Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-03
soyoURNER TRUTH.
...oo,,nr or HER INTERVIEW
..nTu PRESIDENT GRANT.

WITH PRESIDENT SftAN'.
80, Appearance Of the Lybian
,r,-uer Words at the capit"i--!An
..,,n to Grant-Aa Impressive
.,,rvi,w--rhs Parting
s,;ourner Truth more than forty
AGO In New England. she was then 10
=. Int seemed hardly beyond the
:, and glory of her womanhood In those
nV ,,.r,int Bcecher Stowe described her ns
Ivbian sibyl," gifted with prophetic
r. !. ). .nd tall and erect like a strong and
isns "a African palm tree She would do
are'. ,sework Of the heaviest kind than
pr ',;rorv women, and yet be one OF the
o by siclbed at night A sick
~ rfted to the best place on his bed as
~ ~ ~ and tenderly as mother would lift
~! H. and the touch of her hand smooth
Wv, nllow and stroking the fevered brow
Wv a,I,h md quiet, while her wall, There,
INV you's easier now" had strange
u. w. IN rive ease and calm.
ms,rore,l in grammar or rhetoric, never
:. ~ road or write, thore was quaint dis
Wv " for Get rule of speech in her public and
discourse, but no fine rhetorician
~. ,d" make his meaning palmer and few
wv, ,s scnal her in power OF expression or ex-
n, s.nce Of imagery A few years after the
- ,hs civil war I went with her to the
~ reception room in the Capitol at
A.h;ncton She stood beneath the center
h arched ceiling aud the deep look OF her
o"derful eyes seemed to take in the beauty
n;,tu,sd forms and glowing colors on its
III as she said: "Dis Is like the picture
a amhers of de New Jerusalem dat dey read
S.ut in do Book" Then she looked out Of
u;ndow and saw the poor huts Of the
's,d neople not far away, and said in tender
.nss aBut they don't have dem over there
rrsat gospel of divinity and Of tender hui
,an;tv seemed spoken in two brief sentences.
rsst souls can move other souls.
GAS THE SPIRIT TOLD HER."
In the winter Of lS71-72 spent some time
washington, and about midwinter learned
hot Soiouiner Truth was in the city. Had
not known her ways this would have
ssn surprise, for the long winters journey
rom her home Mt Battle Creek, in the CEN
,r Of Michigan, was serious undertaking
~ a woman near her Tooth birthday. But
nav that she always went "as the good
Dirit told her." and that some strong feeling
duty to be dono led her to the capital city.
H.r wav opened, not long after, for some
md, service among the freedmen at the
osntals, soon went to see her and she
sii with great earnestness: Il believe de
roal Lord sent YOU, for you are de very one
wanted to see" Asking what was specially
xanted. she saii II want to see President
Grant and you can get me there" told
|hsr that was easier said than done, but
would try, and the next day wrote a note to
him, saving she wished to see him at some fit
fme, took it to tho White House, sent it in
10 tho business office, and verbal message
,Oon came back TO me in the waiting room
That any morning would suit.
In few days Sojourner, with two ladies,
d venerable friend OF Quaker birth and my
sli went to meet the appointment and sent
IN card, "Sojourrer Truth and friends
which brought back in half hour messen-
ger to escort us to President Grants Office
BE sat at the end of a long table in the center
d the room, with documents piled before
him, and Just closing an interview with other
persons | stepped forward to introduce the
party and to bring Sojourner beside the table
She had met President Lincoln, and he, a
born Keutuckian, could call her "Aunty" in
the old familiar way, while Grant, though
Kindly, was reticent, and all was not quite
easy at first. But happy thought came to
her, Not long before the president had
4 signed some bill OF now guarantees OF justice
tothe colored people. S 10 spoke of this viii.
\ gratitude; the thin ice broke and words came
freely from both, for Grant was an easy ami
fluent taker but had the wisdom of silonce
until the fit time came to speak.
Standing there, tall and erect while stirred
IN soul by the occasion, her wonderful eyes
gowed as she thanked him for bis good deeds
and gave wise counsel In her own clear and
quaint way.
FINE AND SIMPLE DIGNITY.
Herr words came in tones full OF deep power
md tenderness, and he listened with great in
ts'est and respect, and told her that he
hoped always to DO Just to all and especially
70 see that the poor and defenseless vert
iariy treated" His voice and manner toll,
now Ills heart was touched, and lis softened
zones showed how "the bravest are the ten.
aeftst She told him how his tasks ami
trials we're appreciated and how much faith
was placed i'll his upright doing of duty to
neoppressed, and be quietly, yet with much
!eehns' expressed the hope that he might ever
Mwhe and firm and never forget the inalien-
4 able rights of all
oaiy great souls can comprehend true
greatness, and these two understood each
unef' Nothing in the illustrious career of
uVn' ulais gave me fuller sense of his
.a'eeneSs OF heart and mind than his unpre-
Nluins simplicity and appreciative respect in
'ls Interview, while the flne and sinnle dir
uNy Of solourner Truth also gave me fuller
s n'Se OF her large womanhood. She said to
lIi' :! nave little book here that l call nv
OO.k OF life good many names are in it,
alu nave Kept place ON the same page
u" 'u Llhcohs for you to write your name. !"
ss.epied' VI am glad to put it there" and
''' us autograph in her little book. She
b. .a 'aid' 1T Will do me good for you to
sase my Photograph and with evident
reaSuFe lie thanked her and selected one
Au ", several laid on the table.
r,a al9 conversation had lasted beyond the
t nua' ume others stood by, waiting their
~, .. se' listening with great interest, and
wv. ~ uine came to leave. The president
bs '' to si, MS chair and gave Sojourner his
MANU. niln parting word of good will. This
ba ssuai respect and appreciative sympathy
's"een the president Of orro.t ,,,,,,,,I;,,
an orn "Oiiah born slave and representing
h, pP y people was admirable and inspir.
nf-G B, Stebbins. @'
Nesiected buckingham pa1ace