Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-07-09
Gen. Hancock at Home.

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few evening ago went with party of
friends to call on General Hancock and his
amlable wife at Governors Island, which is
easily accessible from the regions of cup
town." thanks to the East Side rapid transit
road extending as far as the South Ferry,
and the little revenue cutter which connects
that point with the residence of the Com
mander of the Department of the Atlantic.
General Hancock is apparently in robust
health, and, although his hair and beard are
frosted, there is no winter in his heart. Es-
sentially a soldier and should say dscip-
linarian, there is still no brusqueness in his
manner or mode Of speech genial as he Is,
however, there isstil abundant evidences Of
man accustomed 10 command. have
met but few men who could compare with
him rs fac 6hteur he Il n military a-ss.
Jerome. Even with men, moreover, mis- ) r.
versation is scrupulously correct. Leaaine
the way into his sanctum-a back room On
one side Of the wide hall that divides the
ground floor into two parts--he ordered
some refreshments and sat down to smoke
a cigar and chat, and, II being left to him to
carry on the conversation, proved fully equal
to the task. The conversation from person.
al "reminiscences upon an excellent lecture
which General Abbott had delivered that
afternoon ON Governors Island. General
Hancock declares himself strongly In favor
of strengthening the New York delenses.
"But who could overcome us?" "Great
Britain might" was the reply, "but that is
not the question; It is purely one of precau-
ton | am in favor Of large guns, breech-
leaders, of the most approved modern pat
tern" IL was mentioned that dispatch
from Europe set forth that Krupp was over
whelmed with orders. General Hancock
said that he had been rather charry of ex-
pressing himself in answer to certain com
munications, for he felt that they were in
tended TO be more 10 the interests of manu-
tucturers than in those of the nation; he
firmly believed, however, in getting to work
at tho defenses of New York harbor.
The residence occupied by the Com
mander of the Department Of the Atlantic is
an old-iashioned and rather cemmodious
one the wide hall divides the ground floor
into suit of parlors, dining room and
study with II bay window, which forms
recess which Is almost another room. The
walls are hung with family portraits. Mrs.
Hancock, who is in mourning, has charm
Ing manners, and, should she ever be called
upon 10 preside at the White House, would
be equal TO the task. With her at present Is
her niece, who married Lieutenant Griffin.
a young and promising officer of the Gener-
ais command, last spring. In such agreea-
bic society the time passed very quickly,
and when the signal for the 10 o'clock boat
sounded we relnctaptl.Y .aIosess .aar5 e paia
compliment to the society of the men which
they wholly undeserved, since IL was his in
teresting conversation, and not any exertion
on their part, that made "the foot of time
fall lightly" General Hancock does not be-
lieve, like n certain distinguished predecessor
ofhis, who openly asserted as much that "the
Army would be very nice fit were not for the
soldiers" lie evidently thinks great deal
about his command and their welfare, and
1t is seldom that he is absent from the
Island. AS the little revenue cutter steamed
toward the Battery under the clear star-lit
sky we retained the pleasant memory Of his
frank, cordial manner and unaffected hospi-
tality. mo wonder that General Hancock
Is so popular" said one Of the party "he
is sincere, whole-souled, one man in thou
sand" "The very model" broke in the r-
repressible pirate" "of modern Major
General P'-M. y Cor. Pittsburgh Telegraph.