Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-24
PHIL SHERIDAN AT HOME
Ills Family and Habits--ssOue OF Chi
cagO,s Most Cherished CeIebrities.0


the man in search of information concern
ing the birthplace of Gen. Phil. II. Sher
| dan is very liable to be misinformed, un-
less he searches the record, says the Chi
cago Nous. 1t is u little singular that
the man who is about to become the head
of the army has been claimed by two
es-Massachusetts and Ohio-while
| Ireland put in her title when his star be-
gan to dazzle. Two American authors
give him to Massachusetts,. The gentle
man himself never bothered himself about
| the mistake. There is good old mother,
S3 years of age, down in Perry, Somer-
set County, Ohio, who is occupying the
same house to-day that she did when her
boy Phil came into life.
She is n modest mother. In the light
which her sons fame has created she has
never intruded. From the demonstra-
tions that have clustered about him she
has stood aloof. There is no one else to
share with her &his quiet contemplation
save three sons. It is the humblest sort
of home, and about it's hearthstone
once n year the man who charmed old
King William is to be seen chatting to his
mother. Nothing deters him from these
annual pilgrimages, where he sees the
cradle in which hewas rocked. The faith
er is asleep out in ,the field beyond. The
eldest son and sister are near by. John
l.. is n lawyer by profession ard cattle
trader in the Indian Territory. Philip is
80 years old, and is soon to step into the
shoes of William Tecumseh Sherman.
Michael is lieutenant colonel on the staff
and private secretary.
The house where he lives is simple in
its construction, plain in its exterior. The
furnishings are plain. One would know
as he wanders about it that its master had
been soldier Mt some time. The pic
lures on the wall, the statuary, the books
in the library, indicate the character of
the man. There is one room that is filled
with helmets, bonnets, swords, speares,
shells, and the various implements of war
by civilized and savage nations. He has
gathered storahouse of these. And
when he sauntcrs about them, or when he
looks at his pictures CT his books, twins
toddle after him, get tangled in his feet,
and tug at the tails of his coat until he
picks them up, one in each arm, and goes
rollicking about the lawn with them, if it
is as bright in the sky as it is under his
own roof. Two Others n boy and girl,
the first Phil Sheridan, Jr., come in for
recognition, and get it. 1t doesn't take
any fathoming to discern that the wife
and mother of this home is Just the hap
piest in Chicago. This is all the more
pleasant to think about when one is re-
minded that she is not much more than
half way up to him in years.
They all sit down to the table together,
when nobody's there to intrude. Those
twins get served first. They get helped
as often as they wish--just as long as the
platter holds out. They know there is n
ride for them, and they know that no cir
Gus can ever come to town and get away
without their presence, guarded by the
same man who attracted the eye of Grant
at Missionary Ridge. They have their
little parties and their little entertain
ments. They shout and roll about and
play, and sometimes go to the matinees
The General plays euchre with his guests
the only game he does play-and these
cherubs never disturb him, though they
may crawl between his legs and steal his
cards
81 don't know what he wants with q
carriage for himself" said one OF his
friends ; she never gets into it when he
can help it. If the day is fine, he likes
to walk down town and if it isn't he had
rather come in horse car" By the way,
| it is little curious that man who is rs
fond of horseiiesh as he, and who is 30
superb when mounted, should never be
found in the saddle any more. When his
last war horse, Winchester, died few
years ago, his love for the possession OF
that sort OF flesh went out with him.
One who knows him well vouches for
the truth of the story that the first time
| Phil Sheridan was ever on horse was
when Bill Seymour, n boy in Perry coun-
ty, Ohio, put him on fiery animal, un.
saddled, unbridled, and told him to hold
on with his knees. And he did until the
horse had galloped about two miles across
an open country, when the beast came to
n halt. Phil was still ON his back hold
ing on with his knees 1t became the
talk of the county. Gossip was scarce
IN those days.
He WE s an crrand boy and the driver o
n water-cart in GAINESVILLE. His eide
brother had some influence with the Con
gresham Of the district, and in 1913 hat
Phil appointed as Cadet to the Unitet
; States Military Academy. No need t.
follow him from the graduating class tt
the close of the war. In school he was
l student. The honor of discovering hi.
merits MS soldier lies between Gen
Grant and the late Edwin NJ. Stanton
The two latter and President Lincol
We're talking one evening about the cay
i airy being without head or leader. Blu
t ford was dead.
"How would Sheridan do ?" asked til
!. Secretary of War.
Il "That's the very man," answered Gei
a Grant.
II "Do you know him?" asked Presidel
g Lincoln"
o 81 do" replied Gen. Grant. 81 watcl
e ed him at Missionary Ridge
u Send for him." responded the Pres
L dent.
le He is one of the best dressed men {
s. the streets of Chicago. His tailor liv
5, here, and says he has the best figure
es any customer he has. His fits are of ii
II glove pattern, and as he walks down Il
u street with cigar, a switch cane in L
es hand, white hat, and his apparel wit
out wrinkle, he is as graceful figu
as appears in the "passing show" He
most respectful in his pew at st. Mary
where he can be found nearly every Su
day. His nearest approach to aristocr
ic bearing is his crest.
He is to leave Chicago in Septeml
for Washington, to succeed Gen. Sh
man. This reminds one that he was c
of the first Captains in Sherman's re
ment. His going will rob Chicago of {
of its most cherished celebrities. AS
from the pride which citizens take in Il
as the soldier, those who know him in
social relations will have genuine reas
for regret. The preparations for an ad
to him are now being arranged.
Gen. Sheridan was born in 1881, {
; his wife is the daughter of Gen. Ruck
of the regular army. He wooed and v
her here. He is a Chicago man. ]
most intimate friend he has said
days ago; 81 know whereof l sp
when say to you that in all of his 8
cnRa Gen Sheridan never lnd n nnllt