Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-10
General Grant.


particularly in this city, and has awakened
such universal feeling of sympathy, that it
has brought an entirely new class of visitors.
These are people who do not know the Cen
eral OF any member of his family personally,
but who have warm admiration for the
grim old warrior, in his sturdy battle against
bis fatal malady. They do not attempt to en-
ter the house or even to inquire at the door,
but stand singy or in groups in Fifth ave-,
or in Sixty-sixth street, and talk of the
achievements of the General in time of peace
and war, or walk up and down in front of the
house, looking at the window in the second
story where the Generals library is situated
and where he spends his days, in the hope
that they may catch glimpse of him. They
were disappointed Yesterday, however, for
the curtains were pulled down most of the
day, and the General was not seen to look
out at all
There was hardly carriage that passed up
or down Fifth avenue, from which the driver
or occupants did not cast glance at the
house, and some of them even stopped for a
time near by where they could watch It. A
middle-aged man and an old lady even got
out of their coupe, and after walking down
and taking good look at the front of the
house, returned to their carriage and drove
away. The tall policeman who stands near
the corner of Fifth avenue. said that
he had got so used to and so
tire! Of being asked what house Gen. Grant
lived in that as soon as any one looked at him
his lips mechanically opened and he repeated,
1.-The first house on the left" why" said
he, Il believe that half the town has been
here to-day, and what astonishes me most is
that all whom have heard talk express the
greatest sorrow for the General, and couldn't
be moe dem0nstrative in their sympathy If il
was their own father who was sick" The
small boys who play in the street seemed to
have come within the influence of the general
feeling of sorrow. for shout as loud as they
may at the Madson-ave. end of the block, as
soon as they approach the ex-President's
house their voices are hushed, and nothing is
heard but the patter of swift-running feet.
As a policeman and the private Waterman
of the neighborhood were leaning upon the
Central Park wall, in the shelter of large
clump of evergreen trees ,havnga quiet chat
at ? o'clock yesterday morning, the watch
mans eve saw shower of sparks fall into
Sixty-sixth street, near Fifth-ave., and i'm
nediately afterward bright light appeared
from the chimney of Gen. Grants house.
That's fire, sure" said he, and accompanied
by the policeman he ran to the front door and
pulled the bell violently. The sparks con-
tinued to float out from the chimney and a
lurid flame shot several feet above it,
Some of the people living in the house on
the other side of the street had been
awakened by the bright light shining into
their windows, and the whole household was
aroused and stood in the rooms anxously
watching the progress of the flames, a num-
Der of persons who had been either seeking
business on pleasure gathered in the street,
and there were several loud cries of fire
heard. 1t seemed an age before Harrison
came to the door. still rubbing the sleep out
of his eyes. Seeing an officer in uniform he
hastily inquired Whats the matter?'
Your house is ablaze," said" the officer
ION the roof, and you'd better rout every
one and get them dressed
Harrison dashed like a flash up the polished
stairs to the Generals room. He was sleep
ing as peacefully as an infant A glance at
the fireplace explained the cause of the sud.
den appearance of flame upon the roof. The
room having become chilly. one of the Gen
erals sons had got up and thrown some wood
upon the dying embers. and their burning
brekly was the cause OF the alarming sight
on the roof. The affair though it proved in
significant, might have been serious. and
created considerable excitement. The Gen
ersl slept through the commotion and was in
no wise disturbed
The ex-President bears his suffering with
such great patience and fortitude and with
such entire absence of complaint that il
appears even to those who see him every day
that his mind does not dwell at all upon
the inevitable end that follows an
epithelisl cancer in the throat In con.
versation held few days ago with General
Badaau in his library, he dropped a remark,
that shows that he evidently appreciates the
seriousness of his condition. There mas a
large amount of manuscript scattered around
on the table and floor near him, and he was
looking through the various packages and
giving directions and information concerning
such as he thought of sufficient Importance to
incorporate into the history of his life's
work. or of any particular literary value
Coming to piece og manuscript that within
the next few weeks he would find it neces.
sarv TO use in forwarding his literary labor
toward completion, he began to give direc
tons in reference to it,
General Badeau interrupted him and told
him that il was unnecessary for him to con
tinue any expression of his desires with re
spect to this particular piece of manuscript
as he would undoubtedly be able to dispose
Of it himself at the proper time.
General Grant replied, without change OF
expression, or the shadow of regret or feal
upon his face, in his usual tone of voice ano
ousiness-like manner:
General, that may be what you think