Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-09-03
Julia Dent Grant.

vile Ol 1eUeTd4 0raQLlS from the w ASH
ington Republican:
1t was the happy fortune of him
whom the Nation mourns to love and
be loved by Julia Dent-the model
daughter who became the ideal wife
and mother. Who can estimate the
Indebtedness of the Republic to this la
dy? Who can say-who will venture to
say-that q less fortunate marriage
might not have prevented the develop
ment and fruition Of all the great pos
sibilities of Grants nature.
The story of the welded life of this
couple is benefaction TO humanity,
teaching lessons of the purest domes-
ITCHY, commencing mutual love and
confidence as the only sure foundation
OF a happy home and the best equip
ment for worthy career.
There were dark days in the early
years of this couple; they trod q mar
row, rugged path, but they made it
wide enough to go side by side, hand
in hand, heart by heart, for they chung
close to each other. There were times
when, had the wife been respondent,
fretful, complaining; when, had she
been anything but the tender, true,
loving, bright, hopeful woman that she
was, her husband might have fallen by
the wayside, his high destiny unsuspect-
ed, his name almost unknown. ''Amid
the storms and the sorrows of life the
affections Of man may Veer, but I'M
changed and unchanging is the true
heart of woman-she loves and loves
forever" The storms were not so dark
nor the sorrows so thick as to cause
any change or shadow of veering in the
affection of Z. S. Grant for his Young
wife, and her deathless love was the
light of fixed star.
There were years of poverty in the
antebellum life of the Grants, and the
wife was called by stern necessity to
forego many of the luXuries which lend
charm to home and mitigate the
cares and troubles of existence. But
poverty did not chill the heart, dim the
eye, sadden the voice or weaken the
confidence of the wife. And the hus-
band, cheered and solaced by hopeful
sympathy, kept his troubles from the
world and quietly pursued the path of
duty, although it is scarcely possible
that he could have been entirely igno-
rant of his own great capacities.
From the time when Grant entered
the volunteer army, called out to serve
the republic, until the collapse of the
rebellion at Appomattox, there was
scarcely an hour when his reputation
was secure. The world can never know
how much he was made to suffer by
cruel Misrepresentation. But when
malice and detraction were doing their
worst he had one safe refuge-the love,
the trust, the unwavering faith OF his
wife. And when the war was ended,
and the world was paying tribute to
the genius of Grant, there was one per-
son who felt no surprise at his achieve
ments, for he had accomplished just
what she had expected. Her faith had
anticipated it all, and may we not say
that her faith, her love, her consolatory
and cheering influence had made it all
a possibility?
Of Mrs. Grant as mistress of the
White House, it must be said by him
who writes justly that no lady ever filled
the place more admirably. She had no
ambition to take part in the affairs of
State. She did not care to be inhuen-
tial in the disposal of patronage. Her
only desire was to be good wife to
the President, as she had been to the
Captain, to the leather dealer, to the
Colonel, and the General. All that pub
lie duties required of her she did, not
ostentatiously. nor yet with bashful
timidity, but with the grace that comes
with good sense and right purposes.
Her happiest hours were those devoted
to her children, and no children in this
or any other land had better mother.
Wherever the Grants have been or
however situated, whether in poverty in
Missouri or in splendor in Washington,
whether in the highest stations at home
or the most honored guests of Kings
and Emperors of Europe and Asia;
whether in the lap of luxury or buf-
feting the waves of financial disaster,
Mrs. Grant has been true to the prom
Use of her youth-has been the best gift
of God to mana model wife and
mother.
Her place in the Nations heart is
secure, and the prayer of the people is
that she may long live to witness their
devotion to her husbands memory, and
to be blest by the loving care of her
children and their children.