The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-01-22

A1xR Grant Refuses 70 Accept
the Generous oner Made by
the Money King.


nom cancorous affection Of the mouth
similar to that which caused the death Of
senator Ben Hill Last summer. at Long
brnnch, Gen. Grant suffered from SWELL
ing tongue. At first he paid but little
ettention TO It but later when il in
eeffered seriously with his speech and
the partaking of food he consulted
physicians. The conclusion of the
doctors was that the affection was aggra-
waited by smoking and they recommended
mat the General curb his appetite. This
ne did. reducing his quota of cigars to half
o. one day. Under this abstinence he
improved. The trouble has now returned
In more violent form, and the belief pre-
70 Is 30 the doctors do not deny.
Gen Gnnt's financial affairs were mate
rally straightened yesterday by the gener-
GUS gift Of William II. Vanderbilt. who
transferred the bills of sale and mortgages
On Gen. Grants estate to Mrs. Grant in
trust The money kings generous inten-
ions were first revealed In the following
hitter:
No. Gao FIFTH AVENUE, Jan. 10. lss5.-Mrs
UtVsses =. Granf-DEAR MADAME: So many
Misrepresentation have appeared In regard TO
the loan made by me to Gen. Grant and reflect
ana unjustly upon him and myself that It seems
proper briefly to recite the facts On Sunday;
asked me TO lend him $1,000 for one day;
gave him my check without question. not be-
csuse the transaction was business-llke but
amply because the request came from Gen.
Grant The misfortunes that overwhelmed him
IN the next twenty -four hours aroused the sym.
PATTY ana regret OF the whole country; aoa lam, ana
deeds TO your joint properties to cover this OBJ
lieation, and urged my acceptance ON on
debt OF honor which the General had personally
Incurred, and these deeds 1 returned. During
my abaehoe in Europe the General delivered to
estate. his hous shold effects, and swords. med
ais, and works Of art, which were memorials OF
his Victories and presents from governments all
Judgment, worth $4,000. At his solicita-
zion the necessary steps were taken by
Judgment, ETC., to reduce these properties TO
possession. and the articles mentioned have been
This day bought In by me, and the amounts bid
applied to the reduction OF the debt. Now that
i am at liberty to treat these things as my own.
I'm accord with my feelings Is this:
present TO YOU, rs your separate es-
tate. the debt and Judgment hold against
real estate and all his household furniture and
ornaments, coupled only with the condition that
the swords, commissions, medals, gifts from the
United States, states, cities, and fore gu gov
ernments, and all articles OF historical value
and interest shall. at the Generals death, or. II
you DIES re It: sooner. lie pre- sented To the Gov
ernment mt Washington, where they will remain
IA perpetual memorials OF his fame and OF the
history OF his time.
/ inclose herewith assignments TO you OF the
mortgages and Judgments, the bin OF sale of his
personal property. and the deed or trust In
which the articles OF historical interest are emu
merated. copy of this trust deed will. with
Your approval. be forwarded to the President
OF the United States for deposit In the proper
department. Trusting this action will meet
Nth your acceptance and approval, and with
the kindest regards to your husband, am.
yours respec fully. w. II. VANDERBILT.
Mrs. Grant found herself unable to nc
cept the gifts, and in respect to her feelings
of gratitude for the offer of Mr.. Wander
bilt, Gen. Grant sent in reply the following
letter:
NEW YORK CRY, Jan. 10, 1885.
DEAR SIR:-Mrs. Grant wishes me to answer
your letter OF this evening TO ray that while
abe appreciates yonr great generosity in trans
ferring 70 her Che mortgage given to secure my
debt OF $I5O0c0, she cannot accept 1t in whole.
She accepts wit pleasure the trust which APP
plies to tie articles enumerated in your letter,
to 60 TO the Government on the United States at
my death, or sooner At her option: In this
matter you have anticipated the disposition
which had contemplated max ng Of the afti-
cles. They will he delivered TO the Government
reception. The papers relating to all the other
property will be returned. with the request
that You have II sold and the proceeds applied
to the liquidation of the debt which l so Justly
owe You You have stated in your letter. with
the rtnutest accu aov, the history OF the trans
action which brought me in your debt. have
only to add that regard your giving me your
check for the amount without inquiry ~ an act
OF marked and unusual friendship. The loan
believed, to carry the Marine National Bank
over a dav, being assured that the bank was
solvent but, owing TO the unusual calls, needed
assistance until IL could call In its loan. was
assured by Ferdinand Ward that the firm of
Grant a. Ward had over SftO, 0UO to its credit ut
that time In the Marine Bank, besides 81. $780,
600 OF unpledged securities in the firms own
l cannot conclude without assuring you that
Mrs. Grants inability to ava herself of your
great kindness in no way lessons either her
sense of obligation or my own Yours truly.
To w. ii. Vanderbilt, Esq. u. :. GRANT.
When Mr.. Vanderbilt found that his
offer was defeated by the refusal of Mrs.
Grant to accept he determined to take the
matter into his own hands and apply the
estates to the creation Of trust fund that
would accrue to her benefit. He announced
this intention In letter as follows:
No 60 FIFTH AVENUE, Jan. IL, 1885.
Gen. u. S. Grant:
DEAR SIR: On my return home last night I
found your letter in answer TO mine TO Mrs.
Grant. appreciate fully the sentiments which
actuate both Mrs. Grant and Yourself in de-
Ginning the part OF my proposition relating to
the real estate. ] greatly regret that she feels
1t her duty to make this decision as earnest
~ hoped the spirit in which the oter was
made would overcome any scruples she might
that shall not be defeated in the purpose TO
viii h have given oh thought and In
which have so much at heart. i wi l, therefore,
IA fast as the money 8 received from the sales
of real esla e. DEF ost 1t in the Union Trust
Company With the money thus realized will
at once create with that company trust with
the proper provisions for the income to be made
to Mrs. Grant during her life, and giving the
power to her to make such disposition of the
principal by her will rs she may elect Very
truly yours, WILLIAM H. VANDERBILT.
Gen. u s. Grant
Gen. Grlnt at first accepted this last let
ter, but Mrs. Grant, on further deliber-
alton. decided to refuse all gifts, treating
the debt as one of honor. which the General
should pay without attracting compassion
or deserving il:
NEW YORK CRY, January IL, 1895
DEAR SIR: Your letter OF this date received
Mrs. Grant and regret that You cannot accept
our proposition TO retain the property which
wa Inortgaged I'm good faith TO secure debt OF
honor. But your generous determination COM
pels US to NJ longer resist Yours truly,
w. H. Vanderbilt u. s. GRANT
NEW YORK, Sunday January IL, 1888.
My DEAR M8 VANDERBILT: Upon reading
your letter this afternoon General Grant and
myself felt 1t would be ungTacious to refuse
y0uf princely and generous offer. Hence his
note 10 YOU. But upon reflection find cannot
j will not accept your muniicence IN any form.
eg yen Will pardon this apparent vacilation
and coneider this answer definite and final
With great regard, and sense of OBJ igation
that will always remain. i am vOurs very nratf-