The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-15
MRS. GRANT AT HOME.
A Glimpse at the Life Of the
Great Hero's Widow.
WRITING 4 BOOK OF MEMOIRS.
The Happy Days n the white House,
Nellie sartori's and Her
Drunken Husband.

NEW YORK, Feb. Especial Correspon-
dence. Numerous inquiries have recentlv
been made about Mrs. Grants health and
her present mode Of life. The widow of the
great war hero is living life of compare
tive retirement. 1t has been reported over
and over again, first that she was very ILL.,
and then that she was much better. again
that her eyes were failing, and, lastly, that
she would never live to finish her labor of
love-the memoirs of her husband. The
fact is, Mrs. Grants health is as good as
could be expected in woman Of her age.
She is no longer young. The midday of
her life was as rosy and joyous as perhaps
that of the life of any other woman Amer
lea has produced, but the declining days
have been full of sadness.
Her husbands death was blow that she
has not yet recovered from. The unfortu-
nate marriage of her daughter, the once
brilliant Nellie Grant, has added much
sorrow to her mothers last days, and the
misfortunes that overlook her sons in a
business way just previous to the death of
their father added many pangs to the grief
of the wife of Americas great hero.
Mrs. Grant does not see many visitors
these days. She goes out but very little,
seldom into society, and only when the
sun is shining brightly, and she feels un-
usually well, does her coachman drive her
for an hour or SO through Central park.
On bright Sundays she goes to church, but
her life is spent almost entirely in the
house on Sixty-sixth street made famous
by the never-to-be-forgotten battle that
waged there 50 many day between Ulysses
Grant on one side and giant Death on the
other. She sees a few visitors, but
they are intimate friends of life
time, like Bishop Newman and his wife.
General Sherman, who often goes and
lunches with her and cheers her up, old
army and navy heroes who were loyal
friends of her husband-these she loves to
see and talk with. But for society, ban
quets, receptions and teas she has no use.
THE HOME LIFE.
One day differs but little from another.
Mrs. Grant does not rise early. Her cor
respondence is quite large, and she tries to
answer all the letters that come to her.
But she does not succeed very we'll.
Sometimes she spends an hour or two
reading her letters, and if she gets one
from some old grizzled soldier who knew
her husband she replies to it with her own
hand, but it is slow work. Her pen does
not move quickly, and often after she has
begun letter it is pushed aside for her
maid to complete.
After luncheon perhaps she works on
the memoirs, or she may take nap or re-
ceive some dear friend. If the afternoon
be fine she may 60 out for short ride,
Then comes dinner, and after this the
hours until bed time are spent in listening
to her maid read, or Mrs. Grant may die
tate a letter to her. There is red-Ietter
day each week. however, and that is the
day that the English mails arrive with let
ters from Nellie in England, and Minister
Fred Grant in Wien. How eagerly Mrs.
Grant looks forward to the day no one can
tell. She is smiling and happy then. Once
and she in return is equally as prompt in
replying. The letters from her loved ones
form the only break in the monotony Of
her life.
A cold wind was blowing from the West