The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-06-18
PERSONAL AND LITERARY.

Robert Grant, the Boston lawyer and
writer is thirty-nine years old and has
a delightful home on Commonwealth
avenue. His practice confines him so
closely that he has little time for liter
airy work, although he attemps to de-
vote an hour of each day to writing.
-Edmundc de Presseuse, the late
French Protestant writer, had under
gone the operation of tracheotomy and
had lost the power Of speech. Writing
was then his only means Of communi-
cation with his family. But his wife
had become blind from cataract, and
their intercourse was sadly restricted.
Antoine Chapu, the Frence sculptor.
who recently died from influenza, exe-
cuted bust of President Carnot last
year, making his model in Bonnat's
studio. where that painter was at work
simultaneously on a portrait. lie was
bright, vigorous gentleman OF fifty
eight years, and was often seen at re-
ceptions and fetes with lovely daugh-
ter, who completely tyrannized over
him.
The New York and Chicago Press
Clubs have somewhat similar schemes
for the erection of suitable club build
ings. The New York Press Club. with
about $40, 600 already subscribed toward
building fund, has approved a report
Of its building committee in favor of
buying site in Park place, so by 100
feet, for 1878. 600, and putting up build
ing at q cost of 100000.
An amusing story is told Of the ex-
EmpressEugenie going to make friend
~ visit to her majesty. Victoria Of En-
gland. The French queen naturally
wore her gown Of ceremony with
trailing skirt and the sensible little
English sovereign with her customary
short petticoats and strong low-heeled
boots, entertained her distinguished
visitor by dragging her train and all.
through the slush for a walk about the
farm at Windsor.
Russia claims to possess the oldest
soldier in the world in Col. Grit:enko.
of Pottawa. near Odessa. who on Feb
ruary celebrated his one hundred and
seventeenth birthday. Entering the
service in 1889, over one hundred years
ago. he received from the hands Of the
Empress Catherine. after the taking of
Ismail, where he was serving under
Sonwaroff, the military gold medal.
This bears the inscription: For ex-
| ceptional bravery at the assault of
| lsmail, December II, 11s9."
The King and Queen of Denmark
gave their granddaughter, the Princess
Louise. when she was confirmed, white
enamel furniture with pale blue Per.
sian rugs and hangings for her boudoir
Her mother, the crown prince, gave her
a gold-mounted Bible: her father. a
watch set with diamonds: the emperor
and empress Of Russia. ermine and en-
cralds, and the princess Of Wales dia-
mond-studded fan and rubv-mounted
J bouquet holder.
| 1t is announced that Mrs. Grant
will not allow the "reminiscences she
has written of her late husband Gen
L. :. Grant. to be published. She has
been at work on them for some time
and intended at first that they should
| appear in one of the magazines Her
materials included all Gen. Grants
private letters to her, many of them
having valuable comments on his part
| in the war. She has changed her mind
now about publishing the "reminiscences
and will leave them as record to her
children.