The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-11
GENERAL GRANTS BOOK.
The Work Receiving Its Finishing Touc hes
How the General Writes and Works.


New York Special.
The extracts from Grants book printed in the
Commercial Advertiser yesterday were widely
copied and commented upon The same journal
says tonight:
General Grants book is still receiving the
finishing touches. The author works daily on
it, and it is always first and foremost in his
mind. In his severest illness, when every one
expected him to die, one of the family asked
one of the doctors: Twill he der 'No, think
and tearfully exclaimed: ''Ah fear you hope
against hope" The book had not been COM
pieted. and the General was much disturbed in
mind. It was then that he directed how every
detail should be carried out in case he should not
be permitted to finish the work He expressed
the wish that his son Fred should write the rest
of it, and that Mr.. Hamilton Fish should revise
it, Once. on awakening after dose of morphia.
and when his attendants thought that he could
not stand, he walked over to chair, sat down,
and in his delirium said, as if in great SURPRISE
WELL this Is funny. Here are my books,
papers, pictures and furniture, yet am in Ili-
nois. Harrison, how did get out heres Some
one has brought me here. l wonder what for.
be lost in its completion. l suppose shall have
to make the best of it But, by the way, Wash
burne and Morton are coming to dinner with me,
and have no clothes on
''You are not in Illinois," said one of those
present
That's all right. 1 know what am doing.
Can't | see the old barn! And know every inch
of this ground"
1t was the action of mind weighted with one
object and to this day the General does not
of the night, he awoke. "Harrisonl Harrison!
light the gas!' he exclaimed. The man-servant
did so. Bring me the paper and penci. They
were brought. He jotted down an idea and then
ordered the light extinguished Frequently in
conversation, he says 'Wait moment and
then picks up some paper, writes a few lines and
resumes the conversation, as if there had been
no break whatever When recording a thought,
he will under no circumstances be interrupted
DR.. Douglas, of whom he is more fond than Of
anyone outside Of his immediate family, opened
the door day recently. Good morning,
General" said he ''Hushm replied the General,
raising his had for silence 81 have disturbed
you" remarked the Doctor. NO. wait" replied
the General proceeding with his writing. Then,
put ting down his pencil, he greeted the Doctor
plea sanity and began talking of his condition.
He Is usually ready to talk of it, and can
state his feelings and the progress of his case
accurately
He delights in speaking of the book to his
friends. "How far are you on the book nowW
asked member of the family, one day.
II am in the Appomattox campaign and his
eyes gstened as he related some incidents OF
those stirring times.
"What about that story of the surrender and
General Lees swordq inquired listener.
II didn't take his sword, because l didn't think
it would be right Nothing was said or thought
of 1t. General Lee had on bright, new uniform
and a shining sword. 1 was in my working
clothes"
WELL it's usual to take the sword, isn't itlr
yes; but wouldn't do it in that case"
TO the writer of this article the General once
read great deal in my life but l know of no
grander man than General Lee"
The General is well enough nowadays to enjoy
revising his book, as school-boy would enjoy
the holidays His usual habit is to rise early,
breakfast at o'clock, and get to work by or
$50 o'clock. He works steadily until IL or l
o'clock, and then takes luncheon. Until
recently he had a short ride in the
park almost daily. Later in the after
noon he sometimes works for two hours
again. and sometimes even at night for a lit
tie while. He writes in his own room. on
the first floor above the parlor. His writing
table-an ordinary card tablets get about the
middle of the room. He sits with his back to
the bay window on East Sixty-sixth street At
his right is the bureau, and further on the fire
place. On the opposite side is his bed. He
wears slippers, vest, trousers and dressing gown.
On his head he has black silk cap, or mixed
worsted one, as he is subject to attacks of neu-
ralgia. He uses large, old-fashloned pair of
hard rubber spectacles. He generally writes
with lead pencil. on common MANILA paper.
The General composes with great rapidity, and
but seldom interlines When trying to express
an idea, just right, he often gets mp and walks
around the ROOM although his locomotion is
strained and slow, his leg still being lame 1t is
thought by some that the leg which was injured
when he fell on the slippery pavement was
broken and wrongly set. In an adjoining room
wishes to record an idea quickly, he Dictates the
stenographer taking it down. When debating
the General talks very rapidly, but the swelling
on the neck is so large that it interferes consd-
erably with the clearness and distinctness of his
speech.
The truth concerning his throat Is that the
swelling is SO large that the physicians can
not examine it, except by feeling it. He cannot
open his mouth wide for them to look far into
it, unless with great pain.
The General keeps by his side many records
from the War Department at Washington, and
in handling them Colonel Fred is OF great serv-
ice to his father. The General has great deal
Of confidence in the ability of the Colonel. He
man Fred is the best informed, particularly on
military subjects, l ever saw. When he was in
Europe he showed great acquaintance with the
history of the countries we visited"
The stenographer whom the General has now
is much liked by his employer. He cams from
Washington, and Is a trained congressional re-
porter. lent by the authorities at the national
capital, but the greatest part of the manuscript
is in the Generals own handwriting, and,
after it has been used by the printers, is re-
turned and preserved by the family. 1t was
particularly unfortunate on this account
that General Badeau, at the time when General
Grant was thought to be dying, should have al
lowed the impression to exist that he, in great
part, was the author of the book; at least such a
rumor was afioat and many newspapers pub
lished it. The family was much incensed at the
report. and Colonel Fred showed the manuscript
to friend, who knew the Generals handwriting
WE'LL and asked him whose writing it was. The
gentleman quickly responded:
st is General Grants"
do you think" continued Colonel Grant.
that father would write at any ones dictation?'
+ II am pretty sure he would not responded
the friend
1t is significant fact that nothing moro is to
be heard from General Badeau. He has left the
| house. bag and baggage, and has not been in it
for some time. Every day either Colonel
Fred or Mr.. Jesse Grant sits in the
Generals room and reads the manuscript
to him, the General making com