The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1883-02-01
Old 1'ecumseh.

COTueT VI me T1ILl AVENUE 1OJel, Gu
countered General Tecumseh Sherman.
"Why," said he, edo you live over here?
Come IN and see my room" He took
me into the same room Zach and Billy
Chandler had used for conducting Hayes
Presidential campaign-a parlor in front,
dark passageway and bath beneath and
bedroom back, on small, dim court.
General" said 1, you are in good
looks and spirits for the hard knocks you
have received"
,"Oh, yes" said Sherman, 81 am just
as tough as a pine knot. Never felt bet
ter in all my life. You know am going
to have a rest. Yes, 1 am going out of
the military service. look forward to
it with great joy. My wife wants me to
go. am tired of the incessant changes
in men and events at Washington City.
No stability, social life all cut up
change, change, change. We are going
to st. Louis. Some of the family live
there. have my own house there. 1
always liked the St. Louis people. They
are warm, affectionate and spirited
people. I tell you, I have got good
house there"
''Do they retire you with full pay Gen
eral?"
Eyes, full pay. Even my horses-I
keep them, too. Congress has been
very liberal and square with me-"
"What does the pay of the General
amount to-"
About SIS 900. 1 can live in st.
Louis, guess, on $1,000 month, and
that will leave me $4,000 year to spend
on my children. 1 think can do that.
am not rich man, you know"
"Well, General, St. Louis is rather
smoky. dingy city-hot in the summer.
too"
"Well, that may be true, but 1 shall
light out in hot weather. The Rocky
Mountains will be my camp-up there
about Helena, Montana, where it is high
and lovely. can drop down to Florida
in the spring, or to Texas. st. Louis is
very central. 1 think 1 may live ten
years in comparatively active life. 1
will be with my people, can see my old
companions and friends, and breathe the
breath of some freedom"
"Your son law, Com modore Fitch,
out there, is very we'll spoken Of"
Eyes, he's q hard working man, smart
and very successful. He has built up a
large and safe business. 1 expect he
may be rich man."
All this time the General was giving
some instructions about visits to his
daughter Rachel and putting his name
in autograph copies of his memoirs.
Said L. General Sherman, friend
called at my house last night and thought
you were sure to be the next Republican
candidate for President"
Now, about that" said General Sher-
man, "you see cannot be fool enough
to decline what is not offered to me; but
what do I want to turn from the pros
pect of rest and peace at last for period
OF years to the delusion of four years in
an Office that is Just hell. That's what
it u.s." continued the General emphatic
ally ut is hell What did General
Harrison get out OF it? Nothing but D
month of misery. What did General
Taylor get out of it? Twelve months of
misery. What did Grant get out of it?
Do want to resign this competence
Congress has bestowed upon me for four
years of hell? What did Hayes get out
Of the presidency? What did Garfield
get? Take them all within your memory
Nothing but worry, trouble misunder-
standing"
well, General Sherman. people will
talk. They don't care anything about
your comfort if they can elect you"
'Thats so. They will talk" said the
General.
l continued by saying that Cen
ersl Hancock stood no worse for having
run for President two years ago.
81 told Hancock, Sherman said, THAT
he got out OF the mess just in time to
save himself"
"Are you sixtyfour yet, General Sher-
MANI"
, II was born in February, 1920, am
nearly sixty three. The law retiring us
all at sixty four | approved of. I think
it is a good law"
did you pass any of your youth in
Ohio?"
"Why, yes; stayed around Lancaster
till was sixteen years old. My father
died when l was about nine, and my
wife's father brought me up and put me
into the army. General Grant is two
years younger, or OF the age Of my
brother. John Sherman"
The General then went on to speak Of
the Hoyt family, which he had met on
his first visit to New York City when a
boy, and had become nearer them by
family ties. believe the General was
disposed to talk with full freedom to me,
but other persons coming in led me to
postpone the matter for the present He
does look magnificent, and for his age
he is as fighting.like a man as ever
fonnd. He talks quick. quaint, and
should Judge is not looking as far away
from the Presidency ms his speech i'm
Al ka -,