San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-05-04
PRETTY MRS. SHERIDAN.
A Talk with the Widow Of the
Famous General.
She Corrects misconceptions of Little
PhTs" Character-Memorieso of the
Great soldier to BE Compiled
by His brother.

| VI DlNl lNttll as VIC SlilphN lIlCNl wal
rior on a foaming charger, leaping fall
en- cannon in pursuit of flying enemy,
the pretty home where his widow lives,
writes a Cincinnati Enquirer corre-
spondent, seems in strange contrast,
the animated picture coloring the pop
ular fancy, and a sight of her fresh,
young face out of keeping with what
we would imagine to be the wife of one
who won his fame more than a quarter
I Of a century ago on the Virginian bat.
tlefeld.
Tbs Sheridan home is a neat red
brick on Rhode Island avenue, Wash
ington. The interior is gem of dainty
decoration in exquisite taste and full
of souvenirs of Little Phil. In the
square hall is marble bust of the gen.
eraI, and in one corner stands rack,
upon which is a silver-studded saddle,
presented by the Mexicans to the SOL
der. The two parlors are bright with
ornaments and pictures, most of them
such as present the warrior on horse
back, and on a table stands a hand
some bronze figure with leaping steed
representing the common idea Of
"Sheridan's Ride"
Nothing is more untrue" Mrs.
Sheridan said recently to a caller,
than the idea regarding the generals
disposition. Nearly every picture and
poem represents him as frenzied with
excitement and dashing away on a
prancing steed. The real facts are that
he was very quiet and reserved in ac-
ton, and never displayed the least signs
of the dashing excitement with which
he is credited. He often told me that
when he made his famous raid down
the Valley of Virginia that he rode leis-
urely along on sleepy horse. At home
he was quiet man, fond of reading
and of domestic life.
"All, or most, of his papers have pre-
served, and some day they will be writ
ten up. will not do the work, but it
is probable that the generals brother,
| Col. Sheridan, will. The war papers,
such as official orders, are preserved at
the war records office, but the private
letters, many of which are interesting,
are here in the house.
| llCG Vic SOhCI al W ilCn L " 10 oIlI 20
more than a girl, and was with my
father at his post in the west. The
general was then man a great deal
older than |, and after our marriage we
were removed after some time to Wash
ington. ] have four children: Mary,
who has Just made her debut, the two
girls, who are now at a convent school
in Philadelphia, and Phil, the boy of
about fourteen.
Phil is very fond of war and every
thing that relates to soldiers, so when
he is old enough we will send him to
West Point and let him follow in the
footsteps of Lis father. Just now he
goes to school in the city.
washington is the home which l ex-
pect to keep as such for the future, for
most of my life have lived at the cap
ital. When l was a child my father
was stationed here before we went
west; so, of course, l love the place and
feel at home nowhere else.
Every day, nearly get requests for
autographs of the general, and l have
now given away so many that have
scarcely one left. OF course do not
mutilate his letters by cutting off the
signature, but on old checks and similar
documents l often find a name that has
been signed by him"
Mrs. Sheridan is a pretty woman,
with a slender figure, dark hair ar.
ranged gracefully over a low, white
brow, an oval face lighted by bright
brown eyes. In manner she is gentle
and sweet, with pleasant, sunny ways,
and there is no one who has more sin.
cere friends than the quiet little wife
of Phil Sheridan.
Mrs. Sheridan goes little in society,
but seems to prefer remaining at home.
Mary Sheridan, who has just made her
debut, is very popular, and has received
great deal of attention from her
mothers friends. The two girls who
are at school are twins, and for many
, years when they were small children
together they used to be seen hand in
hand walking about the streets of the
city, and every one knew them as 'the
Sheridan twins"
Mary Sheridan is a fine-looking girl
with her fathers open face and his
I kind, hearty ways. She has pretty
plump figure, and enjoys nothing more
than the novelty of social life at the
capital.
, But Phil, in whom is reproduced the
, very image of his father, is generally
the center of attraction to strangers
He is splendid-looking boy, and t.
see him in mimic battle with his play
mates, and to hear the merry rings o
: laughter over the lucky blow from {
SNOWFALL, one cannot but think of thu
1 real conflicts, in which no one wa
more prominent than Gen. Phil Sher