Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-07-11
THE MILITARY AUTHOR.
Grants Literary Methods and Ambi-
lions.

by the desire to finish his book, that he
may leave it as legacy to his family.
He sometimes wakes up in the night,
calls fer light, jots down some remem-
brance, and then goes to sleep again.
He stops in the midst-of conversation to
record "reminiscences.
Once on awakening, after dose OF.
morphia, and when his attendants
thought that he could not stand, he
walked over to chair, sat down, ana in
his delirium said, as if in great surprise:
well, this is funny. Here are my books
papers and furniture, yet | am in Hi
nois. Harrison, how did get out here?
Someone has brought me here. wonder
what for. l am away from my book and
no time should be lost in its completion.
| suppose shall have to make the best
of it. But, by the way, Washburne and
Morrison are coming to dinner with me,
and l have no clothes on"
"You are not in Illinois," said one of
those present.
That's all right; know what l am
doing. Can't see the old barn? know
every inch of this ground"
1t was the action of mind weighted
with one subject, and to this day the
general does not know what occurred.
Not long ago in the middle of the night
he awoke.
Harrison, Harrison, light the gas" he
exclaimed.
The man servant did so.
Bring me the paper and pencil"
They were brought; he jotted down an
idea. and then ordered the lights to be
extinguished. He was recently asked:
"What about that story of the surren-
der of General Lees sword?"
81 didn't take his sword" replied the
general, because didn't think it would
be right. Nothing was said or thought OF
it."
ut is usual 10 take the sword isn't itf''
| Yes; but l wouldn't do it in that
case"
To the writer of this article the general
said, in the course of conversation Il
have read good deal in my life, but
know of no grander man than General
Robert E. Lee"
His usual habit is to rise early, break
fast at O'Clock, and get to work by = OF
$50 o'clock. He works steadily until Il
or o'clock, and then takes luncheon
Until recently he had short ride in the
park almost daily. Later in the after
noon he sometimes works for two hours
again, and sometimes even at night fol
little while.
He writes in his own room, on the
first floor above the parlor. His writing
table-an ordinary card tablets sci
about the middle of the room. He sits
with his back to the bay window at East
Sixty-sixth street. At his right is the
bureau, and, further on, the fireplace
On the opposite side is his bed. He
wears slippers, vest, trousers and dres
sing gown. On his head he has a black
, silk cap, or mixed worsted one, as be
!, is subject TO attacks of neuralgia. He
uses large, old fashioned pair of hart
rubber speCtacles. He generally writes
with lead pencil on common maDilis
paper. The general composes with grea
rapidity, and but seldom interlines
When trying to express an idea jus
, right, he often gets up aud walks around
/ the room, although his locomotion il
J strained and slow, his leg still beins
, lame. 1t is thought 10y some that thu
, leg, which was injured when he fell OF
the slippery pavement, was broken, anC
wrongly set.
In an adjoining room there is steno
grapher to whom, when the genera
wishes to record an idea quickly, h,
dictates, the stenographer taking it down
:. When debating the general talks yerl
rapidly, but the swelling on the neck i
so large that it interferes considerabl,
& with the clearness and distinctness of hi
n speech.
The general keeps by his side man,
~ records from the war department il
e Washington, and in handling them Colo
: mel Fred is of great service to his father
in the ability of the colonel. He sal,
SOLlC Jill'C dSOs VOI Ill OIulud-N lUOh
J. ing man, Fred is the best informed. par
d ticularly ON militasy subjects, ever saw
g When he was in Europe he showed
:, great acquaintance with the history O
u the countries we visited"
e 1t was particularly unfortunate, sal,
s the writer, that General Badeau, whel
!. General Grant was thought to be dyinp
!, should have allowed the impression Il
exist that he, in great part, was tn
author of the book. The family wa
e incensed at the report. Colonel Ere,
/, Grant showed the manuscript to frien,
familiar with General Grants writing
and asked whose it was The gentleu al
k QUICKLY responded: at is Genera
Y Grants" 1t is a significant fact Ina
nothing is to be heard from Genera
+ Badeau. He has left the house, bag ant
: baggage, end has not been in for SOM
q time.
4 When the book was completed, Gen
e eral Grant was rIuch delighted. HI
3 took it to Mrs. Grant and said:
a Here is your book. Itsall dnre. 1T
J. the only legacy have to leave you o
my family"
? He invariably refers to the book nov
' as Mrs. Grants The first volume of tn
4 book will appear in December, the secon'
: in March. 1t has alreadv over 300,00
h subscribers, which insures a handsome
E income to the family.
III PRIVATE DETECTIVES.