Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1892-12-16
GENERAL CE ANT.
Ills Personal Appearanc tile surely
Was 20 Gcntlelgan."

Ills Personal Appearanc tile surely
Was % GontleIlan."
Concerning the personal appear
ance of General Grant Mr.. w. A.
burlington. Of New York. thus writes
in private letter which he has
kindly permitted Laurence Hutton TO
make public in HARPER Magazine;
when ! first knew the general |
was a school boy. and OF course felt
the schoolbQy's awe OF great man.
Privileged TO know him for years in
the intimacy OF his own home. | never
entirely overcame tnat feeling. What
was heroic in him grew. and did not
diminish The more i saw OF him
the more ! felt that he was good rs
we'll as great. His face used TO be
called sphin ike. That was scarcely
true. for although, its expression was
always calm strong imperturbable.
it was also one Of great gentleness.
He surely was Il gentleman. Perhaps
his hands aided 10 keep his face Sc
rene, Tor we must all have some
safety valve. Almost the only ex-
ternal indication OF annoyance | ever
noticed in him was nervous
opening and shutting OF his fingers
an index of emotion often
observed By other OF his moro
intimate friends. y notable illustra-
ton Of this trait was told me by I,
gentleman who once accompanied
him 10 very large public dinner
given in his honor. At its close one
of the guests ventured upon the tell
ing Of stores which are not told puer-
is virgin busque The generals fin
gers began to work; he quietly ex-
cused himself; and his companions
VINO knew the Significance of the
gesture. followed him As they
smoked their cigar, on the streets OF
the foreign city IN which this occurred
the general said 4 hope | have not
taken you from the table but | have
never perm .tted such conversation 10
my presence and / never intend to-
This was not ~.Tectation. His mind
clear aad wholesome. left its imprint
in his face. Grossness or scandal
gave him genuine discomfort He
loved to think well of his kind. This
trait showed in his face gave it be-
nightly ana was | fancy the secret
Of his hold on the a fectioGs OF men.
We HANGED u be alone in his roo n
one night after the last cruel BETRAYAL
OF his confidence he walking TO and
fro by the aid of his crutch. Sudden
~ he stopped and. rs if following
aloud the train OF his thought he
said: i have made it the rulc OF my
life to believe in n man long after
others have given him up. | do not
see how ! can do SO again. There
was no bitterness in his voice. not
en- an elevation in the tone. 1t was
simply an exclamation OF an honest
heart sorely wounded in its belief
AS recall his face that which |
remember is not so much line and con-
tour as the expression OF strength. OF
great patience Of calmness and Of
greatness, and the incidents viii h il
lustratcs pure qualities also come
back freshly to my memory.
''lIe had too a merry face; at times
a merry eye. He was full OF sly hu-
NOR The twinkIing OF his eye and
his quiet laugh promptly rewarded an
amusing story. Ia his own home his
face was always kind and responsi @.
There nc was not the silent man the
world thought it knew but fluent
and well-informed In ker on all that
was OF interest TO him. Undoubtedly.
however he had the gilt OF silence.
and when he saw fit to exercise il his
face became mask conversation
ceased TO be among the possibilities
and "A chat with craven image would
have been n relief at such a time.
He became then. and designedly. u
silence compeIler. When there was
nothing to be said he said nothing.