New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-03
TIE GENERALS GENEROSITY.
TALK WITH MR. CnILDs-THE ORIGINAL o
The CENTENNIAL SPEECH

A TALK WITH MIR. CfIIIDS-IHE ORIGINAL OF
The CENTENNIAL SPEECH.
PHILADELPHIA, April 2.-Ihe North Ameyi-
this morning publishes the following Interview with
Mr.. George w. Childs
The last time General Grant the fourth
OF last month He realized that his life drawing to
close, but seemed TO regard the approach odeab calm
ly aud without the slightest fear. He expressed the
hope that would be able finish his book before he
died While talking of the efforts of his friends
TO have him placed the retired list he testified how
kindly he felt toward them. and spoke Of
the pleasure he felt al the kind remarks OF the
newspapers advocating his retirement. While we were
chatting l observed that IL was half-past III o'clock
and the General said suppose the senate Is adjourn
Ing now Just then l received a telegram from Mr.
Drexe stating that General Grant had been paced Oh
tine retired list There. General said /; read that
smile of pleasure illuminated his counteuanee and for
a moment he appeared unable to speak. Mrs Grant
entered the room and told her the news With beam
ing she cried out: They have brought us back our
old commander The scene was very affecting The
General could hardly express the deli ght he felt at the
compliment which had been paid to him. lie bore not
the slightest l-w toward those who had opposed the
bill, for he is the most magnanimous man ever knew.
The greatest soldier that lived he Is as kind and
gentle as a woman. He frequently told me how much 1t
panied him to be accused OF butchery He said he was
always overcome by feeling Of sadness before battle
at thought that many poor fellow would never re-
turn from the field He Is generous TO a
fault and has given away fortune In charities.
IN -rnrs,rKc IN everything else. he modest.
The same node.ty that prevented him from asking for
an appointment or promotion caused him TO maintain
that when he of his visits TO me during his
presidency, great many people called here to ask
fayOrs him Not caring To have him worried. refused
admittance TO all whom suspected OF helng on an errand
OF this kind. One day lady. who lived IN the same
and asked to him. You may see her, General, said
l. laughing. guess she is not after an appointment
4 haaL i'm
wrong; she was after an appointment looked ut hin
I'm astonishment and he explained that the lady wanted
him 10 transfer the sisterin-law Edwin NJ Stanton.
Iincolns Secretary OF War. from the mint where she
then empoyed and where the work was too hard for
her TO the Treasury Department He requested me to
see the Assistant United States Treasurer IN the city and
ask him To give her position did So and the Assist
ami Treasurer told he had vacancy. General
Grants request Is law however, said he, and can
make room for Mrs Stanton by removing a lady who has
no need for a position here This was done and some
time ward met OF Mr. stanton, who thanked
GTan ,p APPOINTED her, said T. Oh no. said he Cen.
eral Grant himself told me that you got the appoint
ment for her. This is characteristic OF the General who
Is Itnuay doing good and giving Others the credit
He loves Philadelphia and has great many friends
here As an example OF his esteem Tor Philadelphia
viii tell YOU OF something that is not known t. any
but General the Interested persons aud myself Mr.
A. H. Bore not the only fhladelpnian VINO was Of
fered "A Cabinet position by General Grant Four other
gentlemen In this city were requested 10 become mem
bers OF his Cabinet They declined ana the matter was
never made pubic They still liv ng In this city, and
one OF them has held very high posi-.
ton. It was at my accommodation that
II adoins mine and there Is between the two
properties the General has spent some OF the
happest days of his life. lie usually got up about
o'clock N the morning. ate his breakfast and then took
drive OF about twenty miles, lie went alone III MS
buggy On his return he would look over us mai ana
read The newspapers He dincd at o'clock generally,
although his dinner hour was Z, win lunch
at2 After the meal at o'clock he took another drive,
and evening he sat On the porch ana chated with
friends many OF whom visited him. We called on each
other day and he sometimes strolled over 10 my
cottage and talked with while he enjoyed his cigar
While the General Is fond OF fast horse, he never
visited the race course at Long Branch and never
entered n gambling-houso. lie told me OF IahghaDe
incident that occurred him while taking one OF his
twenty mile drives. On the road shorL distance ahead
OF him. he countrynan driving meah-iookns
horse with shabby buggy Determined not 20 take the
dust from "A shabby turnout he gave his horse the
head and tried TO pass But the countryman also
loosened the lines and held his position. After quite an
exciting race the General saw he was beaten and pulled
nm hIs horse The countryman turned in his seat and
waving his hand. said with laugh: i made you take
INV dust General and drove OFF fhe General enjoyed
the Joke himself very much and said he would IKE 10
meet the man again, but he never did. ,,
ot Ocean Grove Dick Ogesby, governor OF Illinois,
was With him and Dick told me that when tno
cheers thousand people rang out at the sght o Tue
Old hero he turned around and saw the tears coming
slowly down the Generals cheeks. Thought that IL
would be very hard for him to stop smoking when MS
physicians prohibited IT, His ndomitable VIII haae tue
matter easy for him. however Dd YOU nnu III uimcue
10 give up the weed asked him. IL was hard during
mind n have no desire smoke again IL has been
said that Hamilton Fish wrote the speech he oeheIai
made nj the opening OF the Centennial ExniDitioh zen
eral Grant wrote that speech in this house ana nave
manuscript, handsomely bound in morocco with ny
leaves of silk The manuscript was written cleanly:
having but erasures and was corrected mere anu
there in lead pencil