Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-28
ON MANHATTAN ISLE.
WHY MRS. ULYSSES s. GRANT COULD
NOT GO TO MILITARY HOP.
Gabrielle Greeley at the Unwilling Of Her
Fathers statuc-McAIiistero on Horse
back-NellIc BIy-Jsy Gould.
lcorrespondence o, ,he RIchmond pIsp.tch.l

NEW YORK, September q, 1890.
Speaking Of the illustrious captain over
whose ashes stately tomb is soon to be
built, Mrs. General Bowen said recently:
at seems to me like fairy tale, and
I have thought of it thousand times
since that day. There was time when
Grant had a run Of bad luck. Things
went wrong, and he was pretty poor.
That is why it happened that Julia
Mrs. Grant, and the children were
home ut her fathers. We were all GO
ing toa hop gwen by tho officers; and, OF
course, we wanted her 10 go, too. She wish
ed to 20, know, but she had no dress that
she thought good enough to wear. In
friendly fashion we leased her. suggesting
one thing and another for her TO fix up
with. But no. she would not go. We
set forth III glowing terms the splen-
did times we would have. MENTION
ing this and that friend who would
be present, and doing all we could
to coax her to get ready. Her
eyes filed with tears and to hide them she
picked up her baby which was playing at
her feet and began to caress it. Never
mind, Ulie,' sho said turning to mo with
a smile. Papa may be President Of the
United States one of these days, and then
we will have plenty of dresses Nothing
could be more unlikely then, and yet 1t all
came to pass. If | should live to be old
enough to forget almost everything else L
will always remember how Julia looked as
she uttered these words "
GABRIELLE-NIcHoLAs.
Among the people who occupied the
platform at the unvelling of the Greeley
statue was Gabrielle, the only surviving
member of the great editors family. For
wears she has lived the life of a recluse at
Chappaaua. Many men have solicited her
hand in marriage (for Gabrielle Greeley IS
and has been a beautiful woman, but In
vain. She has grown old very rapidly,
however, and her face betrays her ac-
uuaintance with sorrow. Only az occa-
sion such as that could have tempted her
to leave the lonely retreat with which the
name of tho founder of the Tribune
is so closely identified. Not many OF the
spectators recognized her as the daughter
of the man the perpetuatlon OF whose
memory in bronze was being celebrated
that morning. Behind Mr.. Dcpew end
almost out Of the range of public observa-
ton, she sat motionlesS save Tor the move
ments of her lips which betrayed the
emotions aroused by the orators eloquent
tribute TO the dead journalists character
anu utultNtAllfuio. I'LL tfoAo CAlRA~t -
the story of these emotions. Old friends
of the illustrious newspaper-man shook
hands with her as she withdrew to return
70 the place where she will spend the years
that remain to her. That she has passed
out of the public eve forever IS altogether
likely. Conspicuously absent from the
ceremonies, at which hers was perhaps
the most conspicuous figure, was Mr.. Mich
olas Smith, whose marriage to her SIS
ter. now dead, brought with 1t so little
happiness. For one of his principal claims
upon public recollection he is indebted to
the fact that after having oihclated as
groomsman at somewhat memorable
wedding he presented to the newly-mar-
ried man stiff bill which was either for
services rendered or expenses incurred or
both. Mr.. 0vington, the newlv-marrled
man in question, refused TO settle, and O
public controversy, in which Mr.. smith
succeeded in obtaining much notorlety, II
not money, was the result. HIS absence
was the source of little comment and less
regret.
M'ALIIsTER's EQUESTRIAN 2EcULIARTTrES.
Any alusion, however incidental, TO tho
name of Ward McAllster recalls the fact
that that profound student OF social pro-
preties il preparing for headlOng plunge
into the uncertain and treacherous waters
his demeanor at fashionable ball and his
sentences are as lustrous as his patent
feathers his publishers will have o merry
Christmas. This reminds mo that MIR.
McAllster's statelIness IS. IN ITS dls-
play, by no means limited to the ball
room. McAlllster, the horseman. takes
rank secopd only TO Mr.. McAlllster, the
despot of the dance. Plotting a fiery
charger along Fifth avenue he IS an impress
sive. If not sublime, spectacle. It's doubt
full whether anything short of seismic
upheayal would distract his attention az
such a tine and then the earth wave would
have to be exceedingly violent IN charac-
tor. When he is a rider hei a rider TO the
exclusion of everything else under the
sun, His consciousness is limited to his
own existence and that of the animal be-
meath him livery energy. muscular
and mental, is concentrated on the
rider and the ridden. This gives him
leisure for contemplating nothing else.
He would look Mrs. McAllister straight
in the face without q sign of recognition
if she happened to be walking or riding
by. Whether this must be regarded rs IN
dicating that it is sheer vulgarity while on
horseback to nod or smile at anybody or
whether it must be looked upon as proving
that riding exhausts all Mr.. McAlllster's
physical and intellectual resources IS an
unsolved conundrum. The well-bred GEN.
taurs Of the country, however, may accept
as social gospel, so to speak. the announce
ment that It is not good form" 10 recog-
nize acquaintance and friends while
riding.
WHY THE DOME.
Workmen are hurrying forward TO COM
pletion the magnificent building which
,,,;n varar ba soon hv tha man who of all