The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-05-05
Grants Good Luck.

COlum6uS, Ohio, Correspondence Cincinnati Com
mercidl
There has been much query OF
late years as to whether General
Grant owed his success TO his pluck,
perseverance and shrewdness, or
simply to his good luck, and all sorts
of replies have been made. The
writer recently had a conversation
with one time prominent Republi-
can congressman from this State, and
the question as to the presidential
candidate of the Republican party
came up and he told a story about
Grant that may be some aid TO those
who desire an answer to the query
mentioned above.
He named the condition that his
name should not be given, as he is
out of politics, and the writer knows
him to be a man of great reserve,
and to entertain great dislike TO pub
lie notoriety. Said the gentleman
"If people think that Grant is in
different to the nomination, they are
greatly mistaken. l will tell you a
conversation l once had with Grant,
hut don't wish it published, as some
might think that | am committing
breach OF honor in repeating private
conversation. 1t was about the time
Grants name was first mentioned AS
an available candidate for the presi-
dency. i Vas on a train going to
Washington, being member OF the
house at that time. Grant got Oh
the train at Harris burgwanasl ,al,rnluuuaji6,,
on ~ Wo,tS;.-.f e..I sUn1e EXPRESSION
from him about his candidacy, and he
replied that he had some doubts
about his being able to get the nom.
nation. l then, in order to draw
him out, reminded him of Zachary
Taylor at Corpus Christi. How he
had happered to be i'll command
there at the first outbreak OF Mexi-
can marauders, that terminated in
the Mexican war, and how, from pure
accident and the eXigencies OF that
war, had made all humble border
colonel president OF the United
States, and added that it was more
frequently the smallest things that
made men great than the pursuit of
a well. defined ambition. He sat
musing for time after telling him
this story, and then, turning around
to me, he said
'Ill tell you, H, there's some.
thing i'll that, and ! can tell you Of a
smaller circumstance than Taylor's.
When l was a boy, living in George
town, my mother ran out OF butter
one morning, and, needing some be-
fore it could be had at the store, she
sent over to the next door neigh.
boris to borrow some. Well, l was
Just as much acquainted there as at
home, almost, and opened the door
and went in without knocking, and
lust as | went Ill, one OF the folks,
the old gentleman, believe, was
reading a letter from son who was
at West Point. Well. | didn't want
to disturb them while they were
reading the letter, and stood there
and heard what was read. " ell, the
son said IN this letter that he had
been found that is, he had failed to
pass examination, and he would have
TO come home, and he had sent the
letter one mail ahead, SO that the
surprise at his return might not be
so great. Well, when they got
through, | borrowed the butter and
took it home, and then rushed down
4o Thomas |, Hamar'S offina- no vaS
our congressman then-and asked
him if he wouldn't send me to West
Point.
He told me that he couldn't send
me until his other boy got through,
and that wouldn't be Tor three Years
vet. But, Hamar, SAID |, suppose
this boy should fail to pass e~amna-
ton, and should be sent home, VIII
YOU send me then
well. Uly,' said be, 4 guess II he :