The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-03
GENERAL REALE,s ESTIMATE.

Testimony TO Grants Character by o Man
who Knows Him Intimately,
Washington Special.
Gen. EDWARD F. Beale, of this city. for years
an intimate personal friend of General Grant,
said TO day of him, when it was reported that
he was dead:
s'He was the greatest man know of. He
fought and won battles the like Of which have
never occurred IN modern or ancient history.
Everybody is familiar with his military and
other public achievements. but In his private
life his personal characteristics shone with equal
brillianey His three most prominent and ad
lnirable traits were guilelessness of character
even temperament and great magnanimity- AS
/ said, and as you know, my friendship with
General Grant was of the most intimate nature
In all my daily compauionship with him, at
home or abroad | never heard General Grant
make a remark which could not be repeated
with propriety before a roomful of ladies.
His character was wholly pure and free from
guile.
''As to the reports that he drank to excess
ought not 10 refer for they are too senseless and
untrue, but will say that during the whole
period that | have known him. in riding to and
from my farm near this city two or three times
week in dining at the same table, in walking
the streets of Paris until o'clock in the morn
ing for amusement have never seen him when
he was not as clear headed you and | are
now. His even disposition was something won
derful to me, and / have seen him tried almost
beyond human endurance. He never cursed
and swore at people, and he never lost control of
himself He was always able to do what he
considered right ! saw MIN once while at a
white heat of vexation, in the library at the
White House, put aside personal prejudices
and wishes and do his duty without question.
He had been abused and slandereG by a certain
person to such an extent that he could only rec
ognize him as personal and bitter enemy: The
question arose whether that person should be
nominated to the Senate not for position [
knew all the circumstances and said TO General
Grant: What are you going to do about itF
DO about it,! he repeated. i will send his
name to the Senate. He has deserved his ap-
pointment by his services to his country, and no
personal ill-feeling on my part shall prevent his
obtaining what he deserves.
HE sat down and signed the nomination,
and it was sent to the Senate at once He was
generous in the extreme. 1t was always diff
.ult for him to refuse requests made of him. 1
;ould tell you instances OF his great kindness of
teart which you could scarcely believe; but little
hings will show this trait as well as great
mes When Grant has been visitor at my
house, children would overwhelm him
with requests for his autograph. and often
when we would return home late at night
from some reception. tired und sleepy
on the table would be pile of autograph albums
q foot or two high, and Mrs. Grant would say:
Come, General, it is time to retire; you are
tired, ard need rest Don't stop to write in those
books tonight, but wait till morning. No,
General Grant would reply, III do it tonight
These books belong to little children, and they
will stay for them their way to school in the
morning, and don't want to disappoint them.
And he would write in every one
During his personal experiences he had
learned that it was his duty to do the engineer
ing and planning, and to leave details to his
Iieutenants. In this way he became accustomed
to placing the most implicit confidence in those
near him, for he supposed they would do their
dnty as he would his; so that to confidence in
others alone can his terrible misfortunes in New
York be attributed / can understand why
some people should criticise and disagree with
General Grant particularly military men, but 1
can't understand how soIue people could deliber-
ately plot to ruin him. General Grant dearly
loved Ferdinand Ward, son could not have
been dearer TO him; he trusted him implicitly,
and how he could return his love and conf
aence by plotting his ruin is beyond my compre-
lensiOn