The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-31

Two Northern Sight-3eers Visit Mr..
Jesse R. Grant at Covington, KY
Health and Appearance OF the Vener-
able Octogenarian and His Wifc-A
Quiet Chat ON Personal Matters-The
President the Pride OF the Family.
DAYTON, Ohio, May "a 1873.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
Yesterday, having business in Cincinnati and
wishing to show visiting friend from the North
the beauties OF this thriving CITY, we left in the
morning tran and, after spending few hours
sightseeing around the town, proceeded over the
great suspension bridge to Covington, Ky. Tor the
purpose of paying our respects to President
Grants father. We nrst proceeded to the Post
Office and learned that he was at home, not being
very well. About five minutes walk brought us to
understanding two story brick dwelling, with a
silver plate on the door and the name u. r.
Grant" thereon. We rung the bell, and in a lew mo-
ments the door was opened by an elderly lady, who
wore spectacles. We announced ourselves as on
visit to Kentucky, and wished the pleasure OF a
few minutes conversation with Mr.. Grant, If not
intruding Mrs. Grant, whom the lady turned out
to be, In reply said we should be favored, though
Mr.. Grant was far from well having some eighteen
months ago received paralytic stroke, and IN we
walked to small parlor to the right. The furni
ture was plain, but comfortable. Quite number
of chromos hung about the room, ana one Was U. s.
Grant in military uniform, which we thought
rather a poor likeness. In another part of the
room We're three quarter-sZed cOlored photographs
or the Presidents father and mother We also no.
tced chromos OF Mr.. and Mrs. George Washington.
While sitting quietly by ourselves we presently
heard SLOW, tOtteTing step in the hall coming
towards us, which proved to be that OF the vene-
rable father OF our illustrlous President. He was
leaning on crutch .under his right arm, this
side OF his body being paralyzed. We shook
him gently by the lett hand; he seemed taller
a n
straight but well set and sharp-pointed nose and
projecting chin, strongly. indicative OF force of
about the tacc giving him the appearance OF being
q much younger man-in fact, good, healthy,
to sit down in a large rocking chair After a lew
words OF apology on my part for the visit he told
US he was nearly eighty years Of age; tnat he felt
written to the President touching tine state of his
feeble health, and that he was anxious to have at
least an hours talk with his son before dying. He
thought he might die any moment; he felt no par
ticular pain. His wife, he said, enjoyed excellent
health, and would no doubt see many more years.
They had lived together happily and contentedly for
He asked il we had ever seen the President. We
him considerably deaf--in fact, he so informed us,
and requested US to sit near by on this account.
Our conversation seemed to distress him little.
He talked hesitatingly and somewhat in low tone.
Mrs. Grant, who sat uts-d-ris, ventured to say
inquiring. we found it was Mrs. Corbyn, at Eliza
beth, N. j. pardonable vanity OF the old gentle
mans. we noticed, was that when talking Of his
son he would usually say "The Presdent.n He
remarked he had not received any reply
from the President to his last letter; that
he partly expected him, as he was
visiting somewhere in the West Mrs. Grant inter
rupted by remarking he had returned to Washing
ton. We ventured to say, we had no doubt the
President would visit him the moment his impor-
tant public duties would admit He told us he was
Postmaster OF the town; but the duties, on account
ofhis present indispositiOn, were principally done
by an obligng young man very acceptably to the
other day or so to see all went well. Mrs. Grant
looked hale and hearty, with round pleasant
face. 1t was about hafpast one r. M. when we
called, the interview lasting some half an hour
so. Shaking hands with both, and wishing The old
gentleman many happy days yet to come, we de-
parted TOR Cincinnati j. II.