Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-28
MAYOR GRANT'SH0ME
HIS LUXURIOUS AND ARTISTIC SUR
OuNDINGs-LOvE OF SPORT.
Weary Of Understanding Great Circus
Msn-Flager's Costly Fioridisn Fad
A Sensational Sermon.
,corr.,nona,nce o, the richmond pi.pa,ch.]

correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatchl
NEW YoRG, February 27.--I dined the
other evening with Mayor Hugh j. Grant
In his elegant bachelor home. in west
Seventy-third street. The Mayor is . good
liver, and his quarters are the acme OF
modern luxury. His house, though small.
Is built upon the very best OF modern
plans and originally furnished in most ex-
sellent style and with good taste. lie has
been gradually adding to his collection OF
paintings and pictures and br'c-d-brao until
he now has such homo as the wealtniest
man in the country might envy. since ne
entered the Office OF Mayor nus persona anu
political friends have been more than KIND
to him, and every Christmas has added 70
his stock OF beautiful house-furnishings.
His silver and tableware would be the de-
light OF every proud housekeeper. He has
some very valuable pictures in his collec-
ton, but the one which he seems to
enjoy the most isl very well-executed
painting of himself in white, driving
coat, spinning through Central fark
behind pair Of magnificent trotters-one
of them the famous Kenilworth, who as
tonished the eastern country before the
DAYS of Maud S. and Sunol. The Mayor
still retains his love for the swift equine.
He has six horses in his stable at the
present time, and there is no man IN this
country who would go farther than him
self 10 see good exhibit, either IN the
trotting or running line.
There Is youthfuiness ana Duoyancy
about Mayor Grant which, all things con-
sidered. IL rather surprising. There Is a
serious and matter-of-fact business side 10
him. but TO his friends he Is still the same
warm. hearted, impulsiye, good-natured
boy that he was fifteen wears ago. Helsex-
ceednely tired of politics OF late he has
taken no active part III the manlpula-
ton of city politics beyond what IL ao-
solutely forced out of him by his connec-
tion with Tammany Hall. Any one watch
inc his published interviews of late will
ace how indifferent he has become to gem
eral politics. When he first entered the
MAYORS Office he was on tap TO the re-
porters and was good for certain amount
of space every day IN the newspapers. lie
subsequently, discovered that being inter
viewed by dozen reporters every day
meant great loss of time from his official
duties. and now the accepted formula IS
something like this:
FOR THE REPORTERS.
"Mavor Grant being seen by the report
or in reference TO the sermon of Dr. Park
hurst, said that he had not read 1t and did
not care TO say anything on the suolect."
At the same time the Mayor is always
affable and ALWAYS accessible TO reporters
He has been criticised a good deal for some
Of his official acts, especially IN the matter
of appointments. But 1t must be under
stood that in many instances he has not
been permitted TO have his own way by
anv means. While the Mayor of New
York CITY. he is also Tammany Halls
MAYOR, and Tammany Hall has servitors
who must be taken care OF at any price. l
am inclined to think that Mr.. Grant did
not care for the second term OF the
mayoralty. but was rather forced INTO IL
by tho attacks made upon HIM by the
Legislative Investigating Committee. His
friends insisted upon his vlndication. ana
having secured 1t he Is now ready 70 end
his official life next January. As L have
already said. the Mayor IS generous
feeder and his table attracts some Of the
best known epicures IN the city.
No man IN the country knows more about
duck than Mayor Grant, and bis taste Tor
terrapin ia simply sybaritlc. His cook has
a special formula for preparing this much
Wanted dish, and notwithstanding the
very high price and great scarcity OF this
reptile. no formal dinner at the Mayors
house is considered complete without It.
His wine cellar ~ gem IN It's way. lie
makes his own selections and, recollectlng
some half dozen dinners with INN, can
not recall an occasion when he dlu not ID
trOduce a new and rare vintage OF some
kind. He told me the other evening that
one of his reasons for wishing TO oe re-
lieved of Office and political cares was
based upon his desire TO be untrammelled
in business way.
The Mayor is a very shrewd man of az
fairs and has always been money-maker.
Hampered as he Is in the mayors Office, he
does not feel at liberty TO seize upon the
business opportunities which come under
his observation from time 70 time. He
has. | believe, already made arrangements
TO take the presidency of a very i'm
portant corporation rs soon as he
leaves his Office. and we shall hear
much of him hereafter IN the world of at
fairs. His experience in the mayors Of
fee has been valuable one, and | can see
great growth in him since the day that he
evoluted from the sheriHs Office. lie is
still Young enough to have roseate future,
but not a political one. | fancy that he
never cared much for politics except as a
youthful pastlme. and that he was forced
into Office bv his associations rather than
bv self-seeking. He Is good fellow all
round, and so far as the actual business OF
the CITY Is concerned he has been a great
Improvement on Abram 5. Hewitt, whose
irascibility, loGuacity, and general verbal
responsibility made him conspicuous
nut not very oiOuAd ivy
Hall.
SHOWS AND sHowNEN.
Meeting Uncle Dan Rice. the veteran
Snowman, the other dav, he told me that
he had Just returned from visit to old
Seth Howe, the circus man. Some people
will probably recolect Mr.. Howe as one OF
the successful showmen more than gen.
Grafton ago. | had supposed HIM dead as
well as forgotten, but Uncle Dan tells me
that he is living up near lonkers. where
he has beautiful estatA and at least
million dollars worth of the worlds best
material. The old man is over so years of
age, and when he goes to JOIN Sands, Ma
than, Spaulding, Bidwell, Rogers. Lent,
FOrepaugh, John Robinson, and Barnum.
we shall have nothing left of the ancient cir
Gus regime III this country save Uncle Dan
Rice himself. who probably learned his
best clown tricks and jokes from old Joe
Pentland fifty years ago. While these old
circus mOnarchs led for the most part
rough and hazardous lives. and in the
early days camped like soldiers in all sorts
OF weather IN all sorts Of places, nearly
all of them lived to ripe ages. They were
really men of heroic mold. Most of them
developed out of the very hard grinding
of their venturesome careers.
While on this subject l may add that
met representative of Mr.. Bailey the
v.
important mission in Europe. Bailey Is
now the successor of L. L. Barnum and
the owner OF Forepaughs show as well.
While the latter organization will be
kept moving through the country
this season as light artillery, the heavy
Barnum show will be converted into a
grand spectacle based upon the discovery
OF this country by Christopher Columbus.
1t is proposed to give under enormous
tents. or in great buildings to be erected
in principal cities. magnificent pageant
representing four phases IN the career
of the great discoverer. Mr.. Bailey has
invested q quarter of million of dol
lars in costumes. scenery. armors, etc.
A dozen of the best scenic artists of Paris
have been at work for months upon the
scenery. and his agents have been into
every hole and corner of Europe engaging
artists and securing exhibits. At least go
people will be brought over from Europe.
and with the auxlliaries to be added here
the company will number at least 500 per-
sons. A magnificent ballet, of course,
will grace and adorn the entertain
ment. Ii IL estimated that Uncle
Sam will secure at least $4,000 from MIR.
Bailey in the issue of tariff on the goods
and material TO be employed IN this great
spectacle. Speaking of shows and show
men, / am reminded that we nave here in