louis. Captain Grant had returned
six months before this event from the battle fields
Of Mexico, where he won in an humble way the
soldiers guerdOn In the courtship Of this simple
purposed, practical man. whose every line of
character antagonists the romantic IDEAL there
was doubt just such golden threads Of poetry
as run through the more shewy episodes Of
LOVE AND MATRIMONY.
The story that relates of how he first saw the
woman who was afterwards to become his wife Is
but or the countless round OF chapters illus
trating the dependence Of mems destlnles on the
caprices of fortune. Lieutenant Grant, then be-
longing to the Fourth regiment Of infantry, was
ordered to report at Jefferson Barracks, near ST.
Louis 1t happened, as affairs similar SO often
happen, that in the same regiment he met an old
classmate, now Brigader General Dent. Thrown
together in what was then no very congenIal sta
ton for West Point cadets accustomed to wide
range Of cultivated society, they became naturally
attached-n fact more attached than they had
| ever been before. They occupied the same room
and grew to be inseparabe companions. There
| was that chatty cheerfuness and negative bril-
liancy about Lieutenant Dent that had charm for
| his shy and undemonstrative roommate. Mr..
Frederick Dents farm was not far away, and when
| or duty hither both the young officers would re-
| pair, and to them it was We ritable eysium. At
that time Miss Julia Dent young girl Of about
| fifteen, not regularly handsome and little versed in
| the ways OF the fashionable world, but she was
| AN EXTREMELY SENSIBLE YOUNG LADY,
kind OF heart and devoid OF the coquetry and nom
| rI,o arictc nf I'M ri NJ
period. Her chief delight was the discharge of
household duties, and the innumerable things that
enter into the daily routine OF domestic affairs had
| her loving attention.
Her mother, according TO the authority OF Mr..
| Abel r. Corbin, OF Elizabeth N. J., who was then
| editor of the Missouri Argus published in st.
Louis, and great friend OF the Dent family, was
| gracious and graceful woman. Aided by her
| daughters she made the farm house the wonder
Of the surrounding country 1t was not very large,
but 1t was model OF comfort and unpretending
elegance. Imported carpets in those days were
rare in the country parts. The old familiar rag
carpet was as high the ambition of most far
mers' wives aspred; but in the Dent mansion the
| looms OF Kiddermnster contributed TO render one
chamber, at least as attractive as any to be found
in the city of ST. Louis. To this room all the favor
lite friends Of the family were invited. Mr. Corbn,
when the fatigue Of his editorial labors i'm
PEELED hind to seek rest and sOlace. hied
| himself away to this blissfu abode,
his feet to the gowns sbes he says scme
of the brightest IDEAS OF his life came to him. 1t
and but semi-cutivated landscape made lie cheer
| less out OF DOORS that the room OF Kiddermnster
two Would their mos
earnest task Oh earth to secure leave OF absence
from the dull and dreary routine OF barrack life
| ana bctake themselves to the pleasant parOr
and the cordial hospitality OF old Mr.. Dent. Here
| they were accustomed to play
CHESS BY THE HOUR,
| and when that exnausting paslime clOyed there
was singing and dancing and all manner OF mirth-
| ful devices to pass the Winter nights.
| took kindly interest in her brothers companion
He was young and, according to those who knew
| him at West Point, shapely and prepossessing. He
| was exactly the type of young man 10 meet the
fancy OF lady whose innate aversion to show and
anectation was one OF her strongest II not most
admirable points. Here 1t was the foundation
OF that courtshlP was laid which four years subse
quently ripened into the enduring bonds Of matr-
mony. II must have been with heavy heart that
the young lieutenant in the early Summer Of 1874
arms. SO many things had contributed to make
it pleasant retreat that is easy to conceive now
painful the prospect must have felt OF having to
SEDUCTIVE ALLURExENrs
OF hosptable board and the looks OF a1ectonate
regard from female eyes to lace the dreary, fever
breeding swamps Of Louisiana. He ordered TO
Natchltoches for the purpose or being in readiness
to carry out the policy Of the government toward
Texas. 1t was here he smoked MS first cigar, and
who Will say but that the habit which he then
tracted was superinduced less by the absence OF
active employment than by the influence OF the
mystic and tender passion which had OF late
wrought the conquest OF his soul ?
In the course OF time the Mexican war broke out
and Lieutenant Grant plunged into 1t with an ard0r
foreign TO the normal calm OF his nature. Who
properly come n-but that the young 0flcer, when
storming the heights OF FL Mono del Rey, had, at
the moment when the bullets whizzed around MIN
like hailstones in hurricane, his thoughts upon
that
FAR OFF FARM HOUSE,
where one at least In all the wide wide world was
praying for his safety. He went CALAMITY through
the war, and let 1t be asked again II it may
not have been so that the soldiers heart and arm
were sustained through all the fiery ordeal by the
assurance OF one woman's lover He was at this
time only TWENTY-FIVE years old had served two
years in camp and garrison under the best officers
OF the army, had accompanied Taylor in his brilliant
nalIy N the double Capacity Sf stan and Company
officer had shared In the labor and honor Of
THE MARRIAGE TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
In August 1s4s, after four years since first they
met, Captain Ulysses ). Grant was married to Miss
Julia r. Dent, eldest daughter Of Mr.. Frederick
Dent, In the Methodist church OF st. Louis The
marriage was as undemonstrative as the court
ceremony. but there was something that made up
Ter the absence OF pomp and shew, and where
with-true love. After a. short leave of absence.
Captain Grant returned e his regiment at sack.
etts narbor, whittier he also brought his wife, and
here II Is only fitting TO drop the veil.
Since first he became OF commanding notice be-
fore the American people to the present hour,
HIS DOMESTIC LIFE
has been before the public as under glass shade,
plain for all to see IL has been delightful picture
Of oonugal and lial love, faith and happness, and
IL Will surely be wished, by friend and foe alike
that whatever may be his fortune as q politician
he may i've to celebrate his golden wedding, too.
ABOUT THE PRESENTS.
SO far as can be ascertained there will be but few
presents made to President Grant on this OCCASION
There are plenty OF place-hunters ana ofce holders
In the eementi OF good taste and breeding about
as well provided as q donkey Is with brains,
who would insult the Chief Magistrate on this
festive and hallowed event OF his life by sending IN
their placatory favors but they afraid OF meeting
with the withering rebuke OF the people. In order
that there might be no ground whatever for sus-
pecting tnat the Custom House people medtated