The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-20
How the General Looks and Talks.

New York Letter in Boston Herald
found General Grant this morning seated
comfortably in the library of his fine residence
up by the park. He was looking very well in-
deed and one would have difficulty In discover
ing in his appearance any traces of the severe
complications he has undoubtedly gone through
during the past year. The veterans cheeks
were full Of color, and his condition of flesh was
apparently quite as high as when I saw him last
a year and half ago In response to my ques-
tons as to his state of health, General Grant
said he was feeling in frstrate condition, ex-
cepting that and then he became rather
gloomy from staying so much in the house. II
have always been used to great amount Of out
door life" said he land my accident of last
winter has until recently compelled me to re-
model my habits to great extent Having to
go about on crutches or not at all, l have re-
manned shut up for weeks at time. If l
moved about very much, the pain in my hip
came on to an extent which kept me from
enjoying existence, and the end of it was that
simply stopped nearly all my exercise. But 1
am pretty thoroughly cured of that difficulty.
You see, walk now without the aid of so much
as cane and don't limp very badly, either >
The General put his hands in his pockets, let his
head fall forward in its old familiar attitude,
and took a circle of the room There was a
perceptible though not at all painful, halt in his
gait, but he assured me that he had within the
past week Wdlkeu HAIL d nile at SlFeLcn WIN
out feeling any evil effects of the exertion. 1
asked General Grant about the stories concern
ing his threatened cancer of the tongue. The
grim smile, which is the old warriors nearest
approach to laughter spread over his face as he
replied: Il don't like to spoil any sensation you
newspaper gentlemen choose to set going he
said, but the fact is that l haven't made the
acquaintance of cancer up to the present time,
and haven't been threatened with one. The
indoor life was compelled for SO long time to
a6n mo 11iorl iuo
to colds. and I took several, which
settled in my throat. l soon found that tobacco
smoke irritated the parts, and / had already cut
down my supply of cigars when sought medical
advice. The examination showed slight swell
ing at the base of the tongue and some little in
flammation through the whole throat. The doc
tors told me might smoke the first half of a
few cigars every day, but, after trying that, l
concluded not to sn oke at ALL | would rather
go without tobacco entirely than guide my smok-
ing by safety gauge; so l havn't smoked at all
in five months There is no soreness whatever
in my throat at present. but l shall not go back
to my cigars until am assured that the cure is
perfect. made up my mind to undergo a thor
dry dock. so to speak. When am all calked up,
newly bolted, copper fastened and repainted |
shall very likely resume business" General
Grant talks briskly, and seems in lively spirits.
He is sixty three years old, and he certainly
bears his age remarkably. There are few gray
streaks in his thick hair and his closely cropped
beard, and his face is sngularly free from the
wrinkles of age. | should hardly like to hold
him up as an example for young men who had
been taught lead frugal lives, free from tobac-
co. stinulants and exposure. General Grant has
had hard life in all these respects, but he looks
younger. and stronger, and in better health than
one out of ten of the men know, young and old.