Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-02-19
General Hancock ut Home.
n. Y. Cor Pittsburg Telegraph.

n Y. Cor. Plt,sburg Telegraph.
A few evenings ago | went with a
party of friends to call on General
Hancock and his amiable wife at
Governors Island, which is easily ac-
cessible 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 Commander 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. Essentially a soldier,
and | should say disciplinarian, there
is still no brusqueness in his manner
or mode of speech genial as he is,
however, there are still abundant evil
dences of man accustomed to COM
mand. | have met but few men who
could compare with him as a racon-
teur he is a military Larry Jerome.
Even with men, moreover, his conver-
sation is scrupulously correct. Lead
ing 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, aud, it being left to him to carry
on the conversation, proved fully
equal TO the task. The conversation
turned from personal "reminiscences
upon an excellent lecture which Gen.
Abbott had delivered that afternoon
on Governors Island. Gen. Hancock
declares himself strongly in favor of
strengthening the New York defenses.
" But who could overcome us"
Great Britain might" was the reply,
"but that is not the question; it is
purely one of precaution. | am in
favor of large guns, breech-loaders, of
the most approved modern pattern" :"
II was mentioned that dispatch from
Europe set forth that Krupp was over
whelmed with orders. General Han
cock said that he had been rather
chary of expressing himself in answer
to certain communications, for he felt
that they we're intended to be more in
the interests Of manufacturers than in
those Of the nation; he firmly believed
however, in getting to work at the de-
fenses of New York.
The residence occupied by the Com
mander of the Department of the At
lantic is an old-fashioned and rather
commodious one; the wide hall di-
vides the ground floor into suite of
parlors and a dining-room and a
study with bay window, which forms
recess which is almost another room.
The walls are hung with family por-
traits. Mrs. Hancock, who is in
mourning, has charming manners, and
should she ever be called upon to pre-
side at the White House, would be
equal to the task. With her at pres
ent is her niece, who married Lieuten-
ant Griffin, a young and promising
officer of the Generals command, last
spring. In such agreeable society the
time passed very quickly, and when
the signal for the 10 o'clock boat
sounded we reluctantly arose to go.
On rejoining the ladies Gen. Hancock
paid a compliment TO the society of
the men which they wholly underserv-
ed, since it was his conversation, and
not any exertion on their part, that
made "the foot of time fall lightly"
Gen. Hancock does not believe, like a
certain distinguished predecessor of
his, who openly asserted as much, that
"the army would be very nice if it
were not for the soldiers" he evil
IDENTIFY thinks great deal about his
command and their welfare, and it is
seldom that he is absent from the Is-
land. AS the little revenue cutter
steamed toward the Battery under the
clear starlit sky we retained the pleas
ant memory of his frank, cordial
manner aud unaffected hospitality.
mo wonder that General Hancock is
so popular" said one of the party ;
"he is sincere, whole-souled, one man
in ten thousand" "The very model" |"
broke in the irrepressible "Pirate, ''
"of modern major-general."