The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-07-03

Correspondence St. Louis Spectator.
We will go over to the residence of
Gen. Hancock, a place now famous,
both in a military and a political
sense. 1t is situated over on the
Brooklyn side, and can not be seen
from Castle William. A shady walk
leads down to it from the post head
headquarters, which is but few steps
from the ferry landing, and on the
left side as you pass down are the res
licences of Gen. Hancock and officers
of his staff and of the post. The
headquarters building is nearly a
half century old, and was originally
thee hospital. When Gen. Hancock
moved over from the city of New
York in 1878, he had it repaired from
top to bottom, though it had not been
used for hospital for several years,
but the hospital drug store is still kept
in the basement, and Mr.. Robinson,
the hospital steward. as well, has been
there for thirty years. He is a fine
looking, jolly Englishman, and looks
as though he were well turned in the
fifties. He is the Oldest inhabitant on
the island. On the first floor is Gen.
Whipple, adjutant of the department
of the east, and most soldierly gen
tleman in his bearing, but most con-
siderate and accommodating. On the
second floor, in a back room on the
left side Of the hallway. is the office of
Gen. Hancock. l did not see guard
or sentry anywhere about the build.
ing, but a harmless looking messenger
took IN my card-just about as I'M
pretentious and democratic looking
fellow as stands at the door to direct
visitors who call on President Arthur.
| shall not report an interview with
Gen. Hancock, nor describe his per-
sonal appearance further than to say
he has thinned out very much since
his recent illness, and has not now the
deeply colored, rosy cheeks and
aplomb that made him an exception
ally fine looking presidential candi-
date four years ago, and (which
turned the carricaturists into green
despair. His naturally light hair is
now almost entirely gray, and that
splendid imperial is as white
as the immaculate snow.
Gen. Hancock has that frank, bluff
sort of manner that makes one feel at
perfect ease in his presence, and
which makes every one that meets
him his friend and admirer. What is
so often fault in the personal de-
meanor of military men is not fault
of his; he does not carry that stiff re-
serve which one may often painfully
discover even in the humble possessor
of no greater position than a lieuten-
ancy. Gen. Hancock's room is a large, /
square, plainly furnished one. An or
binary summer mating covers the |
floor, and things look as if it might |
still be none too good a place to re-
ceiye the miscellaneous callers that
flccked to see him in 1880. Looking
out of the rear window one gets an
easy view of the city of Brooklyn and
the narrow strip of water called But
termilk Channel, so named because
the wives and daughters of the old
HollaLders, who used to live on Long |
Island, brought their milk and butter
and garden truck that way when Tx
ng it over to the New York market.
It is too pretty a piece OF water to
bear SO homely name. IL was the
lay of the meeting of the republican
at Chicago, but the Gener-
Il was not deeply concerned abont IL,
md said he would read the papers
when he got on the boat that after
loon on his way to West Point, where
le was going to attend the annual ex-
animation. 1t is a pity that so gal !