National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-03-12
SKETCH OF THE OLD WARRIOR.
Gen. Grants Condition ms Described
by "Constitution" Correspondent
Trouble with Hts Publishers.

by n "tOnstttutton" correspondent
Trouble with Hts Publishers.
A graphic description Of Gen. Grants
condition Is given in recent special dis
patch 10 the Atlanta Constitution. The
general is represented as exorting him.
self to get his war "reminiscences written
out before his death stops his pen. He
had more ease from pain during last week
than was anticipated, and was able to
work several hours every day. In order
to hasten the composition, an amauuensis
was employed-a woman who could use a
typewriter as rapidly as no would be
likely to dictate, but his constitutional
lack Of fluonoy was aggravated by the
usual process, and 1t was soon found,
also, that the use Of his voice, even In
whisper, brought on inflammation and
swelling in his diseased throat. There
| fore, he returned to pen and ink. He
writes slowly, his average rate being only
about 500 words an hour. and that is
lowered by frequent meditation. lie has
never praoticed at composition for publ
cation, and IL comes awkward. The first
volume of the proposed work has boon
edited thoroughly by an expert, whose
duty, however, was limited TO verbal
and grammatical revision. He was
| MuiuNu lol w hlhtl Nlb meanings tANNDb
on consultation. The second volume Is
about half done, but Grant has made
copious notes for the remainder, so that
they could bo written out after his death,
IL necessary.
There has been falling out between
Grant and Roswell Smith, the manager of
the Century company. Ii was all but
concluded that the autobiography should
be published by that concern. The gem
eral was paid ~ 900 for his war article in
the February number of the Century, and
it was decided that further passages from
his forthcoming book should DO first pub
lishod in the magazine. Arrangements
for the making Of the pictures and print
ing Of the volumes were made, and terms
were nearly settled, on the basis of a roy.
atty. The negotiations did not result in
contract, however, and for the failure
Mark Twain is understood to be response
BILE. Mark has not been so reckless {
humorist as to share tho profits of his fur
with anybody. lie has mastered the sub
scription book business. He is his Owl
publisher and wholesaler being the prin
cipal though unmentionod partner in tn,
firm Of Charles l.. Webster & Co., th'
Webster being q relative who marshal'
and directs the soliciting agents will
which the whole country is made Il
swarm. Grant received an offer from
Mark, through Webster, to take his sol
Jesse into the enterprise Of publishing an,
circulating the "reminiscences. The fac
was shown to him that the mechanical
: cost of producing each 81 volume woul,
not exceed 80 cents. provided large edi
lions were sold, and that q clear prof
treble the royalty offered by Smith coulC
be realized. As this scheme promised
yield considerable fortune for his fam
! lily and make q business for u son, Gran
went into it.
= There was no complete bargain /,
: break as between us aud the general,
: said Smith to-day, but we supposed it l.
be settled that the Century imprint woul
n go on tho title page of the book. III
came to our office ain ,st daily to consul
about the matter, aud our advice as to Oh
material and makeup Of the work wa
generally sought and followed. Under
stand, though, that we have no grievance
lilo had the right to 40 elsewhere, and h
object was principally to create a plaC
for one of his sons-a thing which We wei
- hardly prepared to do"
There is great deal moro bitterne
,. than Smith intimates, and it is certai
that no more papers by Grant will appet
in the Century, Some say that Mar
Twain has incidentally closed tho pag
Of the magazine to any further transcript
from his forthcoming books, which wi
be loss of advertising. He is in tow
. to help Webster in the new project. III
terms of tho partnership between the
=, and the Grants are not divulged furth
than that Mark advances the considerab
capital required to put the books on Il
A market.
A Tho general would not be recogniz
by anybody guided only by his famili
I. portraits, as he sits writing his book
said privileged caller upon him. "Tl
suggestion Of robust vigor is gone, and
VI has the limp whiteness of suffering il
valid. Moro than that his face is great
70 altered. His hair and whiskers hav
~ been allowed to grow much longer thG
he customarily wears them, owing to
dislike to DO disturbed by a barber. L
Dr. has no teeth, the removal of the few tn
IT. he had rendered the false ones impracl
cable. Thus his entire aspect is chapge
lilo writes ON small stand, which
~ drawn to his side as he sits in big, ea'
ID chair. Several bulky scrap books, Co
y. tanning his collection of printed u,
~ manuscript materials. lie on tab
within reach. He refers to them Fl
quently, for he is anxious to be exact
- his statements of fact. His wife or one
e y, his sons is constantly with him.
es walking to and fro, which he sometim
O. does when making up his mind about
e, paragraph, as well as during some Of 81
o. attacks of pain, he has to use cane
- consequence of the lameness in his hi
Z His temper is equable, aud ho endur
- with characteristic fortitude."
" TauNNV has summed his too moor falIp