The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-07
ANECDOTES OF GRANT.
His Kindness to Reporters--His Drive with
Governor Jewell.

His Kindness to Reporters--His Drive with
Governor Jewell.
New Yors Times.
General Grant has always been hero among
newspaper men. Ever courteous and kind,
have known him to spend valuable time and ex-
pend much labor to help out some poor reporter
who CHANGED to intrude upon him. He was
chary of talk about himself; he could seldom be
tempted into severe criticisms of anybody else,
but have known him to go far out of his way
to say good word for brother officer, the
more particularly when good words were none
too plenty in that brothers quarter. There's
not newspaper man in the land that has been
brought into contact with the old commander who
will not corroborate this testimony. l remem
Der especially one night when it fell to my lot to
send my card up to General Grants rooms, in
the Fifth-avenue Hotel. He had Just returned
from long journey, and his trunks were scarce
-ly unpacked. A host of friends crowded his
apartments. The bell boy came back to say that
the General would be obliged to ask that the call
be postponed, unless it was of an urgent nature.
"Brigadier- r-general Emory Upton has committed
suicide in California" was what / wrote back.
Can you tell me anything about his careerp
''The General says come right up" was the bell
boys salute few minutes later Had ] owned
the earth | could not have been welcomed more
cordially. Mrs. Grant, at one end of the room,
with General Badeau, seemed to be holding an
informal reception. The General withdrew
from the party, and seated me before
him off in a distant corner. 1t was
the first time had ever seen the hero indoors,
which may account for what then seemed to me
and nave pretty vivid memory of it yet-a
sad display Of bashfulness that jumbled up my
words and sent ideas helter-skelter. I've noticed
that heroes are doubly awesome in private till
you get real we'll acquainted with them. But
this time confusion did not long Eremain.
General Grant evidently deeply interested
in the story that had come over the wires from
San Francisco; he asked me for all the details.
II am sorry" he said, ''that ] cannot tell you
much about Upton but the fact is that / per-
sonally do not know much about him." did
get some information, though. and afterward
my narrator drifted away into the most inter
esting "reminiscences of the Mexican and civil
wars that one could wish to hear. Time
passed quickly by, and still found myself
deeply absorbed in the talk poured out with a
strange freedom for who will go down in
the history of characteristics as the silent man.
Not Gree did the hero speak in Standardization;
it wasof others wholly that he talked, and of
them only in the kindliest terms It seemed to
be of the inspiring things, the valiant things,
bravery and dash. and dogged fighting that he
spoke. There was nothing sour about him.
almost forgot my assignment, so interested did
l become; and could not suppress ejacula-
tion to that effect when looked up at the time
piece. ''Never mind" my entertainers
crumb of comfort: never mind You've plenty
of time yet and / only hope you can get some
thing out of the nonsense I've told you" did
get something out of it; only paragraph for the
next days Times but remembrance that will
enliven all my years.
One of General Grants visits to Connecticut
the guest of Marshall Jewell, who took un
usual pains to entertain him, serves as text for
a timely jotting Governor Jewell was de-
termined to make the visit of General Grant to
Hartford memorable. He ratified the dry bones
of Connectcuts capital city. When the excite
ment had gradually simmered down he was
driven to the last resort OF a Sunday afternoon
drive With his fastest bit of horsefesh his
visitor and himself flew along the streets in the
early evening hour Grimly in his seat sat the
General, his black felt hat Tapping up and down
in the current produced by the mares rapid gait.
On the outskirts of the town the General who
had been leisurely looking about him. all at once
broke out
''See here! What's that ahead of 'usl"
''Oh, that's driving park--a pet project Of
ours"
'Can you get us through that gateway therel"
."Oh, yes" quoth Mr.. Jewell, ready to show
the fine park to thu observant warrior
"All right, remarked the General; "now you
just sit quiet for bit, and I'll show you what
driving is" And he did show him. Before the
Hartford ex-tanner recovered from his amaze
ment General Grant had taken the rens into his
own hands, and in second the light vehicle was
whirling round and round the well-kept track.
The hostlers came out to the rails, and watched
and grinned as the plucky little mare went speed
ing about the circle with dripping lanks Gov
Jewelrs excitement was aggravated by the
loss of his high silk hat, which. long ago had
been swept from his head. Still the pace was
kept up and never slackened until in genuine
alarm the Postmaster general shrekedsout as he
jolted up and down on the cushion, 'In the
name of heaven, General, how long do you in
tend to keep this thing upl" AS they slowly
journeyeG homeward half hour later, the
President, giving UP the rens, remarked. "Tt's
good thing, Marshall, to go to church on Sunday,
very good thing We've done that But do
tell you there's nothing that starts up a supper
appetite like whirl along Playground track
behind horse that's not afraid to use his legs"
This was the last time the Hartford man ever
trusted himself in buggy with u S. Grant for
driver