The Washington critic., 1885-07-27

Grant, billiard room, corner Of Kearncy
and Merchant streets" An old pio.
neer who knew all the army officers in
those early days of California history
was hunted up by "a New York Herald
correspondent. Said he: "WheD
Grant resigned his commission in July,
1854, he was pretty hard pressed fnan.
cially. He managed TO secure an in
terest in well patronizcd billiard hall
in the old Union Hotel, in the building
now occupied by the fire and police de-
partments, but the business was most
uncongenial and after q few months
experience he sold out to his partner.
He remained In town some months
after that trying to find suitable field
Of labor, but finally gave 1t up and went
back to his family in st. Louis. Grant
was regarded by nearly all who knew
him here ut that time as u man
who lacked the push and energy noces-
sary to success IN those stirring times.
A nameeakc Of hiy, real estate agent,
who had an office ON Merchant street,
was one Of his most intimate friends.
The two Grauts were often seen to-
gcther on the street and elsewhere, and
when the Captain became short Of
funds his namcsako often gave him as
sistance."
Nv
Anew story is told of General Grants
remembrance uf his friends and enc
mics by writer in the New York
Tribune. Shortly after he became
President an old army officer applied
for an important arsenal appointment
at Washington. Grant refused flatly to
make the appointment. Mrs. Grant,
General lugalls and Cabinet members
tried to change his miud, but without
avail. They could not understand the
reason for his lirmUess aud were obliged
to give up the task. Mrs. Grant per-
sisted in finding out his reason. 1t
came out that when the General was
stationed at Fort Vancouver the appli
cant had been his commandant. There
was a great scarcity OF potatoes one
season. Grant conceived the idea of
planting big patch OF them. He
borrowed the money to buy seed at San
Francisco from the commandaut at
two per cent. month, and got an old
sergeant to clear u plot OF ground. lie
had good crop, but everybody else
had also planted largely aud he lost
money. When he resigned lie still
owed the principal Of his debt, which
was GENEROUSLY held over him, and he
borrowed the money from sergeant to
pay it. 1t was not till after the fail of
Fort Donelson that he was able to re-
pay the latter. The sergeant had
| Ii 4
been subjected to some indigniles ut
the hands Of the commandment, which
so greatly rnbttered Grant aganst the
latter that his application for place re-
suited Us stuted above. As soon as he
had the power, the General made the
old sergeant the commanding OFF 'cr at
Fort Vancouver, and when it was
abandoned he appointed him postmaster
at Baker City. When the sergeant died
his wife and his daughter were sue
cessively appointed to the same Office
Xxx
The ether day at Long Branch lady
made her appearance on the beacl
dragging huge dog and followed by Il
maid and a colorcd man carrying tow
els. The lady wore a red handkcrchic
with crescent piece Of brass in front
on her head. She was wrapped from
head to foot in light Oriental cloak
crossed with gilt bars. She walked tt
the edge Of the surf and then she threw
aside her wrap and handed it to hcl
maid. She then stood rcve lied in the
striking costume Of Turkish obaisquc
Her JACKET was dark blue braided
with white. The sleeves, skirt and
enormous pantaloons gathered in a,
the ankles were Il strong yellow color
Upon her feet she wore sharp-pointet
kid shoes with French heels. The dog
was a st. Bernard breed. He was mod
est and did not care to go into the
water with the strangely attired bathcr
He pulled back and howlcd at every
attempt OF the Turkish beauty to get
him into the water. 1t was discovered
after time that this mysterious bathcl
whom no one seemed to know-waI
/, the same lady who made such scnsa
ton by her spectacular riding upon tho
White House lot when Arthur was
President. She used to ride apparently
for his benefit, and he studied hcl
, move nents through very powerful
glass. She has been the subject Of q
great many newspaper paragraphs. She
is supposed to be very rich. She ha'
long been noted in this city for hcl
skill in driving II very dashing team
Everyone is wondering who she Is, a.
few have seen hcrin Washington. Sh,
appears tohavc plenty of money, and il
spite Of her ccccntricitics does not ap
pear to seek acquaintanccs.
#|#
Among the English notices OF Gen
eral Grants death there Is IN interest
ing article in the current Sportsman
ancnt the dead soldiers fondncss 10
athletics. The Sportsman says that II,
truer heart or better sportsman in The
j best sense of the term ever lived. Ill,
} always encouraged athletic exercises
among his troops, even in the face O.
the enemy, and sometimes even per
sonally assisted in them. The writer
also recalls an incident Of General
Grants visit, while in England, tC
Stratford-or-A Avon. Mrs, Grant wa
standing with the General besides the
, prnyn nf ShokSppnrp when the vicar O