The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-26
BETTER THAN A GOLD MINE.
Gen. Grants Widow Receives n Check fo
&25O,OOO, and $3.50, 900 Remains Behind.

Gen. Grants Widow Receives a Check for
&250,OOO, and $3.50, 900 Remains Behind.
w. A. Crofuts New York Letter.
Mr.. Jesse Grant said on Monday that his
mother had received her first check from the
publishers on account of General Grants Life"
/ have not seen the fact mentioned in the news
papers. How much 90 you suppose that check
was fora No less than $3.50, 000!-''the largest
sum ever paid at one time for literary work" he
said. The next largest check ne thinks, was
paid to Macauley-a hundred and fifty thousand
copies of his wonderful history having sold
within four weeks. But 1 think Walter Scott,
who was the idol of his generation, and who
wrote against Time, Death and the Sheriff is
entitled to this second place If am not mis-
taken, he received 100000 from Constable at
one time just before he was made a baronet, and
he earned 100000 year for nearly score of
years
pectations concerning the book which is their
sheet anchor and the publishers now bid them
hope for ''at least 800 000' their royalty! The
volumes are inartistically and even shabbily put
together. and present poor specimen of the
topographic and book-binder's art The maps
are obscure and totally unlike in style, and the
whole job is badly done. But great soldier is
back Of it. and the way it sells is high compli-
ment to the American people. AS long as we
are capable of such enthusiasts and faptureS in
behalf of those who have served us. SO long are
we. a nation, safe
By the way, it is now known that the Grants
are most clad that they persisted in declining the
gift of $3.50. coo from w. II. Vanderbilt. There
were two parties to the controversy as TO wheth-
er that magnificent present should be received or
not-Col. Fred Grant, seconding his fathers
willingness to accept it, and the other two sons
standing resolutely with their mother, deter
mined that it should be declined.
General Grant, advanced in years, afflicted
with disease and somewhat broken in spirit by
his financial disaster, reasoned and spoke fol-
lows: 1.-The bank was in pinch, and, to help it
over, Vanderbilt kindly exchanged checks with
me. They presented for payment. His
was good and was paid Mine wasn't good and
went to protest. ] supposed had the money in
the bank bat hadn't. Vanderbilt knew [ was
honest about it: he is rich and proposes to give
me the amount; am poor and need it, and will
take it."
Mr. Vanderbilt sent one of his officers up to the
old soldiers sick room to urge him to accept the
donation, which he had made as delicately as he
could Mrs. Grant was averse.
Jesse Grant became very much excited in his
resistance to his fathers wishes. Alternately he
shed tears and argued the case. See here' he
said ''this is the way it is: You gave Mr..
Vanderbilt your check in exchange for
but it wasn't 1t wasn't business-like transac-
| tion anyhow, and the exchange Of checks is re-
| garded by business men as the very highest of
| debts Of honor. To give man a check that isn't
| good is criminal otfense. What nowl Why,
| Mr.. Vanderbilt comes to you and says: General
! Grant. admire you and feel grateful to you for
what you have done for our country. forgive
| you the debt You answer III take it. Thank
| you Now, what will the public say2 Why,
| the public will say, That was put-up job. A
| man ought to know whether his check is good or
not, especially if it calls for $15O0 06 Grant did
| know. He knew his check would go TO protest.
and that nobody would Trouble him about it, and
he calculated that Vanderbilt would give him
| the amount That's what some folks will say;
| the re are enough ready to say it The only de-
| cen. way Is to pay off the debt, if it takes the
| last dollar. Any other course will disgrace the
/ name of Grant to the last of our posteritym He
was excited. He talked voubly and eagerly.
/ He repeated himself. He insisted. He exagger-
| ated the case. But the result was that his
mother wrote: 1--WE cannot--we win not accept
| the largess you Offer"
| They received back the souvenirs for the gov
| eminent. but the rest of the property was
| turned into money by Mr.. Vanderbilt. towards
| the liquidation of the bogus check. 1t will not
! be enough By ten or fifteen thousand dollars
| believe. but it will do
| 1t was lucky that Vanderbilts donation was
| declined for if it had not been Congress would
not have restored the sick soldier TO his rank
| and ordered his pension, and the news that it
| had taken such action really prolonged his life
| for weeks. When the report first came it so
cheered him and lifted him up that his worst