Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-29
CAMPFIRE STORIES.
WHEN GRANT TALKED:
After Cigar in the Kitchen He Told
the Whole Story of the War

Customs at Portland, Me, tells CORE,
spehdeht 81 the Boston Globe of an oc.
casion when the silent Grant turned
himself into one of the rarest of story
tellers. 1t was in 1873, President Grant,
accompanied by distinguished party.
was visiting New England. A trip to
. Bar Harbor and other points on the
Maine coast was planned. A revenue
cutter was taken and the voyage begun,
but bad weather compelled the party ia
put in at the little island If North
Haven, and feat and unpretentious
tavern became their retreat. In the
notable party were: Speaker James G,
Blaine, of the National House, United
States Senator Eugene Hale, of Maine;
General o. E. Babcock and Hon. Simon
Cameron, of the Cabinet; Hon. Lot NJ.
Morrill,, ex-senator from Maine and ex-
Secretary of the Treasury; eH-Vice=
President Hannibal Hamlin; Hon: A. s.
Washburn; Governor Sidney Perhatn, OF
Maine; John Neal Portland's famous
poet; Ulysses Grant, Jr, Walker Blaine,
Hon. Thomas B. Reed and others of
nearly as great prominence whose names
sides some distinguished foreigners, An
appetizing supper was spesd b Host and
Hostess Mullen; ana the party resorted
sc CONVERSATION, card playing, etc.
According to Mrs. Mullen's statement
to neighbor, President Grant was very
social with her and her husband. He
came out into the kitchen, sat down on
stool and talked with them for a long
time.
lie said that he preferred to sit n the
kitchen, where nc could smoke without
disturbing those in the parlor. He
would say few words and then take a
puff at his cigar. His conversation coy
cred wide range Of subjects.
''He wanted no one to wait upon him."
remarked Mr.. Mullen, ''and made less
trouble in the house than young drum
mer on his first trip"
During his waking hours cigar was
almost constantly in his mouth. Mr.
/ Mullen carefully preserves, as a valued
memento of Grants visit, an empty
cigar box marked Colorado Claro." an
/ imported brand, an excellent likeness
of the General on the outside wrapper,
and half-burned cigar left by Grant
'As the hours of evening wore on"
says Deputy Collector Smith, land the
interest in the gaines and conversation
began to flag, President Grant re-enter-
ed the parlOr and made US proposition.
He said:
My friends, you can hardly imagine
the relief and pleasure feel at now be-
ing able, for the first time in several
years, TO open my mouth and speak
without having every word telegraphed
all over the country and published in
the papers. Tonight we are cut off from
any communication with the outside
world, no gentlemen of the press are
present, and now, in case you care to
hear it, will give you an off-hand out
line sketch of my campaigns
The suggestion was applauded to the
echo" continues Mr.. Smith, and
we at once grouped ourselves in listen !
ing attitude. Grant at once placed a
plain hardwood chair at a convenient |
place for addressing the company, with |
the back of it toward us, seated himself |
astride it, and commenced his narration. |
And such a narration! 1t was like |
Alexander the Great, gifted with the |
descriptive power of Kinglake, telling
the story of his experiences. 1t was
Grants Memoirs in condensed form,
clear in presentation, unified in arrange
ment, graphic with light and shade,
modest as regards personal mention.
He said little about himself, but touch
ed upon the merits of the leading Gen
erals, and bestowed unbounded praise
upon the soldiery.
''Beginning with a brief account of
the first regular engagement at Belmont
In the autumn of '61, he took us through
the shifting scenes of, Fort Donelson,
Pittsburgh Landing and Vicksburg:
thence to the mightier scenes of his
struggles and triumphs, ending with
the fall of Richmond. 1t was a bril-
lisnt recital, and it was the unanimous
verdict of his auditors that we had then
and there obtained a clearer and in
CSery way better idea of the war for the
Union than from any books or papers we
had ever read.
at was indeed a treat to hear from
the lips of the leader of one of the
>
story of his plans and their execution,
interspersed with spirited word pictures !
Of an incidental or personal character
His narrative occupied two hours, and
when the last scene on the panorama
had been presented there was not a
sleepy eye in all that gathering. Fas-
,inated, absorbed, we listened silently {
and when we retired for
he night, and lulled by the storm, sank
10 slumber between the white sheets of
Mrs. Mullen's cottage beds, it was to
lream of Grant and the stupendous
lrama of which he was the central q
igure.
AT seasonable hour in the morning {
he party rallied again in the dining t
DOM and partOok of hearty breakfast. v
The President, like the others, selected !
he plaineSt food, but the venerable,
Omewhat outre-dressed General Cam {
ron scored point on his illustrious /
hief by asking Mrs. Mullen if she could /
i've him some cold potatoes. /
The proposed trip to Bar Harbor was c
bandOned, and, after cordial adieu to
heir hospitable entertainers, the Pres f
Dental party was rowed to the revenue s
utter, and soon North Haven and its n
leasant associations existed to them a
nix as a "Reminiscences. o
THE SOLDIERS BLUFF.
Two Million Dollar Bet in a Wartime n