The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1888-01-26
GEN. GRANTS HOME LIFE.

GEN. GRANTS HOME LIFE.
! A Pleasant Picture OF the Inner charaor
ter and Life of tho Great Chieftain.
Ina recent interview Santee Chambliss,
the former valet of Gen. Grant, defined
his duties to have consisted in waiting ex,
;lusively upon the general. Il went t.
mis- bed chamber early in the morning.
at once laid out the clothes that he SHOULD
wear for that day. I invariably placed
out fresh linens, adjusted his set of diar
mond or gold studs just as iancy struck
me, polished his shoes, poured out
water for his toilet and awaited for fur.
ther orders. The general left the selec-
| ton of suit for the day entirely to my
own taste.
Mrs. Grant only was fastidious in
dress. There could hardly be found q
finer wardrobe in the land than she had.
Her wearing apparel was simply superb.
The generals wardrobe was very COM
plete also, but ne never knew what clothes
he had, for his tastes were plain in
every respect. The materials were of the
very BEST but nothing fancy. He wore
mostly dark clothes, always button shoes.
! standup collar turned back and never
| any other than a black tie. He never in
dicated to me the kind of suit he would
wear. I simply selected from a large
variety according to my own judgment,
and he wore then." Mr.. Chambliss
! went on further to say: ''The very first
| thing would do in the morning was the
taking of the morning papers to the
| boudoir, where I placed them on the
| table. They generally were The Times,
Herald, World and Tribune, but he got
papers from all the principal cities Of the
country at mail time.
Il would next enter his bed chamber
and often would find him lying in bed
smoking cigar. He had a chair by his
bed where he deposited the ashes. I
greeted him with good morning, and he
would return it with kindly expression
! OF face, but seldom would say more than
now and then ask about the weather. Il
/ were to ask him a question or two he
would answer them, that's all. His words
| were few; he seldom commanded, but
one could know by his one or two words
what was meant, and you always were
inclined to carry out his wishes. always
had to put on and button his shoes, hold
his coat, but he adjusted the collar and
tie himself He took bath twice a
week. knew the time and always had
the water turned on for him.
1.-The general" he continued, "alwayy
went from his bed chamber straight to
the boudoir. He went there with
cigar in his mouth. He scanned the
papers hastily and smoked at least thres
,1.r hofo r.
down to breakfast with cigars in his
pocket, and if he should happen to have
forgotten the placing of any there, he
would at once ask the butler to bring
him some. With scarcely the last NOR.
sci swallowed, the butler would be ready
with lit match and the general would
smoke. He at the same time handed
cigars over the table to his sons, who
would join him in this delicious des-
sert.''
What kind Of cigars did the general
use?''
"Wel, I once heard him tell Mrs. Grant
that his cigars cost thirty-nine cents each
by the thousand. He smoked a very long
and large cigar, specially made to order.
In fact his cigar would put any ordinary
sample in the shade as regards size. He
generally had two dozen boxes on hand,
and two brands Of them. He always
favored the large cigar. The valet could
always gain the consideration of being an
alert servant if he would notify him Of
the near exhaustion of his stock. Gen
eral, only one box of cigars on handl'
We'll, I will have some sent up, was bis
tnvariable answer, and he never failed.
"After breakfast the general would
often walk to the elevated station, Fifty
ninth street, in Sixth avenue, and go
down to his Office in Wall street. The
carriage often stood ready by the front
door, but he frequently preferred walk
ing. He took downtown lunch at
O'Clock, and came home to dinner, which
was served at 6 p m. In the afternoon,
Oh his return from the office and before
he entered the house, he went to the
stables, ordered his favorite horse and
took drive in the park. Upon entering
the house his first order was: Get me the
evening paper Mrs. Grant never failed
to greet him at the head of the stairs
most affectionateiy. She called him
ulysses he called her Mrs. Grant
She always kissed him upon his departure
AAOAA OAAC 1OAoC eAA4A uEN'AA AAAo AOCuA II W
In speaking Of the table habits of the
general and his family the valet, with
years experience as butler. went on to
say: They set very fine table indeed.
They had the finest of tableware that
could be found. It was always Mrs.
Grants greatest desire to have good and
long dinners. For this meal the eatables
were all served in courses. The cook and
butler had each list, and whenever the
butler would lower the dummy to the
kitchen the cook would know the course
next in order. The dinner consumed one
hour and half in its completion.
1.-The general was not great eater,
For breakfast he cared mostly for tender
loin Of porterhouse steak, cup Of coffee
and hot griddle cakes always served with
the meal-and the inevitable cigar.
Breakfast consumed one-half hour. He
would pull out his watch at the close, but
never was in hurry.
The family were certainly most affec-
donate. When they were met together
they We're the happiest people in the
world. Mrs. Grant and the general were
.vcr addressing each other with terms OF
greatest respect and tenderness, and fire,
luently hal studied surprises for each
others happiness. I think Mrs. Grant
was conscious of the generals greatness,
and sl:e had q right to appreciate it. But
he general ALWAYS was plain. He never