The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-09-04
JOB DEPARTMENT..
Grant aud the Artist.
n. z. Mail and il. .resa

Grait aud the Artist.
n. 7. Mail and liz .resa
Among tho mass of "reminiscences
that are now current about Gen. Grant
there are none more interesting than
those recounted by men who came in
to personal contact with him during
the most trying periods of his civil and
m litary career Shortly after he had
been appointed secretary of war under
Pres dent johnson, w liam Edgar
Marshall, the celebrated artist who
painted tho hstor cal portraits Of
Washington and Lincoln, was sum-
moned to Wash ngton to make a
''countefcit presentment" of Grant to
be added to Americas art collection Of
her illustr GUS men.
II went 10 Washington. saws Mr..
Marshall. with an impression in nv
mind that Gen. Grant was not a great
man in the sense that Lincoln aud
Washington were great. A small stu.
do was assigned me in the rear ofsthc
war department, and here for four
months every day had IN excellent
opportunity to study Grants charac-
ter'stics; while he was giving me sit
tings. His face was not one that
would impress the ordinary observer
as having any remarkable traits of
character about it. Using the artists
acumen. l soon discovered that be-
meath the stolid, quiet expression fof
his physiognomy there were ali tie
elements of Il really great man He
impressed me as l became better ac.
quainted with him as Il man of sttono
convict no N,k1
until ne had counted all the cost. When
nc had once fairly made up his mind
that it was right for him to follow q
certain course of action, the conclu.
sion became a duty and q conviction.
He embodied in all his actions Dayy
Crockctt's motto: BE sure your right.
then go ahead When he said to tie
enemy in the field 1 propose to move
Immediately on your works. feel
sure that he had determined to do so
after conscient, Gus dclibcration.
MIR. Marshall says that the ono
phase OF Grants character that i'm
pressed him more strongly than all
others was his kindly nature. / have
often seen him come into NV stud q
from tho war department and leave nv
the back door to avoid wounding tho
feelings of some unfortunate person In
distress by saying No to his appeals
when it was imperative that he shouId
do SO.
~ don't mean BY this that he would
'shirk his duty. He merely followed
the generous impulses of his heart nv
avoiding an act distasteful to h i'm and
hurtful to his feelings. On one occa-
sion lady called to ask a pardon for
her husband, who had been guilty of
some military oticnse. Grant came
hurr;edly into my studio to avoid hcr.
MIR. Marshall he remarked to me. IT
will pain me say .'No" to that womnn's
appeals; but my duty demands that /
should do so. / have conc in here ta
get rid of the opportunities Tn t,;;s
way hope she will realize for herself
that her case is hopeless, and cease ap-
peailng to me. l dislike very much TO
add to her sorrow, and so long as |
can AVOID being the direct course OF
doing so. shall be content
'.l'ur ng the four month; that I was
with Gen. Grant" continued NJ. Mar
shall, ~ never saw any evidence of
tho incorporate habits with which he
was SO often charged. He was nm in
ordinate smoker, to be sure. His ci-
gars were always the strongest and
best that he could procure. Occasion-
ally when in my studio he INDUCED in
9 pipe, and ho told me once that hc
liked u smoke in that way quite as
well as he did Il cigar. A. for drink.
ing liquor. never saw him tas.e n
drop. although have occas' onal!y Off
cred it to him from my private store,
"onc thing that pleased me ycrv
much ln Grants character was the
great affect on he ut all times ey;nccd
for his fam IL. Mrs. Grant would Off.
en- call for him at the war department
and urge him to lay aside his work.
Ulysses, she would say, YOU are
working too hard. Come home with
me and take some rest. You ne,d r.
badly Her loving requests we're MI
ways complied with. TAX her arm
they would go away together. haupv in
each others company.
with Gen. Grant" Mr. Marshall said
IN conclusion. "was in regard to his
nomination for the presidency in 1868.
asked him if he desired the Office,
and he 50 d: No, | do not. But have
always hold myself ready to serve the
american people in whatever capacity
they wanted mo 10 do SO. Ii it is their
wish that shall be their president, I
Will not shrink the responsib l.ty.' Ills
nomination and election followed
shortly after.h
The results or Mr.. MARSHALL = artist
lc rclat ons with Gen. Grant wcr.
pleasantly recalled Just previous to his
departure for Mt. sict:rcgor when he
requested him 10 call at his home in
oIAty-sAth street and bring with him
cape Of the portrait painted
ut tte war department. Across the
of ono ho wrote: This por-
trait meets my approval. as l regard
II the most faithful of all have seen.
u. S. GRANT.