The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-27

Secretary of Wars report and had new
plate made for the abnoxious sheet in Sher-
mans report When the report finally came
out the engineers bounced on it and scan
ned it eagerly for the insult to them said to
be there OF course, they did not find it.
In the place of censure of the severe kind
they found polite criticism. Then the en-
gineerS rallied about the lying newspapers
who 50 misrepresent public men. When
General Sherman heard this he laughed
harder than ever.
Sherman is a strange man in many ways.
In trivial things he is uncertain vacillating
and most unreasonable. 1t is upon great &C.
casons only that the brilliancy of his genius
is shown. But be needs the great occasion
TO show his real capability, and as such oc-
casions are rare, it is not strange that the
General of the army should be often mis-
judged by those who are brought in daily
contact with him.
He has such a perfect contempt for any
thing like ordinary diplomacy that he rarely
if ever attempts to conceal his views, how
ever personal. He is as freespoken in his
verbal criticism OF men and things as he is
in his Endorsement of military papers While
this makes many enemies it helps his popu-
larity. 1t is believed that there is one man in
public life who has the courage of his opin-
ions. The fact is overlooked that some of
his severe and trenchant criticisms are utter
ly uncalled for and even do no good. But
then if you happen to touch the warm
side OF the General the pleasant words come
just as freely He has been known TO warm
ly praise one day what he has denounced the
day preceding.
TROUBLESOME CANDIDATE.
This is often shown in his military decis-
ions. He will often make contrary decisions
upon the same presentation of facts, if the
cases presented happen to be some distance
apart. He has a perfect contempt for law
and a woman's disregard for facts in many of
his decisions. He resembles Andrew Jack
son III his lofty disregard of everything but
the carrying out of his own will, but unlike
Jackson he is more open to influence from
his friends who frankly oppose him when he
has neither law nor equity upon his side. He
would make troublesome presidential can
didate for any party. 1t would not be posi-
BILE for any set of party leaders, however
skillful to keep Sherman in the traces He
would be always saying something dreadful
in political sense, perhaps damning his
political associates or kicking his own plat
form every chance he had. Then it would
be impossible to bind such a man by pledges.
Elected by any party, he would do exactly
as he pleased after election, and be perfectly
happy in any quarrel that might follow.
Sherman is eminently social. He is fond
OF going out. He is invited to every break
ington. 1t is rare for him to decline an in
vitation. He is very fond of the society of
women, and is never so bright as when sur
rounded by young ladies. He is devoted to
young and pretty women, but no one ever
knew the General of the army to make fool
of himself about the fair sex, as many man
of his age might have DONE There has never
been the faintest breath of scandal about
him or criticism made upon his manners in
society. He is very fond of going to the thea
ter. Sometimes when there is something es-
pecially pleasing to him he will go every
night to see the same performance for an
entire week. He is fond of the society of
actors and actresses. When John McCul-
Tough is in Washington Sherman never fails
to give him breakfast. He is devoted to
Mary Anderson when she is here. He gen.
orally waits for her at tbs stage door when
she is playing an engagement here, to walk
home with her to her hotel, In nearly the
same way he pays great attention to Lolita
when she comes here. He has way of or
dering his staff about with him when he goes
to the theater that makes his theatrical en-
thusiasm very marked. Some of the staff of
fcers, who are not as ardent admirers of the
theater, groan under the weight OF such a
service, although they dare not openly COM
plain.
Service upon the Generals staff is light
enough. He is a great worker himself, and
rarely calls any one to his aid to act as his
secretary. He writes nearly all his own
letters not appearing to mind the drudgery
involved in the physical labor of writing.
AS he has a very large correspondence he is
kept very busy He is also great reader of
books relating to his profession. In his pri-
vate Office. under his house on Fifteenth
street, he usually works until very late,
making up time spent out early in the even
ing at some social gathering
He is not religious man. He is so aston
ishingly liberal in all his views that he has
room for the good things OF all the creeds.
He can swear upon occasions with great
grace and art. This is one of the necessary
qualifications of a soldier. Think of the
General of the army who could not use
when the occasion required what is known
as strong language,