The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-05-14

No sooner was town taken and tn
news had reached Mrs. Grant in her re
treat, than she would appeal to the stat
! officers to procure some mode of convey
ance; and, without needing their warn
ings of possible danger, this intrepi,
woman would press forward; and ere he
husband could be aware of her presence
the officers were already in quest o
J lodgings for his wife and children. Bu
, though endowed with such fortitude ant
self-poise, Mrs. Grant was unfailingly
gentle and unobtrusive and iadyhke
The staff officers, into whose companion
ship she was constantly thrown, ever re
member her kindness and benevolenct
with the warmest respect and admira
tion.
The war being over, Mrs. Grant wa!
gratifed when the General was made
Oommander-in- Chief. 1t was but a Just
recognition of his services. But to SET
him President she had no ambition
When the Nations choice was known
however, she said: Though it is contrary
to my wishes, yet l mean to do all thc
good l cam" ,..E. ... ...
She was not consequential, neither did
she boast of her ancestry. She was gen.
tie, unassuming, kind-hearted woman
Defective eyesight rendered it difficult
for her to recognize even her own chill
dren. 1t raised at least a thin vel, "a slight
obstruction to making new friends. At
times she was the subject of playful
jokes. For instance, gentleman pass
ing along in the procession OIL reception
day tarried a moment to talk with the
lady receiving; and she asked how long
he had been in the city. After a little
chatting, he told her his name was Bris-
tow-a member of the Cabinet who daily
called.
But this inirmity was no joke to Mrs
Grant. 1t made her look and feel awk-
ward, and it caused in one way and aa-
other an unreasoning prejudice against
the mistress of the White House. Stories
of lack of affability were set afoat, and
taken up by persons who would not usu-
ally do so vulgar and cruel a thing as to
deride an infrmity. Possibly the fire.
guent ungracious comments, all of which
she keenly felt, may have chilled her
truly genial nature, or, at least, have in
duced cautious reserve towards stran-
gers. Her good sense was seen in her pa
tience under the goading of sharp pens,
whetted, beyond question, by partisan
rancor. In reference to this, no resent
full words ever reached the public ear.
She maintained uniform silence respect
ing her husbands concerns Thouah she
kept herself informed of passing political
events, yet she never intermeddled in
state affairs.
To do good was not with her a spas
modic impulse-it was her daily employ.
She searched out" misery, and in
practical way she set about relieving the
same. Money she bestowed with dis
elimination, yet with a liberal hand.
What she gave away in charity, if laid
by in parsimonious economy, would
have swelled to a handsome bank ac-
count. An intimate friend of Mrs. Grant
said of her: 81 never yet met her that she
had not some unfortunate person on her
mind who must be helped; some poor
girl who must have employment or
some widow and children who must have
a lift. And yet 50 quiet was her mode
of benevolence that it was not generally
known"
After Mrs. Grant rose to height that
would have dazed a woman of less sense
and stability, lady called early one
morning, desiring to see the President;
and at the door stood a gentleman, and
as the two sent in their cards a plain
looking man, who stood waiting, sent in
bit Of paper on which he had written:
zone Of your soldiers" Soon the voice
of Mrs Grant was heard directing the
servant: Request the lady to be seated
in the parlor, show the gentleman into
the office, and invite the soldier to come
right up and see the President" So long
as the family remained in Washington,
Mrs. Grant never failed to 20 on Deco
ration Day provided with an ample sup
ply of flowers, which with her own hands
and Nellie's assistance she tendcrly
strewed over the ashes of our fallen
braves. The few old servants remaining
in the White House fondly cherish the
memory of Mrs. Grant and the happy
days they enjoyed while under her EN-
ploy. ,., .,.f
Mrs. Grants education was fully up
to the standard of the time in Missouri,
where she was reared. Her father was a
Methodist preacher in good circum-
stances residing on farm. Mrs. Grant
herself made no pretensions Of being in
teilectual. Her transparent simplicity as
seen in her absolute unchangeableness, is
phenomenal.
At one time, many years since, SO it is
stated, the fortunes of the Grant family
were at low ebb and Mrs. Dent, Mrs.
Grants mother, a devout Methodist,
doubtless having some solicitude,
dreamed dream from which she de-
rived much consolation. 1t was revealed
to her, so it seemed, that Lieutenant
Grant was to become highly useful, and
that he was to be honored as no man had
before been honored. .L
A Story of JerrOld.