The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-01

so eager was ha at first to be out and moving
that he was not content with simply sitting on
the porch in one place, but he had to try
dozen different places on the same day, walking
about to do It, Then his eye longed for what
might be seen from the hilltop, whose praises
the family were ringing. He wan ted to feel the
messy turf yield to his tread and to stand under
the trees, whose waving branches makes perpet-
ual music. That led to the walk which threat
ened COLLAPSE and brought DR.. Sands flying
from New York. One lesson Of that kind was
enough for the General. He has not since ven
tu-ed off the porch, except for a ride in his new
chair. and necessity and good sense have curbed
his desire to walk.
But the contact with the pure air, and the
waving green, and the twitter of birds appeal as
strongly as ever 10 his desires. AS long as it is
prudent, SO long does he stay outdoors every
day. He doesn't often get out much before
noon, for his best sleep comes after daylight,
but unless his pain becomes exceptionally severe
he sits out from an hour to three or four hours
day, at a time when visitors are most
abundant. During his first week he dressed
always for the porch as if for the street. and so
anxious was he not to betray his infirmity that
sometimes he would not allow mis- chair to be
eased even by pillow. But latterly he has not
cared to fight so hard against his growing weak
ness, and rather than stay in he has come out in
his sick gown and skull cap, with shawl thrown
over the side of his head; and his neck muffied
10 scarf. and has settled himself in chair pill
lowed at the back and below, and with robe
tucked about him from the waist to the feet.
He was not particular in what part of the porch
he sat when he came here. The more air he
could get the better he seemed to like it. For
quite week, however, his seat has been in a
of the cottage, where the air sweeps
softly. It is there that people see him.
This side of the porch faces up hill,
and is right in view of the hotel. 1t does not
face the railroad station or the board walk that
leads up the hill, Visitors may turn off by
path running to the cottage, and may pass very
near HIM on the way to the hilltop. but they
usually go up the common walk, and then such
want a closer view walk down for it. This
kind of attention does not seem at all offensive
to the General and he bears the subsequent
staring from knoll above the cottage without a
sigh of annoyance Anything further in social
way is merely an infiction on him. His DISPOSE
ton to be amiable and obliging might incline
him to hold daily receptions if he were able: but
his physical weakness and such impairment of
the voice that the family cannot always under
stand him impose restriction upon mis- social
powers which make him sensitive even among
personal friends, who, however, are always sure
of the best welcome he can give them.
No one who sees him can doubt that the change
has worked great improvement in his appear
ance. The mountain air has tanned and bright
ened his face and freshened his spirits He is q
very sick man. The necessities of his disease
make him constantly sicker and weaker He
has lost sixty pounds i'll eight months, and prob
ably nearly twenty pounds in six weeks. He
hasn't been weighed since he came here, but his .
emaclatlon is perceptibe, and it has not vet been
checked. This is the plain, sad fact, on the
authority OF one whose devotion to the General
has been most marked, and than whom no one
can be more socitous for his Improvement So
when it is reported that the General is better,
the meaning is simply that by the change,
relievlng HIM OF tedious in door confinement
and bringing him to the healthful Quiet of the
country, where all his surroundings are beauti-
1ul a1~' invigoratng his spirits have been lifted
OUT OF the rut of dependency. The novelty of
the change IS perpetual charm to him At |
home his physical dlscomforts were aggravated |
interests him daily in the air. eS4 s..s !
scenery, and soft sky, in tho play
and chatter of children, or in the lines of visitors
that each train brings, so that he is not always
contemp lating his disease, as before There are
of it constantly in many ways, but |
they no longer occupy his thoughts to the exclu-
sion of other things. 1t is an inspritng effect
that the change has brought, not q physical |
deviation from the onward course Of the disease
The Generals man, Harrison, whose accounts of |
what great things the General was going to do,
have ever been among the rosiest that came from
the sick room, in New York as well as here des- |
cribed his condition day or two ago in this
way: Now, [ bleve de Gin'ral is gittin' long
fust rate He's bettah. OATS what l allus say
he's bettah. BIN by, if l keep on sayin' it,
peopie1l 'spect me to have him trottin' round
heah Dey say, You keep calm him bettah.
why don't you have him climbing these heah
rock! L don't mean he's gittn real strong, but
dat he's goin' right along, and is bettah bout an
lnch-or may be a quarter ofn inch. OATS what
call oettah TO him." Harrison's opinions have
grown stronger hourly since the buggy top bath
chair came. This contrivance has been the chief
on the mountain since it was wheeled
around to the porch yesterday morning
The summer life Of General Grants family
now that they have accommodated themselves
to the change, is in most agreeable contrast with
the privatons and anXieties imposed of late
months at their home in the city. 1t could not
be expected that they could anywhere escape
the gaze and opportunities of the curious or the |
annoyances which public interest and affection
bring about. In these respects country life has
secured them perhaps little relief. But oppor
tunity to enjoy the free. pure air. to breathe
the fragrance Of the woods and flowers TO |
spend their time outdoors feasting their. ewes ON
stretches of beautiful valley and distant noun
tains, is a rare treat to them, by which all have
benefited.
Their cottage is tan-colored building, set be-
low the brow of the hill Before Mr. Drexel
bought it It was hotel He altered it for pri-
vate use. It was situated on the mountain top,
where a large and modern structure now stands.
That was before a railroad climbed the noun
tain. One of the long drives from Saratoga was
up here 1t is only ten miles by the highway.
Duncan McGregor. who owned the mountain
and kept the hotel, had the reputation for years
IF keeping as good a country house as could be
found in this region. He came here when he was
young man, and the story goes that by some
stroke of good fortune he bought the whole
fer 81 1t could be reached then and
until three years ago only by horse or on foot
But when it became known that clean tables and
generous fare could be had here at country
prices he was scarcely day in summer without
visitors from Saratoga, and his hotel was always
flied in the warm season with dodgers. Some
times they got more than they bargained for in
she way Of cool weather. and focked off in wag
IN loads to the valley. But the charms of IA good
table, clean beds, and sweeping view that takes
in the Adirondacks to the north, Green and
White mountains to the east, with Mount Wash
ngton in sight, 10 miles off, and the blue domes
IF the C.tskills, ninety miles to the south with
the splendid valley of the Hudson below, were
ever fresh attractions to those who wanted var
ety. Duncan McGregor became independently
we'll off long before modern enterprise reached
out IN this direction and it took bait Of $50 000