Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-08

widows Of our grea.
American generals are recalled. In many in
stances the wives Of our military heroes died
before their husbands, as, for instance, Mrs.
Sherman, Mrs. Burnside, Mrs. Hooker, Mrs.
Meade and others. Several Of them outlived
their husbands, and are passing the declining
years OF their lives in the serene enjoyment Of
the weil-deserved love Of friends and respect Of
their couutrymen and countrywomen. The
list Is sadly short, but it is interesting. and it
cannot fail to be of concern to all Americans.
The past lives Of these ladies' the conditions
that now surround them and the environments
that engage their attention constitute pleasant
chapter in our social history.
Naturally. the widow of Gen Grant attracts
first attention. The position Of her husband
made her figure Of first prominence in our
republican court, and since his death public
interest has attached to her no less strongly.
For several years after Gen. Grants death
Mrs. Grant continued to live in New York city,
IN the mouse that was owned by the general and
that was saved by devoted friends from the
financial wreck that overlook the family in the
Grant & Ward failure. There Mrs Grant lived
IN the center of society. and vet not in it. She
never had much inclination for the formalities
OF fashionable social life. and she felt less than
ever inclined that way after the death of her
husband But her house was always open to
the friends Of her happier days, and Gen. Grant S
old military associates, well as the public
men who were leaders with him during his civil
career. were always welcome there. and for the
old soldiers Mrs. Grant always had deep and
abiding regard. For the serious occupation of
her life Mrs. Grant has been busy with the
preparation Of her "reminiscences Of her great
husbands life and career, dealing it is under
stood. more with the private and domestic side
OF Gen. Grant than any biography that has vet
been published. But this work is not likely to
see the light Of day until its author has passed
away.
MRS. GRANTS PRESENT PLANS
Very recently Mrs Grant sold her New York
house and will probably not return to that city
to live. During the winter just passed she has
been residing in southern California with her
son Jesse. who is established in business there
1t is among the possibilities that she may 60
abroad for visit to her daughter Mrs Nellie
Sartoris, who has just lost her husband after an
unhappy marriage, and who is leading o very
quiet domestic life in London, devoted to tie
care of her children. But whether she goes
abroad or not it is Mrs Grants present inten-
ton to move to Washington and make this city
her home for the rest Of her life. Her sum-
Cranston's on the Hudson, and she is likely to
continue that custom in the future.
Mrs. Grant has had q life full of romance
paralleled by that Of few American women.
As Miss Julia Dent, daughter Of Frederick
Dent, granddaughter Of Capt George Dent.
when that fortress was stormed by Mad
Anthony" Wayne, and a descendent of Joshua
Wrenshail, one Of the early English settlers in
this country. she has reason to be proud of her
family. At the age of eighteen she returned
from boarding school to her fathers home in
81 Louis, where she was soon after engaged to
Lieut. Grant, then of the fourth infantry. They
were married in 1S4S. From this humble be-
ginning Mrs. Grant lived to become the first
Lady OF the land and to have honors and riches
showered upon her. She was. in the best sense,
the companion as well as the wife of Gen. Grant
All during the war she was near to him when
ever the exisencies of service would permit her
to share his privatlons. Her life in the White
House was altogether enjoyable. and she ac-
companied Gen. Grant on his famous journey
around the world: as she said of herself ''having
learned a lesson from my predecessor Penelope,
accompanied my Ulysses in his wanderings
around the world"
Mrs. Grant is a wealthy woman. Patriotic
friends Of the general gave the family many
presents of value besides the New York house
She has pension of $4,000 year from the
government, and the proceeds from the sale of
her husbands memoirs have been nearly half
million dollars.
Another widow OF a President who was a gen.
eral still survives in the person of Mrs Gar
field, although in this instance the fame of her
husband was more in the field of craftsmanship
than from his military career. Mrs. Garfield
was the daughter Of plain Ohio farmer and
was married soon after she left the college
where she and her husband had been educated
together.
A grateful and sympathetic people addressed
themselves to the duty Of caring for the family
of our second martyred President soon after
Garfield was laid in the tomb. and a fund
amounting to $500, 900 was raised. The income
from this supports Mrs. Garfield handsomely
and she lives in dignifed retirement in her
Ohio home. an example OF the best type of
American womanhood.
MRS. MCCLELLAN IN SOCIETY.
When Gen. George B. Mcclellan died, in
1885, he left q widow, a son and q daughter
His wife was Miss Marcy, daughter Of Gen. r.
B. Marcy. To great charms of manner and per-
son Mrs. Mcclellan united rare qualities OF
mind and conversational powers. She shone in
the best society, and her home was always the
center of a court Of sdmirIng friends. During
the entire career Of her husband she was his
close companion, and her rare tact and good
sense were always OF material assistance to
him. In the latter years of Gen. McClellan's
life, after he had retired from the public at the
end of his term of service governor of New
Jersey, he maintained winter residences in
Gramercy Park and in Washington Square, two
of the most fashionable localities Of New York
city, and a summer home in Orange, n. J. In
all these houses frequent receptions were held,
presided over by Mrs. Mcclellan, and they were
always among the most brilliant affairs Of their
KIM IN Tue season. Iney approached more
nearly the salons of the French capital than
| any entertainments ever held in this country.
Mrs. Mcclellan shone in these functions, and
was never happier than when thus surrounded
by her admirers and xhen ministering to the
pleas ures of her friends, to whom the doors of
her b ONE were always open in unbounded hos
pitality.
Gen. Mcclellan left his family in comfort
| able circumstances. bat since his death Mrs.
Mcclellan has lived somewhat in retirement
She has not been prominent social figure rs
| she was before, but has devoted herself in q
quiet way to her family and her intimate
friends. The social success OF her daughter and
the growing reputation of her - q man Of
/ public affairs have boon the greatest pleasures
| Of her advancing years. Col. George 3. Nc
Ciellan, the son, was young man in the senior
class at Princeton College when his father died
| He is now. while yet young in years, we'll
! established as . lawyer and coming strongly to
| the front in politics. He was electsdin Noyem-
Der, 1892, to be president of the board Of
aldermen OF New York city, and he is marked
for higher political honors In the future Mrs
Mcclellan, with her daughter, has been residing
| abroad for some tiuae, and the marriage Of Miss
Mcclellan to young French nobieman, who is
prominent in the diplomatic service of the
country, has just been announced. The young
couple will reside In ConstantinopIe, where the
husband has beep assigned. Mrs Mcclellan 10
| very much attached to her daughter, and will
live with her in Constantinople for some time
| to come.
sNns sux~,n.~