The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-23

dial feelings, as well az his rudeness TO the
soldiers who fought with him at Fort
Donelson, furnish strong corroborattve
evidence OF insanity. 1t was observed
some months ago that this man, who
mud become the very synonym for silence,
WHO was called tho Sphinx Or the White
House, md had earned q reputation for great
wisdom by his taciturnity grew very voluble
lost no opportunity to talk, and, indeed, be-
came quito gnrruious, sometimes talking
senelbIy and ut others with conspicuous
absence Of brains. IL appears that no has
now Telapsed into II condition or moodincss.
being silent and abstract n. and even morose
at times. and NJ other times unnaturally talk
alive md guy. 10 The professional mind these
are always alarming symptoms, for one or
tho most striking phenomena, indicative 0l
mental alienation, III Il sudden and radical
chan 10 In the moral and emotional nature,
as Ii silent man become suddenly yoluble.
Rarrulous and cxcItnble or q solf-contalned,
cold man, nbstraCted Ut absent mindedhy Its.
1t must b. admitted therefore, even by
those most Interested III seenR Grant retain
nl his faculties unimpaired that there are
excellent grounds for the fear to which the
publication Of the article, above referred to,
has given rise, and that It ~ by no means Inn
probable that the mind which was 50 severely
taxed by the tremendous events or tho lnte
war, by the extraordinary excitement incident
to the reconstruction era, when Grant was
virtually dictatorl and not lcnSt by tho OK
ces;Bvs ana long continued use Of alcoholic
stimulants and tobacco, should finally show
symptoms Vt falling
In this connection it IS worthy OF remark
that rumors are being circulated that Grant
has suddenly become not only temperate AZ
to the use Of wine and other Intoxicating
liquor. but actually u total abstainer. 1t Is
alleged that whenever he has been invited to
drink recently no hns invariably refused, and
To prevent the possibility Of any liquor being
put into his glass, he turns 1t base upward
On one occasion the porter In q sleeping car
heard Mrs. Grant recommend brandy when
the General was feeling unwel, but he do
clined herocally and remarked: "No, I'll
smoke, that will do just ~ we'll" This is a
very pretty story, and we confess 1t staggers
our creduity much more than the first. A
great many men lose their minds. the iunattc
nsylums all over tho land are crowded with
unfortunate Inmates but we do not recall an
instance OF as old and rs steady drinker as
Grant suddenly going back Oh the flowing
bowl and Offering good wine the insult of say
Ing that smoking would DO just as well.
Tfe latter story appeared In the Chicago In
tcr- Ocean, and that initiates strongly against
IT, but II it be true, II Grant, after lifetime Of
excessive drinking. has suddenly become d
total abstaner, then his most ardent admir-
ers have cause to be greatly alarmed, for the
man never lived who could stand the tremen-
douB strain which 50 sudden change would
caxse. He has always been known as man
of iron will, and 1t is not improbable that he
has determined to make the effort to shake
or the habit which has been such a source
of modification to his friends In the
past, but IL 80, and he succeeds, 1t will al
most certainly be ut the expense Of a shat
tered brain, or Ut life itself. or tho two IL
were better for his own sake and for the sake
VI his fame which must ever be inseparably
connected with tho history OF the country,
that he should "go hence" rather than live
with his mind overthrow, to be the wonder Of
the gaping crowd The South wishes him no
such calamity, for while she has suffered by
his acts she admiros the manly qualities Of
his nature, recognizes his merits as Captain,
and could not exult In his downfall.