The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-27
No Permanent improvement.

No Permanent Improvement.
Washington Capital.
Gen. Frederick T. Dent who returned from
New York on Thursday, where he has been at
tending upon General Grants bedside for some
weeks, does not share in the hope of some that
there is q permanent improvement in the great
soldiers health. The cancerous disease he says,
is making constant progress, and none Of the
family would be surprised if a change for the
worse occurs at any moment. They are not de-
ceived in the present lull in the disease. ALI,
however, preserve cheerful demeanor in the
presence of the patient. Mrs Grant sustans
the knowledge of the nearness of her great mis-
fortune with wonderful courage She has never
faltered in the presence of the General, but her
grief is INDUCED only in solitude. When she
comes from her chamber, it is with cheerful
and composed manner, which gives the tone to
all the rest.
General Grant is cheerful, now that the mar
cotcs have become unnecessary, and the other
day asked General Dent if he would not like to
smoke first-rate cigar He then directed him
where some very choice ones were laid away.
The doctors won't let me smoke, said he, but
they have not forbid me to smell while you
smoke"
So General Dent sat by the patients chair and
smoked fine Havana, much to the satisfaction
of both. When General Grant first taken
i'll. his spirits broken with kind of NOR
bid belief that the Grant & Ward failure had
forever robbed him of the affection of the people,
He brooded over this with constantly increasing
sorrow and almost with despair. The many
tokens of love he has received from every part
of the country and from many parts of the
world have healed his wounded heart on this
point, and have given him the truest Joy of his
life. When he looks out upon the crowds who
linger opposite his house, and is told that all
night. as well as all day, there are people watch
ing there, and that hundreds on their way TO
and from business morI ng and night turn aside
for few blocks in order to pass his house, the
tears flow freely and he seems to yield to the
tenderest emotion.
Hundreds of letters are received for him daily
These contain many curious expressions of sym
pathy, as we'll as peculiar suggestions of RENE
dies. One day last week there were 800 unopened
letters upon Colonel Grants desk. The labor of
answering them is no light one Quite large
number OF them have contained small sums of
money sent to the General as gifts These have
been returned with thanks Notwithstanding
that cheerfulness is the habit in the Grant man
sion, no attempt has been made to buoy up any.
of its members with false hopes General Grant
is fully aware of the nature of his disease, and
has no doubt that the diagnosis of his physicians
is q correct one He has been under treatment
for a trouble with his throat and tongue for more
than two years, although it was not until re-
Gently that any serious concern was felt about
it. Had it not been for his mental anxieties
and gliefs the enemy would probably have
been kept at bay for n longer time, but the
result was inevitable. General Grant does not
expect to get well, and knows that death may
come at any moment. He hopes for time and
strength enough to complete his memoirs. for he
has been assured that enough will be secured to
his children from that source to give them new
start in life. He does not build upon such hopes
however, and awaits the great change. sure TO
come soon with courage and serenity of mind.