Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1885-04-11

whelmed him and his family. could
never comprehend why the old man
(all old soldiers call General Grant
the old many went into business. and
particularly why he set himself M ia
Wall street. From the time he enter
tanned this business notion have always
thought General Grant was off his base
and had lost that abundance of canton
that has characterized all his movements.
have listened to him talk about making
money, in perfect amazement. He
waged that he had talent for max
ing. money, and that his sons pos
sessed this talent to q remarkable de-
gree. He seemed never to tire of
talking about this when we were 80 stu
ated as to be free from interruption, and
when we could talk with freedom of by
gone days. Now know very we'll that
General Grant did not possess the talent
and genius for making money; his nature
was too generous and confiding for that.
His talent in connection with money,
was IN an opposite direction, and caused
him to get clear ofmoney in very short
time. He could never keep money be-
fore he set up in Wall street, and you
know he is very bright fellow who can
keep money alter he gets there. What
most surprised me, however, was that
the old man should talk so much
about this newly discovered talent.
He talked persistently) and Grant al
ways talked well when he fel. free ID
talk about accumulating large fortune,
and noticed his earnestness of manner
and sometimes thought that I under
rated him in this particular. Still |
could not entirely divest myself of the
apprehension felt on his account, and
his very persistency and earnestness
added to my fears. Why, never knew
Grant to talk about the great
abilities which he did possess, and
which the world has recognized.
No one ever heard him talk about his
great military talent or boast about his
splendid achievements in the field, and
yet Grant knew not of his extraordinary
abilities in this direction before his sue
cessful movements and the brilliant, de-
cisive results that attended them showed
him. Indeed, General Grant had greater
talent for conducting campaigns and
fighting armies than he was really aware
Of Nobody, however, ever heard
him talk about what be possessed
III .LulS QlTeCtlOu, anu Tie
simple fact that he disserted to me with
so much earnestness and frequency on
his supposed money making talents, that
l carried a suspicion in my mind that
his previously strong mental forces were
breaking up, and that he was rapidly
moving away from his previous well
established line of prudence and safety.
Later in the evening the Lieutenant
General spoke of the reluctance with
which General Grant left the army to
become President of the United States.
"You have seen the statement" said
General Sheridan, ITO the effect that the
old man laid plans to secure the nomi-
nation for the Presidency in 1866. There
is no foundation for. such
statement, and know whereo
l speak. / know what his feelings and
his desires were at that time touching
his future He wanted, above all things,
to remain with the army, which he loved
and whose idol he was and is still, and
had no ambition whatever to become
President. He doubted his ability to
discharge the duties of President, but
above all he has no taste or inclination
for political offices.