The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-04-22

what old pictures they could find, and all sorts
of ones appeared.
He then alluded to the Eden Musee, which
he noticed advertised his full-length represent
alton in wax. | asked if he had seen it, and
he replied no; that he had no desire to see it.
They did not ask his permission to place him
thus on exhibition, he said, though, for that
matter, had they done SO he could scarcely
have refused l preached the subject of the
GENERALsHTP OF THE ARMY.
Asking him if it did not seem unjust to army
officers that the title should be abolished, and
that after the death or retirement of Gen. Sheri-
dan there should be no further promotions in
rank and title, so that it might even be gueS
ton some time rs to who was the ranking OIL
Ger among the Major Generals and no one
would appear to stand and be generally known
as the officer atthe head of the Army. This
subject said Gen. Hancock, admits of much
argument pro and con- and there are many
features would like to discuss were it not that
the question comes too near to me as the ran k
ing officer, and SO l must refrain from express
ing views that would lose force by not appear
ing to emanate from disinterested source. 1t
can be done, of course, only in one way. AS
Congress created the offices of General and
Northumberland and Congress abolished
them, Congress alone has the power to pass a
bill to re-cstabiish them"
As we re-entered the parlor preparatory to
taking our departure, l noticed portraits OF two
beautiful girls. / asked the General who they
represented, aud he said the one above the
mantie-a lovely maiden, with dark tresses
and expressive eyes-was that of Mrs. Hancock
at the age of Is. To the left OF this hung a
portrait, nearly lile-Size, of Gen. Hancock S only
daughter, who died at the age of 49, The por
trait, which was painted after her death,
showed a fair-haired, blue-eyed, and spir-
ituclle-lo0king GIRL attired in robe of gauzy
~ n-oA oil, tnr0 ttcr-,
Her left arm hung negligently by her side,
aud in her hand was a rosebud. Standing be-
fore it the General told Us something of her
young life, and SAID that when the artist
painted the picture the bud was placed upright
i'll her hand; but her father said it was unlike
her way, and he had the painter erase and re-
verse the position OF the rosebud, which now
drooPs downward, and the General said it is
more typical and syTbOlical Of her, as she was
by nature always sad, gentle and dropping. As
We left the room he pointed outa picture OF his
only son, who died recently in the South at the
age of 50: and remembered the recent sorrow
that had come To the fathers heart, and the
mourning badge on the military hat, even as
at that instant the merry laugh of his only
male descendant, the little grandson, echoed
through the hall. And with a cordial hand
clasp and an invitation TO call again, Gen.
Hancock babe Us good-by.
1t was or the day of Mr Hendriclls's death
that the above toned visit to Gen. Hancock
was made, and the telegram notifying him of
that event must have reached him soon after
we left. l never saw Gen. Hancock again; but,
learning that he was in Washington on the
18th, | wrote note saying that if he remained
in the city long enough, and had leisure to re-
ceiye me, i would like TO interview him III the
interests of The NATIONAL TRIBUNE. That
HIS ILLNESS
dated back some little time is evidenced by the
letter l received from Gen. Hancock in reply,
which is dated from Governors Island Feb. 6,
only three days preceding his death, when, as
will be seen, he had no intimation of his ap-
preaching dissolution. In his letter he says:
As l only remained in Washington from
the 9th to the 29th, and spent both evenings
IN bed at my hotel, not going out at all, except
IN a carriage for an hour or two to attend to
the business which called me there, it was i'm
possible for me to have the pleasure of seeing
you. Since my return have been confined to
the house with temporary, but troublesome,
indisposition. Concerning your book
Lyrical Poems), would have said its price
was $3.50, or Whereabouts. Nevertheless, send
me a copy at your leisure"
The quaint and delicate specimen of chirog-
rsphy in his signature shows no tremor or ner-
vousness, and l shall ever prize it as one of the
latest signatures and dear memento of a
great man traced by fingers that three days
later were folded in death. The General had
told US that Mrs. Hancock's health was some
what improved Of late. Poor childless widow
How will she bear this affiction2