The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-13
SUNDAY ON MT. MGREGOR.
General Grant Listens to the Service at a
Distance-He Is Resting Comfortably.

Mt McGREGoR, July 12.-The morning was
bright and sunny, the mercury marking 70'
The air was still and fresh after the late rains
that washed the tree leaves clean of dust. The
atmosphere was so clear that the crests of the
Adirondacks made sharp outlines on the sky to
the northward, and the shadows at their bases
were dark blue. General Grants family, Gov
ernor Hill, J. w. Drexel, Senator Arkell and
thirty-fve other people sat on the broad piazza
of the hotel, today, while just down the
slope, in the cottage, General Grant sat
Just where he could hear the singing Of
familiar hymns, with cornet accompaniment This
was the scene on the top of Mt. McGregor this
morning, and the occurrence that rounded the
day. The Sabbath service had been arranged to
take place on the hotel veranda, as far as pos
sible from General Grants cottage, SO that no
cause for excitement might reach him. The pa
tient was almost disposed to go to the hotel to
attend the services but he contented himself
with listening to the singing from where he sat
at the cottage. DR.. Ncwmans text was
from Matthew W. lst and 9Th verses,
and his subject was, 1.-THE value
of character" Besides a reference TO Gen
eral Grant in his opening prayer, DR.. Newman
used these words at the close of his discourse:
"Oh! illustrious sufferer in yonder cottage!
What a lesson thou art teaching to the warriors
and statesmen of the world, and to the youth of
that country thou hast saved, by finding within
thyse1f at this supreme moment those elements
Of repose and happiness which to day excite the
admiration of mankind and fill the hearts of
angels with delight" After the service was
concluded, Governor Hill, Mrs. Drexel and
Senator Arkell called at the cottage and re-
Inained about ten minutes. The patient was
called upon to write but little, but he remarked
with pencil, that he did not feel so much an
invalid as his appearance would indicate while
sitting at ease in his chair
Last night and this day with General Grant
have been such as to occasion surprise at the min
imum of pain and discomfort they have brought
From 10 o'clock last night until 4 o'clock this
morning, the sick man slept almost continuously
and after that he secured rest until O'clock
when he was dressed During the twelve hours
ending at 10 o'clock this morning, no cocaine had
been used. The secretions had been removed
quite readily by garging, and the services of DR..
Douglass had scarcely been required in this line
Of treatment. In the morning and again this P.
NJ, the General has been out of doors, and if
something was lacking in volume of pulse it
seemed to be compensated in the comfort of the
night and day.
About o'clock the General came upon the
riaZZa, and when his family returned to the cot
fage from dinner at the hotel, they found him
out of doors. 1t was at this time that surprise
occurred Turning towards Mrs. Sartoris, Gen.
Grant said, in almost clear tones: We'll, Mel
lie, did you have a good sermon to day?7 The
unusually clear utterance of the voice. that so
long has been at its best very husky, was a
most pleasing surprise, and when between and
9 o'clock, the General arose to go to his room for
the night he said good night" in voice, DR..
Newman said, as clear and strong as that in
which the latter described the occurrence. When
DR. Douglas prepared his patient for the night,
he found no indication that foretold other than
an unusually quiet light.