Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-03-12
GENERAL TEcUMsEH SIBERIAN.
Row He Wears His Seventy Exacting
Years.


General Sherman does not look as he
did when he left West Point something
like half a century ago, JUS at the time
that the United States had the Florida
trouble on hand. II could scarcely
be expected that he should. Yet he
wears his 20 years well. and while he IL
not so vigorous as he appeared few
years ago he is still sturdy old man,
who seems likely TO live 10 celebrate
good many birthdays. When one con-
sders that the veteran general was in ac-
tive service for nearly half century.
during which time he did his share of
the hardest sort of fighting, it is indeed
surprising that he continues so hale and
active
General Sherman is quite gray now
Both his hair and beard are white. But
he is still a very hard-working man. he
lives very quiet Y with his family at his
house on Seventy-first street west OF
Central rark. He is as accessible as any
man i'm New York, but he has most
direct and positive way of dealing with
bores. II has been stated that the gen.
eral is irascible. and so he is to persons
who annoy him. To persons who have
me real reason for calling upon him
he is always courteous a ring at the
door bell of the generals handsome
brown stone residence brings pleasant
faced servant girl to answer the call.
The old fighter is peculiar in one re-
srect The girl who opens his door for
visitors never has to go and ask him II
he is in. At the first she tells one that
"the general is in" or he is not. II he's
in he will see you. II you are BORE as
n good many of his callers are. look out
for SQUALLS. and under any circumstances
il i not well to be prolix. General
Sherman likes one TO get to the point at
once. If the visitor is not able to do this
he is likely to be interrupted.
There is one sort of n caller that Is al
WAYS received with warmth, and that Is
one of General Sherman's oil sol liers, or
his ~boys. as he calls them. just how
much assistance General Sherman gives
10 old and unfortunate soldiers II would
lie hard TO say. No one but himself
knows. and he won't tell. But these are
among the more numerous of the visit
ors at his house. Besides them there are
all sorts and conditions Of callers at HE
house.
General Sherman is methodical in his
habits and his work. He is an early
riser He eats an early and light break
fast. and afterward is TO be seen In his
- huIl an nn N r
lor floor of his house He has COM
paratively large library, not entirely
made up Of military books either. He
has alwavs had keen literary taste, and
there are few men who are better posted
on the literary and historical records OF
this and other lands; A large amount
OF the space i'm his library Is taken up by
the mans which were drawn by himself
ard his generals during the civil war;
He has the ori ginal copies OF the maps,
md there is scarcely day when he is
not called upon 10 settle by reference
some dispute as TO military vancouver
made by himself or some other general.
These maps are his hobby, and very valu'
able they are, too viewed from any
standpoint.
The correspondence Of General Sher-
man is simply enormous. He has IN the
first place thousands Of members OF the
Grand Army who write TO him with ref
ere &c to all sorts Of matters He has
more invitations to.speak before Grand
Army posts than any other man in Amer
lea. His receipts Of begging letters daily
is simply enormous. There are many
letters asking him for literary contribu-
tions for everything from the big reviews
down TO some church fair Journal
Whenever tho general does dip into the
scribbing business it is usually for the
North American Review
To call a man of 20 a man about town
may seem hippant And yet General
Sherman is a man about town In the best
sense Of the word. He Is 10 he seen at
the clubs and the big dinners, such as
that of the New England society, for in
stance: he shares the oratoricai honors
with such stars as Chauncey NJ. Depew
and General Horace Porter. AT tmost OF
the big social events the tall form and
erizzled face Of the famous soldier Is 10
be seen, and he is a general fayorite with
all.
In short the old general is passing
through the evening Of his life in calm
and quiet manner, liked by all. He is
happy in his home, is admired in public,
and as one Of the mos unique OF our
historical characters, as well as one OF
the last. he is n figure that stands out
prominen " in the crowded, bustling
metropolis.