Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-03

He Eats Better aud Does Some Work
On His Book.

SUFFERING FROM SEVERAL DISEASES. BUT DIR.
DOUGLAS THINKS THAT HIS DEATH WILL
NOT BE sUDDEN-TALKs WITH DIR. FoRDYcE
BARKER AND DIR. THOMAS NJ. aARKoE-
CALLERS AT THE HOUSE.
From the New York World
Gen. Grants residence was visited during the
day by more than one hundred intimate friends
and distinguished citizens anxious TO know
from the lips of relatives the exact condition oi
the ex-President. The story of his critical Ill
ness "a told in the World was found to be correct
and the visitors turned away much shocked at
the unexpected news. Gen. Grants iDdCmita-
BILE will WAS never better shown than when he
awoke yesterday morning. His night had
been rather q restless one, although he slept
more than he had on any night during the
week. because OF the absence of pains in his
head. Harrison, the colored body servant,
was busy when his master opened his eyes,
and ON hearing "a slight noise he turned aud
saw the general siring from his bed almost
as lightly and easily rs had been MS wont
in younger yeius. He cheerful, ana
talked more than he did on the previous day.
His face was brighter and when ne had per-
formed his toilet and seated himself in an easy
chair he appeared to the family TO be as well as
he was months ago. His appetite had not re-
turned. however. and he said he could eat noti-
ing Tempting food was prepared Tor him, but
he said the desire had gone from him, ana ne
could not touch il. Every effort was mace 10
induce him to take something. because the ply
sicianS in attendance had directed that ne must
rapidly wasting under the fnsidu0us influence
of the liberation in his mouth The only lood
touched during the entire day was one spoonful
Of iellv After this breakfast the general in
sisted upon working on his book of the war, and
In spite of The persuasive words of his sons, Col.
Fred Grant and Jesse Grant, he wrote and cor
rected many pages, holding himself to his task
by will power alone. An hour of such labor
wore severely upon him, however, and he was
finally induced to rest quietly in his chair by
the window.
81 never saw such a wonderful man IN ell my
life" said Harrison yesterday morning. "You
know the doctors say trouble on the mind helps
to make a sick man worse, and I reckon that 5
what keeps the general so low. But it's always
the same with him; no matter how the cancer
aches or the rheumatism racks him he never
says word about II"
.How did he rest last night?"
"He slept very little. Just doZed Off for q few
minutes and then woke mp again. SOFT went all
night. Towards morning he rested a little
easier
81 never saw any one fall away like he did as
the retirement bill began to be delayed
In Congress. For the past six months the poll
ticianS kept asking him to let them present the
bill. but he would not. At last he told them
they might, after they had talked to him good
many times about il, but after all they had said
he seemed to expect il would have no oppo>i-
ton. Then those delays came two weeks ago,
and it began TO wear on him. The general never
talks much. but at this time he would sit for
hours and not say a word, just Kept thinking
and thinking. thought ought 10 try and cheer
him up so said: General, hope the bill will
be all right. Its too bad there's so much trouble
with IT,. He would not say anything for "a long
time, and was afraid had been too forward
Then. after fifteen or twenty minutes, he would
answer: Yes, Harrison. lis too bad, too bad
This worry seemed To help the disease very
much in making him weak"
Harrison was placed al the front door early in
the day to answer the questions of friends, but
very few were admitted TO the house Roscoe
CUnkling called early in the day and saw the
general. but none others were so privileged,
having 10 content themselves with interviews
with the generals sons. Mr.. COniling had not
been at the house for several weeks He was
much surprised on reading the morning papers
to learn of the generals condition, having sup
posed that he was recovering In the afternoon
when the rain began the line of carriages
reached through 66th street into 9th avenue,
but most OF the visitors We're contented with a
call at the door. FX-Gov. Fish hurried briskly
up the steps about 4::}o O'Clock. and on learning
that the general was sitting up expressed him
self much relieved 10 hear il, and went in for a
short call He was followed by j. Pier
pont Morgan and George William BallOu !;
Mrs. Ballou remained in the carriage. but be-
coming impatient TO know now Gen Grant was
she followed her husband William II. Wander
bit sent to the house early in the day to ask after
the general health. 1t was late in the even
Ing before the dOor-bell ceased ringing and
Harrison was allowed time for rest. DR.. Doug
las was In attendance all the afternoon. DIR.
FOrdvce Barker called at DIR. Douglas office
while the doctor at the house TO make
arrangements for visit together in the even
Ing. Ulysses Grant. jr. who was expected from
his home in WeStcheSter, did not arrive, but
will probably make his home there after to-day.
As announced in the World Yesterday. cable
gram was sent To Mrs Sartoris in England, and
she viii undoubtedly arrive early next week.
DR.. Thomas NJ Markoe; of No. 20 West
83d street, sad: "TheTe has been no con-
sultation sine, al Of Thursday, Feb. 10. All
that the Wort published about the generals
condition is true, but have not seen him since
the day named. and cannO,say what progress
the disease has made. | was merely called in
consultation. The physicians in attendance are
for Gen. Grant they will do it,
When DR.. Douglas left Gen. Grant at II
O'clock last night the general was still sitting
up To-day was one OF the best he has had
for some time said the doctor TO a World re-
porter, land he will be out again one of these
days he could go out now, but the weather is
too bad. would not let him go out during the
cold weather, but he wants to get u little exer-
else and is impatient at his confinement 1t is
not case that needs the constant attendance
of four or five physicians-that impression is
wrong He has variety OF diseases and they
light up at times and then they get bet
ter Because the general has trouble
that will eventually cause death that
will go very slowly, not suddenly, as many
seem TO suppose. He ate more this evening
than usual ana talked some, but it fatigued
him. DR. Sands and were there together, but
1t was not q consultation. DIR. Barker had other
engagements and could not get there"
Can 1T be said that the general is better"
DR.. Douglas was asked
''You may draw your own inferences give
you statement Of his condition a. l found it.
lie mas a complication of troubles, and, as |
said. be suffers for time and then Is greatly
relieved, a. to-day, for instance. He had very
little pain and seemed very cheerful do not
think they allowed him 10 see the Sunday pa
pers.
CONDITION OF THE TRUST FUND.
The fund of $3.50 900 raised for Gen. Grants
support few years ago is invested in Wabash
railroad preferred bonds the trustees having
SO placed it at the suggestion of Jay Gould and
the late Edwin ID. Morgan. The road is In the
hands of a receiver, and no securities are pay
Ing any dividends. To provide against pre-
clsely this contingency ex-GOv. Morgan made
q personal guarantee of the interest on the
trust fund for five years, and il is from his es-
tate that the $4,000 year received by Gen
Grant Il drawn When the two or three re-
manning years of guarantee transpire the Grant
fund will be at the mercy Of Wabash fiuctua-
tlon> and shrinkageS, so that the Grant family
may be LETT with a slight hold on the fund
Some OF the contributors are very indignant at
the investment OF this trust money in a specu-
lative security instead of making IL secure in
government bonds. Gen. Grants estate is