Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1892-11-11

General Grants Personal Appearance.
Harper's Magazine for November con-
tains an interesting description of Gen.
Grants personal appearance and peculiari-
ties of manner. 1t is contained in a pri-
vate letter, written by w. A. burlington
of New York, and printed in Lawrence
Hutton's series of papers on "a Collection
of Death Masks"
"When first knew the general was
school-boy, and of course felt the school
boys awe of great man. Privileged to
know him for years in the intimacy of his
own home, never entirely overcame that
feeling. What was heroic in him grew.
and did not diminish The more | saw of
him the more [ felt that he was good as
well as great Hs.face used to be called
sphinxlke. That was scarcely true, for
although its expression was always calm,
strong, imperturable it was also one of
great centleness. He surely was gentle
man. Perhaps his hands aided to keep
his face serene, for we must all have some
safety valve. Almost the only external in
dication of annoyance | ever noticed in
him was nervous opening and shutting of
his fingers, an index of emotion often OBJ
served by other of his more intimate
friends. A notable illustration of this
trait was told me by a gentleman who
once accompanied him to a very large pub
lie dinner given in his honor. At its close
one of the guests ventured upon the tell
ing of stories which are not told pueris
riryinibHsque. The generals fingers be-
gan to work; he quietly excused himself;
and his companion, who knew the signifi-
canoe of the gesture, followed him. As
they smoked their cigars on the streets of
the foreign city in which this occurred,
the general said, i hope have not taken
you from the table, but | have never per-
mitted such conversation in my presence,
and | never intend to- This was not an
affectation. His mind, clear and whole
some, left its imprint in his face. Gross
ness or scandal gave him genuine dscom-
fort. He loved to think well of his kind.
This trait showed in his face, gave it be-
nightly, and was, | fancy, the secret of his
hold on the affections of men. We CHANGED
to he alone in his room one night after the
last cruel betrayal of his confidence, he
walking to and fro by the aid of his crutch.
Suddenly he stopped, and. as if following
aloud the train of his silent thought, he
said, Il have made it rule of my life to
believe in a man long after others have
given him up. | do not see how | can do
so again There was no bitterness in his
voice. not even an elevation of tone. 1t
was simply an exclamation of an honest
heart sorely wounded in its belief.
"As recall his face, that which | re-
member is not so much line and contour as
the expression OF strength, of great pa
tience. of calmness and of gentleness; and
the incidents which illustrate pure quail
ties also come back freshly to my memory.
"He had, too, a merry face; at times a
merry eye. He was full of sly humor.
The twinkling of his eye and his quiet
laugh promptly rewarded an amusing sto-
ry In his own home his face was always
kind and responsive. There he was not
the silent man the world thought it knew,
but fluent and well-informed talker on
all that was of interest to him. I'm
doubtedly, however, he had the gift of ST.
lence, and when he saw fit TO exercise it
his face became a mask, conversation
ceased to be among the possibilities, and a
chat with a craven image would have been
a relief at such a time. He became then,
and designedly, silence-compeller. When
there was nothing to be said, he said moth
ing"