The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-21
EDWARDS pIERREPoNT.

He Thinks the General Has Improved Con-
siderabiy in the Past Three Weeks.
New York Special.
Edwards Pierrepont called upon General Grant
at III o'clock to-day. His card was received by
Mrs. Grant, and she desired Mr.. Pierrepont to
come upstairs into the library, where the invalid
Ley upon the sofa
He remained with General Grant nearly an
hour Your correspondent called upon Mr..
Pierrepont in the afternoon, and asked him the
particulars of his visit
81 was delightfully."- surprised, he replied, sat
tho remarkable improvement in General Grants
appearance since last saw him, three weeks
ago. He was then in great and constant pain,
and the fortunes he suffered told its tale in mis-
face But he was in splendid trim this morn
ing, and quite disposed to be chatty. He had
studied the subject, and evidently knew just
what he was talking about. But what bore most
heavily on his mind was the book he is writing.
73s said he was getting along into the second
volume lie has not been able to work upon it
FOR some time, and the anxiety lest he may not
live to finish it tells upon him. l re-
call that throughout all the years of my init
macy with him he has never alluded once to
his military career, except when l have ques-
toned him definitely about this battle or that
One would naturally suppose that such warrior
would live!argely in the memory of his conquests
But Grant never spoke of them. He feels now
however that being in the possession Of great
facts of history which must otherwise die with
him. Il is a pressing public duty for him to
spread them all before the people. This idea is
An his mind almost to the exclusion of everything
else"
"Does he believe that his illness is to be fatallr
He did not say SO in those words at all, but
his manner and talk gave me the impression of a
pnan who was expecting to take the steamer for
long voyage, for instance, and felt the necessi
ty of completing certain work before he could 60
content. 1 should judge that he did not expect
to get we'll and only asked for time to do this
one thing. AS for death, Grant looks to it with
ture, and entertains the orthodox views
he I was Drought brougSt up. as1l have seem
him most during his busiest days, and under
there Is one fact about him which has never to
my knowledge been brought out, and which is
an element of his character. He has the utmost
horror of profanity. l never knew him to use a
profane word, or one that even bordered on pro-
family. And when was in his Cabinet was
often with him when he was extremely angry
aud indignant, and when most men would have
made the atmosphere sulphuric with oaths"
"Does he take any interest in contemporaries
Gus poiiticsr
''Oh, yes; and talked freely with me of the
present situation, upon which he has very de-
sided convictions. DR.. Newman had told him
that | was in Washington last week. and he
piled me with questions about what l saw and
heard and thought. Of course / should not
wish to toll you what he said Of the present aG
mi1istraticn, but he said nothing to indicate
that its success was improbable. He referred
frequently to his daughter, whom he was hourly
expecting Home matters and his books are
pretty niuch all he thinks of now. and if he can
finish the latter he will die content-the most
heroic and unselfish patriot of the century"
''Some time" said Mr.. Pierrepont, as your cor
respsndent rose to 60, II shall publish little
sketch of General Grants stay in London, eight
years ago. when he was my guest Twas then
minister to England. 1 kept little diary of
know people will enjoy reading"