Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-31

seated in a rather tremulous voice, explain
ing his infrmity by informing me in broken,
disjointed and sometimes incoherent SEN
fences, that he had suffered from a stroke Of
paralysis about six months ago and, although
slowly recovering, had since been unable to
talk or think very clearly on any subject.
He said he was rs years old and hadn't much
hopes of a speedy recovery. Referring to the
presidential contest, he asked:
do you think the General will be elected
again."
told him that the present indications
looked favorable. He shook his head and
said:
We'll, l don't know much about 1t now.
My eyes are 80 weak l can't read any more,
but Mrs. Grant, she reads and interests her
self a good deal about politics. She's awful
r%eticent, though" said he, "just like the
General. You never can tell what the Cen
eral 10 going to do about anything. But let's
go into the parlor and talk it over with Mrs.
Grant"
Into the parlor We vent accordingly and
round Mrs. Grant, a rather small, thin, but
clear yisaged, well preserved old lady,
knitting stockings while she was entertaining
a neighboring lady, who. Judging from her
calico dress. did not belong to the aristo-
cratic world. In replying to my inquiry
about her knitting, Mrs. Grant remarked
that she could not live without work. She
at once entered into lively conversation and
invited me to look at the various family
pictures on the wall. One was a photograph
Of her deceased son and another of her
daughter. There was a handsome painting
of Rev. Mr.. Cramer, the Danish minister.
who appeared to be a fine locking young
man. Then camo a plain photograph Of the
general and a large oil painting of Father
jesse in his younger days. There were
also portraits of George and Martha Wash
ington and a beautiful picture which l was
told had been executed by Mrs. Cramer, the
sister of the president. The parlor was
commodious, but by no means extravagantly
furnished. In fact, there is hardly a re-
spectacle mechanic in Omaha that has palmer
and moro unpretentious furniture. Father
Jesse opened the political conversation by
remarking that a few days ago a cousin Of
the president had visited them and had
actually declared that II the democrats did
not make a straight nomination he would
vote for Greeley. well" said Mrs. Grant,
but he is no democrat, and you cannot ex-
pect anything else, although / don't think
all the democrats will support Greeley"
She said a few days ago she had talked with
a politician named Turner, who lives at Gin
cinnati and who is well posted, and he said
that the general is cure of reelection. Turn
ing around to me she asked:
What do you think OF the general?"
Madam" l replied, "the general has my
support. but ] have from time to time taken
the liberty Of criticising his administration
He has made some mistakes, and particu-
larry in his appointments up our way"
YES" retorted Mrs. Grant, land don't
doubt but what every one OF them was highly
recommended to him by people that ought to
know better. After ALL" she continued,
they tell me generally that he has given
the country a good administration. To be
sure, the papers say he has appointed too
many Of his relations to office. Well, / never
knew We had 30 many relations till lust
lately. They have sent me papers with the
names OF pretended relations, of which my
self or the general never heard before, They
are not relations at all. He has but one
brother, and he has had rather bad luck In
the Chicago fire. He has been trying to or
ganize a railroad company, but I am afraid
he cannot succeed. They can't raise the
money. | hope said she. "he VIII find
something to do before long. He wants an
Indian agency, but does that pay?"
l replied that In our part of the country
we have several men who managed to ac-
eumulate small fortunes in Indian agencies.
One Of them made money enough to purchase
a $40, 900 home. besides buying out a large
newspaper concern in our city.
Isn't 1t dangerous to be an agent?"
NO" said ! Indian agents are cafe
enough generally"
We'll" exclaimed Mrs. Grant, 81 hope
Orville will get 1t then, for he needs 1t; but
| am afraid the president won't give 1t to
him after all"
The conversation turned on the Collins
family Of our city, Wit used to reside with
the Grant family at Galena, and on the de-
s~truction OF The Bee by fire, about which
Mrs. Grant had read In the newspapers.