The New York herald., 1877-11-15
How the Ex-PreS dent Talked and
Said Nothing to an Editor.
A CIGAR-BAIT SCHEME.
Curious Impressions-Our Warrior
a Ia FrancaiS.
THE "SpEEL GENERAL"
From the Paris Figaro. ]

quite taiker, since they often get from him speeches
OF nifty or sixty lines, while the longest speech
Which Grant Is ever remembered 10 have made
was tha. pronounced the day after he lrst
mated President OF the United sta,cs Here Is in all
It's simplicity. The General appeared upon he bal
cony Of tho hotel where he staying. Below, in
the street. more than ten thousand persons were
awaiting n speech. Reluctantly removing the
cigar he smoking and raising IL slightly
between tho nrst aud second fingers OF his
right hand, he said :-.'Gentlemen, am very glad
to see you" Then ho Tadc a bow. much TO
say, hope you will not expect anything more from
me now. ON another occasion he found the means
OF being moro concise One Of his soldier
friends who said TO be almost reserved him.
sclt was ed present the General with an
elegantly engraved gold cup the of the soldiers
who had served under MIN. The introduced
into the Grant household bearing the cup question
He quietly placed tho cup upon sdeboard remark
ing. rhats the cup" Tac President looked ut II in
dreamy sort OF way ana after the lapse OF few
companion IN arms cigar The two veterans sat
down, and, facing each otner, smoked IN silence
while the dcpumton Of soldiers waited IN vsn outside
for the speech which IS usual on these occasions
THE INrERvIEwEK's MisGivIGSs,
was aware that the General OF This peculiar
turn, aud was not little exercised concerning the
KIND OF interview was to have IN response my
application OF Thursday night which he consented
10 wtth the best grace mag gnaue. An amiable and
intelligent American, Dr. Evans. who Is known to
the whole o Paris, had SAID to me. 'You are gong to
see Grant He Will certainly b. glad l., receive
an editor OF the Fioaro but do not expect TO make
make MIN talk. Wait" said Evans II will tell you
the best means OF OF opeuiug mis- mouth Search
Paris through IT necessary Tor two oil the very best
cigars to DO had Put them IN your pocket and when
you nnd yourself in the presence OF the General
and whom he has shaken hands with you
cordng to tue American custom you VIII draw
tho cigars from your pocket and say. General,
know that you arc a connosscur OF cigars; permit
me to offer you OF The beat to be had Paris y
The General viii examine your cigars, and II he finds
them OF an absolutely superior quality, you Will
put him IN hnc humor, his tongue Will
wag as u by enchantmcnt upon everything,
politics only excepted. Unfortunately, had not tho
time to carry out tue very original plan which tue
imag nation OF DR.. Evans suggested tor | was In
formed that tho General was ready TO receive me i'm
mediately. repaired at once TO the Hotel Bristol,
whcrc the General occupied magnificent suite OF
rooms on The first floor. Tho salon in
which he received me named after the
Prince OF Wales, because II is genorelly Tor
the heir apparent of England who adores Paris und,
| as is well known, makes US numerous visits THIS
ohical designation Is made by an enormous tapestry
screen, which Is embroidered In large letters tho
INQUEST English royal motto "Honi son gut NAL y
penye
| GRANT RECEIVES THE KDlroR
| The Generals courier 81. Jacques Hartoe, very
| pleasant and agreeable young man. introduced me.
General Grant was sitting near the corner oil tho
fireplace Facing him, upon n large d.van, sat Mrs.
! Grant and her son. The latter Is young man OF
twenty to twenty five years, having almost as mcdI-
tatlve and reflective air us his father He Is,
| told, great Mathematician Tho General arose and
| extended TO mo his hand The hys,o snoniy Of the
brave general TO whom | had The honor 10 DO pro-
gentcd, very curious 10 observe. not think,
Tor example, that there is upon earth any being
| whatever who under whatever circumstances, could
nater nimstlf as having seen made upon this
enigmatic 1guro, the shortest the slightest,
the most momontary impression. We French
! men possess, In order TO characterize this
/ kind OF figure a word which would not employ II
thought II would constitute want oil respect, this is
tetc de Jots-wooden head. Ulysses Grant possesses
this. peculiarly IN The highest degree, that which,
after an Is perhaps qualify aud resource Tor SOL
| der or u statesman. | know through friend
OF tho General that this phenomenal impcr.
