The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-18

Rev. DIR. Newman Tells of the Straits to
Which the Family Has Been Reduced.

w men the Eatn1iy HAS Been Eeouceu.
San Francisco Post.
An anonymous correspondent, whose letter
has been published in more than one paper on
this coast, has been at the pains to describe the
domestic economy of the Grant family with
minuteness OF detail only equaled by its enormous
distance from the real facts. The writer set
forth that the Grants were liviag in luxurious
quarters. attended by whole retinue of servants.
and altogether having a glorious time, while the
general public had been led to believe that they
were in very straitened circumstances. In order
to obtain an authentic statement of the actual
condition of General Grant and his family. and
remove as much as possible the false impression
created by the mendacity of the romancer re-
ferred to, a reporter of the Post sought out Rev.
Dr. Newman, who for many years was the favor
lite preacher of General Grant, his warm friend,
constant companion and for some time almost
member of his family. The reverend gentle,
man had seen the article in question and had
been mneh panied, in common with
other friends of General Grant, at the err
rors it contained, and while he was
naturally 10th to discuss the misfortunes or Gen
eral Grant, still, under the circumstances, he
owed it to his friend to lay aside his scruples
and answer any questions pertinent to the mat
ter. Thus encouraged to proceed, the Post re-
porter asked Dr. Newman if he knew General
Grants financial condition at the time of the
failure Of Ward e. Grant.
I'm order to show the real facts" replied the
reverend gentleman, Il will have to take you
turned from abroad he told me that his income
was between $4,000 and $1,000 year from all
sources. His official life in Washington
was very expensive, and used up his salary The
expenses of his trip around the world were borne
by his noble son, Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., who paid
all the drafts made while the General was tray
cling. AS you know the citizens of New York,
headed by Mr. Jones and Oliver Hoyt mer-
chant raised the Grant fund of $780, 600, which,
by the advice of the late ex Governor Morgan,
was invested in Wabash bonds, Morgan guaran-
teeing the interest for ten years. You in as
good position as l am to judge OF the value OF
that investment The condition of Wa
bash is a matter of public record in
discuss it now When the firm of Ward d
Grant was formed, it was formed at the solicita
ton of Ward himself. At that time Ward stood
high, and numbered among his friends and pa
irons such as Mayor Edison, of New York,
and President Fish, of the Marine Bank.
Ward insisted upon having the absolute
management of the business of the firm, and,
standing so high in the estimation of old bank
Grants naturally had great faith in not only his
financial ability, but, also, In the success
of the business, and to the extent that
not only did General Grant invest in the firm,
but his three sons, his daughter Nellie, and
their aunts, Mrs Cramer and Mrs. Corbin, also,
put their money into it. Such was their inn
plcit faith in the soundness of the firm that
when the crash came they lost everything. Jesse
Il. Grant, who had made more than 100000 in
legitimate investments, was induced by Ward to
put every cent of it in the firm less than month
before the failure. Colonel Fred d. Grant, who
had, ALSO accumulated comfortable fortune in
a legitimate manner, intrusted his saw
ings to Ward and lost them, and
so did U. s. Grant, jr,-- who had,
also, made small fortune Mrs. Sartoris,
who had laid aside few thousands $10,0 900 in
all-from the presents of her father lost all of
it in the crash Mrs. Corbin, the Generals sis
ter, who had realized few thousands from her
late husbands estate, also intrusted what she
had to the firm, and lost it. Mrs. Grant
equally confding She kept her bank account
there, and also placed in the firms hands for safe
keeping some $25, 900 worth of securities which
she had bought from money accumulated during
a series of years by her own womanly economies.
But all this was swept away by the failure"
Can you tell me what economies the Grants
were forced to practice after the falureF asked
the reporter
Eyes, sir" replied the Rev. DR.. Newman 81
was In the family Immediately after the crash,
and had every opportunity to know the financial
distress and straits of economy which the sud
den collapse of the firm brought on that honored
household. Mrs. Grant was compelled to dis
charge her maid, who had served her faithfully
for many years, and while the servants about
the house were never numerous for fam
lily distinguished in the eyes of the
world as Grants was, yet the number was re-
duced to one old man, a little boy who answered
the door, and a man who cared for General
Grants single pair Of horses, looked after the
harness and drove the General and his family
out. That covers the idea of expenses, but it
should be said, to the honor of that family that
while they curtailed all expenses, yet they strove
hard to keep up their private charities.
General Grant had been supplying an
aged uncle, the widow and orphans of
his brother Orville, and Mrs Grant had
been giving monthly allowance to the
widow of her brother and to other relatives, and
the keenest pang the General and Mrs. Grant
felt In the loss of their fortune was the dread
that these bounties might not be in their power
to continue"
F'.It has been said that the Grants occupy
splendid mansions. Is that the case?" asked the
reporter.
Grant occupies single house at No 3 East
Sixty-sixth street, New York and since his re-
verses his sons and their families have shared
his abode. The house is only modest three
story single house Of less than fifteen rooms.
twelve believe"
''How is Jesse Grant situated financially"
asked the reporter
Everything he had was swept away Ulysses
s. Grant, jr. is penniless, Colonel Fred Grant is
penniless; he gave up all his horses and his
pleasant home. Fred was supposed to be worth
$780, 600. but the day after the crash he told me
he did not have sufficient means to go to New
York"
Doctor, you know General Grant well; you
KNOW MS position; Wnat DO you consider the
proper course for the Nation to pursue, now that
he has declined his friends help2" asked the
reporter.
There can be no doubt replied DR. Newman,
warmly, that all citizens, no matter Of what
politics creed, would heartily approve an act
of Congress to place General Grant on the re-
tired list with the rank and emoluments of gem
eral. He is confined to his home with sick.
ness, and is necessarily more or less depressed.
bat this action, this act of recognition on the
art n ant nNt o1x -
duty, but would cheer the declining DAYS of a
man who made his country illustrious."
In a Clam Abattoir.
Rochester Democrat
you've no idea how 'fectionate sum ov these