St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-22
HOW GRANT WAS INTERVIEWED.

4 CiereT Repo"fer Who Got the Best of ii e
Generals n -Serrr.
From the New York Mail and Express.
When Gen. Ulysses s. Grant touched ter q
firma, having CONT leted his famous trip
around the world, he made solemp pledge o
his most intimate friends that under no cir
cumstances would he be interviewed bg any
newspaper representative. This arrange
ment was entered into for the purpose Of
obyiating the possibility of interfering with
the sale of the book written by Minister to
China John Russell Young, then well-nigh
completed.
Gen. Grant reached the Fifth Avenue hotel
in due season, and, as was expected. was
besieged by newspaper men. He declined to
say anything whatever about bis trip beyond
stating that he had enjoyed it. and SO on.
For two days the siege was kept up, but the
general held the fort. Finally one Of thu
leading morning papers singled ont q man
from the city staff and detailed him to get a
story out Of the general at any cost and un-
der any circumstances.
Proceeding To the Fifth avenue hotel, the
reporter held Il council Of war with the vet
eran clerk Carr There is no earthly use, >"
said ne, sin sending up your card. He has
already positively declined TO see some OF the
| hest-kuown newspaper correspondents in
the country. II were in your pace, do
YOU know what would do. I'd send up my
card and face the music. Take the rOlt 81
Wall street blood. Hen never discover
/ you.''
The card was sent no. and word came
/ back that Gen Grant would see tie geniI =
man. As the story goes, the scribe weak ned
al she knees, but finally braced up and
mounted to the suite Of rooms occupied b9
the voyagcr round the world. The old sol
der was in full dress: Mrs. Grant aud q
number Of ladies were present. The reccp-
ton room was rrdoe Mt with the perfumes
of the choice exotics that had been sent to
the hero Of Vicksburg The reporter babe
hin welcome, was introduced to the ladies.
and held long chat with Gen. Grant. who
unexpectedly gave a succinct aud interesting
account of his voyage. The following morn
ing the daily came out with a clean beat
Of column and three-quarters. II was
used a ] over the country, aud the storm that
burst over Gen. Grants head can be more
easily imagined than described. Letters and
kilograms were thrown at him by the hun
dred, and he was charged by his friends with
he tried hard 10 explain. hut it was no use,
40 finally ne came out with a statement TO
the eff ct that ne WIS not aware Of having
been interviewed uy any newspaper man.
About six months afterwar1, the Ninth
regiment WAS reviewed by Gen. Grant in the
Madison Square garden. Before the review
began Gen. Shaler, knowing nothing oil
course Of the circumstances introduced the
writer Of the article to the general. tic re-
pcated the name over and over, and then.
liking his piercing orhs on the reporter. rec
ugnized him az the one who had caused hin
So much trouble He told the whole story to
Gen. ShAicr
eft has been wonder to me ever since,
said he, ''how this young man here couid
rave made so much out Of go short CONVEX
-aiiou. AMI without taking ans notes to Keep
50 close 10 the truth You mas depend upon
it, however, that have kept ms eyes AMI
ears open since, and he will be a mighty
smart reporter who will catch me naPpin
again.