New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-10-17
GRANT IN PEACE.
BY GENERAL ADAM BADEAU,
GRANT IN SOCIETY.


Of PLAIN people at the West fifty or sixty years
ago. He received, however, the advantages Oh
west Point and It's associations. ana ohcc's VI
the army IN those days were considered eliSlolc
TO any company. At ST. LOUIS ne Harttcu III ~
a family that held itself as high as any IN the
old society of that semi-SOul hern city
society which was undoubtedly at that Tune
provincial and narrow It's members hhd SEC"
or known little of any world but their own
but the feeling they had that their position was
equal to any gave them a certain dlstlncuon OF
bearing that nothing else could confer. IL
was not a highly educated society, and re.
sembled in some points the squrearcny Vi
England that Macaulay describes elevated In
feeling though contracted IN requirement, ana
If over-conscious of its own consequence, never
iheless never meeting anybody of more conse-
quence than its own members. In this circle
Grant obtained knowledge of the sentiments
and preludices that are by some supposed TO
be characteristic only Of gentlemen. Many OF
these he shared by nature others he acquired,
but others he ALWAYS rcDudlatcd
He was, as all the world knows. simple IN
his tastes and habits, and at one time nnac-
qualnted with many of the etquettes ana re
quirements of an artificial society not rev
Of which. indeed. he dsliked after ne became
familiar with them Forms and ceremonies
were always disiasteful TO him, and though ne
complied with such as his position rendered
unavoidable, he ESCAPED from them IN prlVale
as speedily and as effectually as possible. b n
the very simplicity OF taste and teellhe' Ine
pIainness Of manner that he preserved IN MS
extraordinary elevation, were PROOF OF haui'e
and genuine refinement.
When he arrived at the capital to receive
the command of the armies he was shy ana re-
served in general company OF course never
tmid but he was aware OF his dehclenclcs III
social knowledge, and the consciousness made
him constrained and sometimes awkward under
the hOnors and congratulations that were
heaped upon him. But this awkwardness IN
the ConquerOr Of Vicksburg had a certain
charm 1t indicated an absence OF concert,
lack of pretence and a modesty almost uneX,
amped in a man Of his achievements, and
showed how sweet and gentle nature lay be-
meath the sterner qualities which had won his
battles and his fame.
He always desired, however, to conform to
the requirements Of whatever place ne was
called upon to fill. and was now. quite willing
to perform his social duties. | accompanied
Mrs Grant when she made her first visit to the
White House, over which she aftcrward
to preside, and General Grant was greatly
pleased to have the visit paid 1t was an after
noon reception Of Mrs. Lincolns. and Lincoln
himself was present, The President had never never
met Mrs Grant, and at first he did not catch
her name and was allowing her to pass with the
customary bow that every one receives but
repeated, Mrs. General Grant. Mr.: President u;
and the tall ungalnly man looked down upon
his visitor with infinite kindness beaming from
hands on Mrs Grants and welcomed her more
than warmly. He asked about the General,
and himself presented her to Mrs Lincoln.
The mistress Of the White House was also
gracious she invited Mrs. Grant to visit the
Conservatives, and desired me to show them
to the lady who was destined herself to dispense
the courles cs Of the nation in The same EXccu-
tive Chamber On our way out several great
political women seemed inclined to patronlzc
the Western Generals wife; not, of course;
Extensively, but shll they acted as they would
hardly have behaved among or toward them
Selves. But Mrs. Grant at once detected the
Suggestion Of SureriOntv in Their courteses,
and asserted herself dclicatcly but sl<llfully.
When they wanted 10 introduce line ladies to
her in the lobhes Of the White House, She re-
g,etted that her carriage was waiting, but
would he hapDv to receive the ladies' at her
ho'el: and when they offered seats IN their
Ioyes at the play, evidently in order 10 sc
seen with the wife Of the General Of the
Armies she politely ind Gated that 4 eoX had
already been secured for her. and Tor this
she af erward selected her own company.
Her influence Of course. affected her great
husband He had constantly he suggestions OF
a woman who understood other women. and
who knew nstinctiyely what would oe sal'i
of him and to him. as well rs whal She wan ell
him 10 say and do IN return. Naturally she
was anxious about the appearance he made IN
what is called ssoccty" He had been ushercd
all ut once into the most distinguished and
eNac ing circles he would he watched and
criticised rs we'll as welcomed and admired
and with feminine insight she comprchcnded
both the petty craft and the important amb-
lions that undcrl many Of the ceremonies
of official life at Washington rs well as IN
arstocratic capitals. When Grant was over
modest or willing TO lot himself he passed by,
there was ALWAYS he mentor to caution and urge
and stimulate and advise; and sometimes
the mentor was needed.
recall an instance IN which CON
tended for a while against Mrs. Sprague,
the daughter Of chef Jusucc Chase Every
body IN ashibg tOn Cabinet Ministers, foreign
euyoys, Senator'S, even tho Judges OF the
Supreme Court, hurried to call on General
Grant alter his brilliant successes in the war;
the ordinary Washing on etiquette OF
visiting was broken down for HIM. But
the Chief justice did not call lie
considered himself the second person
in the country, the next after the President
he certainly would have been. Besides thus
he was an aSprant for the Presidency and I'M
willing to admit Grants precedence IN any way.
Mrs. Spraguc spoke TO me Of the matter at
dance ut General Grants house She, as
Senator's wife had called upon Mrs. Grant.
tut she thought General Grant should call Oh
the Chef Jusucc. l,however, tried hard to keep
the General from paying the hrsL visit. Like
all staff officers magnlhed the consequence OF
my chief, and ! was younger then and had NOT
seen Tie prcpostcrous regard Tor precedence aI
European courts perhaps in such matters !
was not so good d democrat as studying
a real aristocracy has made me since.
At any rate put every obstacle III
the way of the visit But one after
noon General Grant was driving and stopped to
call on the Chief Justice. The visit was in
SANITY returned and the General and Mrs.
Grant were asked to dinner so Mrs. Spraguc
triumphed | always suspected that the Gen
eral made the visit with malice prepense, Tor ne
often used to say, Badeau, you think
too much Of these things" and he would
pre- end TO scod Once or twice he was In earn
est when he thought ma ters were carried too far.
Nevertheless he conformed 10 MANY observ-
ances which at first he had found lrksome Us
well as unusual. 1t was some hLue time belOre
he cOnsen ted to wear an evening coat, and the
white tie especially was a disagreeable novelty.
But he soon discovered that he made himself
IIl