ali lax spc.
onu, even IN circumstnnces the most grave
and perilous This friend mas seen him under hrc,
mounted his grizziy marc, rs celebrated tn Amer
| icl US tho white horse OF Napoleon has IN
France, and there was always tho same ngurc, i'm
passibie, Indifferent during series Of battles,
which lasted for twelve days. aud which cost
tho fsderls nearly sixty thousand men, Grant slept
| number OF cigars, tor eight hours at n. time,
| as peaceably nm infant. rose In The
morning and dressed. then began 10 give his orders
about in the same way city merchant arrangcs his
bils Never have circumstances more grave, never
has heavier responsibility res.ed upon a man than
General Grant has experienced, yet word of anxiety,
trouble or encouragement was never known
to escape HIM. rhsy called Wellington the
have entitled Ulysses 5. Gran. The Steel General
A, hun the Hotel Bristol, and much as he
must have been faugucd by ms journey, General
Grant had the appearance OF nian sill very vlgOr
Gus. His shoulders are massive, broad aud hts body
has marked tendency 10 embonpo,nt The Gen
eral, m0veov.r gives very good account OF himself
for he sad liughlD2y TO friend yesterday that he
congratulated himself ON not having changed Tor ten
| weight" HIS beard, when IS closely cropped has
com mcn ced to gray. HIS hair perfectly black.
His complexion, slightly bronzcd. gives tho General
Gcrmanc aspect although he coT.cs Of pure Ameri-
can stock.
GRANTS IMPRESSIONS IN BRfEF.
Tho alton commenced Ia Eugish about
Pars which the General visits Tor tue nrst timo
iu his lie. inqulrci what bis nrst impression
lie replied TO me, with much good sense and precision,
to the effect that he was unable to form opinion,
as hc ridden from the rairoad depot (garel
| hotel in a covered carriage, aud was unable TO SEQ
1 10
''Bui. General, have you not paid visit TO Marshal
/ "wc were unable TO comprehend eacn othcr."
| .How was thaty" SAID with astonshment.
| "Smple enough. | didn't understand u word OF
French tho Marshal doesn't know word OF English.
/ lie bowed TO me; bowed TO him. He extended his
hand 10 me; extended nine TO him. rnen all
over"
| ..Thcn the interview only lasted minute"
/ mo. renamed u few minutes 10 speak with Nmc.
MacMahon, and was delighted, Tor shc speaks Eng
French lady should speak u so beautifully The Mar
shal has hns mion, and has the air Of an honest
| man.
As IL seemed to mo the General was III good humor,
and IN vein Tor taking, rskrd, wtn0ut great hopes
success however question on politics us lolo~s:
.Genera you have been, ike our Marshal. President
OF republic, and you have been 70 an analogous STU
alton TO hs--that to say at varaLcc with the egs-
lativc power. am sure the puDc would be curious TO
know your oplniop upon tho present crisis
Tho General, at tbis question, which confess
having put with temerity, had what | Will call a
,.t,ns OF silence lie did not express the slightest
| ueto
coulinuay al tue carpet. said: ~ am not French-
man. 1 am an American. aud, rs the Atlantic sop
aracs u.s. have not studied The question 10 any such
way that should dare TO give my opin on on IT,"
Tng GESKRAps 'siLENCE.'
then recalled 10 mind anat had occp told mo OF
tho manncr In which Grant acted With reporters
IN America when ne was IN power lie 70.
oeivcd them whenever they wished; then, when
they Droached politics he drew cigars from
hM pucxet. Offering one to his tblcriocutor,
ana hen com tneuccd smoke IN silence. To get
word out of him after this there was bet
means left; speak TO him ABOUT his horses there
fore hat changiLg the tactics OF tho Amcrcans
auut,d the domain OF politics by asking the General
II no propo .cd Staying long ~ Paris.
al this horrible train continues" 4" said hc ~ shall
leave forthwith. II not shal remain here curing
the whole OF the month OF November"
Another silence. Then he continucd:-'I nave al.
ways Desu very curious 10 know France, and Paris
| especially. The Impression had coming from lou.
TO- ne was that II was hno country, VOL cultivated
and had a happy air"
| Another silence
'Ihc railroads OF France arc much pcttor than ours
Tho service Is MADE with more prccaution, aud the
roads nre well built" Then tho General rc-
counted some details concerning his journeys IN