The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-03
THE GENERALS HOUSE.
How 1t Came that the Family Decided ia
Reside In New York.

Reside in New York.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
New YORK, Alcil 2-The house in which
General Grant is dying is in the mos iashiona
BILE part of New York city. 1t is near the beau
tiful mansion of the Vanderbilts and the house
that Henry Willard erected and not far from
the new cathedral. Within rife-shot are
a score of houses that cost more than $75, 900
each to build. 1t is in Sixty sixth street. just
off Fifth avenue and close by Central Park.
The tide of fashion set to that neghborhood ten
years ago, and the finest mansions in New York
city have been been built there since When
Grant returned from his trip around the world
he was in good shape financially. Some friends
had put him into mining speculation from
which he reaped profit of some $780, 600, which,
added to the 5000, 900 that he already had, made
hima snug little fortune The General was for
going back to Galena and settling down to the
enjoyment of what he possessed, and the honors
which his distinguished military and other
public service naturally would bring to him.
He had no ambition, save to enjoy life and be
with his family toward whom he had the warm
est attachment. His daughter and sons had
married, and he contended that he might as
well make his home in Galena as anywhere
else But his family did not approve this
programme. They had tasted the sweets of
fashionable and public life, and Galena seemed
to them little slow. Just then along came that
stanch friend of the Generals George William
Childs, of Philadelphia, and he was taken into
the consultation. He knocked out the Galena
proposition in one round he was for Philadel-
phia he would give the General outright man
sion in Philadelphia if he would only go there to
live. The General abandoned the Galena scheme
but refused the Philadelphia house. Then
Drexel. the side partner Of Chids, was called in
He maintained that there was nothing too
good for Grant and he proposed that
he tDrexel) and Childs should buy the
General a house in the best part of New York
city While they were talking it over, Grant
began to speculate in Wall steeet, and ere he
was aware Of it he had lost nearly all his money
That settled it. Chds and Drexel bought the
house No. East Sixty-sixth street. and the
Grant family moved in. The arrangement was
that Grant was to pay for it when he got good
ready. But the others always regarded it gift.
and when the Grant estate comes to be settled up
they will put in no claim-indeed, it will be
found that there is right smart mortgage on
the property.
1t is neat brown stone-front house Of shade
less than the average width of city houses, four
stories high. and with ornam ented window cas-
ings. bay window looks out from the parlor
floor The front faces the south, and the view
from the rear window commands part of Gen.
trail Park. Within, it is like the most Of all
city houses There is front parlor or recep-
tion room, and back parlor or library, on the
first floor. 1t is ON the second floor that Gen.
Grant passes his time There are two
large sleeping rooms there, both of which
are furnished with very tasty, although not
expensive bed room furniture. Thus far in his
illness the General has alternated from one room
to the other, as the whim took him, but almost
all of his sleeping is done in the front room.
From this opens little room in which are q
desk and an easy chair, and there General Grant
has done his writing of late. He calls it his
library. He sits at the desk and is his own PEN
man. 1t has been said that he has dictated the
most of his literary work, but this is an error.
He has tried to do so, but he cannot make prog
ress He has not caught the knack oftalkineas he
writes, and he is compelled to hold the pen.
an exercise that fatgues him very much and
which he has almost abandoned within the last
two months. Once in two three days he
wanders down stairs, with feeble step, to the din
ner table, and he has been to ride III Centra.
Park within few days. but these feats arc