The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-05-31
THE MATCH FAILED.
NELLIE GRANTS ROMANCE WHILE
VISITING AT WEST POINT.

Her Father Had y Few Months Before Been
~Inaagurated President of the United
States, and she Was In Consequence the
Belle of the Gatherings.
1t was the closing week of commence
ment exercises at the military academy
in June, 1859, and historic West Point
had never appeared more brilliant. Dis
tinguished guests from alb over the
country were assembled to witness the
ceremonies, and the wealth and fashion
of New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Phila-
delphia, Baltimore, Washington and
other cities crowded Roe's and Cozzen's
hotels and the private cottages to their
fullest capacities. First and foremost of
all those there was the newly inaugu-
rated president Of the United States,
Ulysses S, Grant. then in the splendor
of his fame. Then there was General
William T. Sherman, his successor in
command of the army: General Rufus
Ingalls,, General Quincy Gilmore and q
host of lesser military ehieftains and
also the officers of the academy resplen-
dent In uniform, besides many civic dig
nitaries.
Mrs. John A. Dix and Mrs. John Bige-
low occupied cottages at Cozzen's, and
the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was
present to deliver the sermon to the
graduates. The glories and the ehivalry
of West Point still chung to it and made
it an attraction to the fair sex. Benny
Ravens, with it's many legends Of clan
destine cadet reveiries, yet remained at
the rivers edge. The faculty were all
noted gray haired professors who had
been engaged IN tutoring future military
heroes for half Il century, some of them.
Their dean was Denis Mahan, professor
of mathematics. who was afterward to
seek a suicides death in the Hudson
river.
President Grant was accompanied to
the academy by Mrs. Grant and their
daughter, Nellie Grant. The presidents
son, Frederick Dent Grant. was a cadet
in the third class. and for that reason
the exercises had a special attraction for
the members of the Grant family. Gen
eral Thomas q. Pitcher, the superin-
tendent of the academy; Colonel Henry
M. Black, the commandant of the cadet
corps: Lieutenant Colonel John M.
Hildt, who was wooing at the time Miss
Jerome, a daughter of Leonard Jerome.
and whom he afterward married; Ed
ward c. Boynton, the adjutant of the
post, and the rest of the officers had pre-
pared an elaborate and interesting pro-
gramme for the commencement, and
during the week OF longer that President
Grant and his family were at the Point
there was mortar practice. signal service
movements, the building Of pontoon
bridges, cavalry maneuyers and other
object lessons in the art of war, with
parades every afternoon on the plateau
by the battalion of cadets, and a concert
afterward by the government band.
Among the junior officers of the su-
perintendent's staff was John e. Hosmer,
a lieutenant of infantry, who was as
signed as cor to the president and his
family during their stay at West Point.
Ee was a native of Massachusetts,, OF
good family and attractive personal ap-
pearance. The daughter Of the White
House. Miss Nellie Grant. was new tc
society in the east. and the young lieu.
tenant devoted mach time to her enter
tainment, lie was her daily chaperoT
over the military grounds and explained
to her the many points of historic inter
est there. lie arranged private eater
taiumentS and parties ia her honor at tht
houses OF the professors. while old dow
ayers. with little else TO do than waite!
passing events, noted the growing init
macyo of the daughter of the White Housa
and the Junior lieutenant, looked ON liz,
young couple ~approying!y and said {
each other, "A match, sure"
The commencement Of the academt
terminated on the evening of Saturday
June IA. with the ball Of the graduatin
class at Roe's hotel. 1t was a brillian
gathering. and in the opening qnadrill
there was a conspicuous set composed
President Grant and Miss Strorher 4
Washington. General Sherman and Mr.
Grant. Lieutenant Hosmer and Miss Ne
lie Grant and Colonel Audendried. chs
of General Snerman's staff. and Nj
Kinney. a southern belle. The grizzle
HCI0 Ol tllC 1Atk1Ib W tC sEA h6A AA1 -
open to what was going on. and in On
of the pauses OF the dance said to b
partner. Mrs. Grant. in his quick. abrul
way. what the dowagers had previous
remarked. Looks like a match" no
ding with his head toward Miss Ora,
and her lieutenant escort. Mrs. Graz
had her eyes opened.
The next day Sunday Nellie Grant I
manned in seclusion in the hotel, al
bright and early on the following Mo
day morning was hurried away by b
mother to v .shington, while the pre-
dent departed for the east In response
public invitations. Lieutenant Hosm
Quilted West Point a few days later q,
went to his homein Massachusetts,. whs
he died in a few months. Afterward /
presidents daughter was married to /
Engiishman. Algernon Sartoris. who di
in Italy. Brooklyn Eagle.
Ancient Superstition.
Omens and superstitions have tn
origin in the belief suggested to prir