Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-11-04
GRANTS GRATITUDE.
He Gave His Check Open For Any Amount
Up to $4,000.

He Gave His Chccl, Open For Any Amount
Up tY $4,000.
~ think carry with me the finest
proof of CRAFTS love and gratitude
of any man living" said Colonel
William Barnard of ST Louis He
opened his pockotbook and drew out
two worn and creased papers. One
blank check signed Ulysses 5.
Grant, the other few lines Scrawl-
ed on torn bit from memorandum
book to the effect that the within
is good up to $50, 600" and signed
Grant
Then Colonel Bill told his story:
Years before he had been a rici
man, and there came q time when
the young infantryman got into
trouble through no great fault of
his own, but through that faculty
for trusting poop,e which never left
him in ali the after years. tie needed
some money, and needed it badly,
yet he was too proud TO ask any one
of his wife S relatives or family con-
neotions to loan him the amount. AS
he afterward expressed it when talk
ing over the affair with Colonel Bill
who had been one of his best friends
from the time he courted Miss julia
be was in devil of fix ~
Without knowing very much
about the complications, but receiv-
ing an intimation from an officer
stationed at the same fort, the colo
mel sent the subaltern an untitled
check, with intructions to use if he
needed it, Grant did use it and Ia
heled and filed away the little debt
Of gratitude he was to owe for many
% long day. Colonel Bill S fortunes
fell with those Of hundreds Of others
in the city ON the banks of the big
river, but always, III some unob-
trusive way, a chance was given
him to recoup, and without becom-
ing wealthy he kept in comfort
able circumstances.
Parties knowing the intimate re-
lations existing between the success
full general and the colonel besought
him time and again to go with them
into certain gigantic schemes that
needed only the tacit consent and
protection of Grant to make every
man among them q multimillion-
aire. Once the colonel hunted up
Grant "do1sn in the jungles of tho
southwest and told him how he was
being pestered to death" by those
enterprising blockade runners.
Grant listened quietly until the sto-
~ was done then he swore few of
the mighty, righteous oaths kept for
choice occasions
Bill, do you want TO go into that
thing? If you do, can say a word,
but
st would have done your heart
good to have seen his face soften
and heard his voice tremble, when /
assured him that, though l didn't
consider myself saint by any
means, did consider myself a gen
tleman, and that, though million
or two would come in right handy,
/ had no thought of making it in a
way that would certainly reflect
upon his honor. We talked of other
things after that, as Grant seemed
to want to dismiss the subject en-
tirely. In answer to his inquiries
told him I vas doing fairly well
financially, and then we drifted to
home talk, and l soon after left
him and went north and later abroad
When ! next saw Grant, he was in
Washington, and upon bidding him
good night after one of our long
talks he handed me an envelope,
saying carelessly, Here is something
may fit in some time. When l went
to my rooms, broke the seal and
found the check, just as you see 1t,
and this characteristic note. " =
Washington Post.