Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1897-06-25
GRANT AT THE MEss-TABLE.
He Ate Very Little Meat, But Was Fond Of
Fruit.

Fruit.
General Horace Porter gives many
intimate and familiar pictures OF Gen.
eral Grant in his series OF articles,
Campaigning with Grant" now run
ming In the Century He says OF Gen.
eral Grant at the mess-table
About the only meat he enjoyed was
beet and this he could not eat unless
IL was so thoroughly we'll done that no
appearance OF hood could be seen. II
blood appeared in any meat which came
on the table, the sight OF II seemed to
entirely destroy his appetite. (This
was the man whose enemies delighted
IN calling him butcher.) He enjoyed
oysters and fruit. but these could not
DO procured on an active campaign.
ne never ate mutton when he could OBJ
tain anything else, and fowl and game
ne abhorred. AS he used to express
II: u never could eat anything that
goes on two legs" Evidently no could
never have been converted into canni-
balism. He did not miss much by de-
Ginning to eat the chickens which were
picked up on a campaign, for they were
usually tough enough to create the sus-
picion that they had been Matched from
hard-boiled eggs, and were so impene.
trable that an officer said OF one OF
them that no could not even stick his
FORK through the gravy. The General
was more fond OF cucumbers than OF
anything else, and often made his en-
tire meal upon a sliced cucumber and
cup OF coffee. He always enjoyed
corn, pork and beans. and buckwheat
cakes. In fact, he seemed to be par
ticu'arly fond Of only the most indi-
gestible dishes
When any fruit could be procured
II was placed on the table by way OF
helping to ornament II, and afterwards
used as dessert. Between the courses |
OF the dinner the General would often |
reach over to the dish OF fruit and pick |
out berry or cherry and cat II SLOW
~ lie used TO do this In a sly way |
like child helping itself to some for
hidden dish ut the table, and afraid OF
being caught In the act. He said one
day: IL suppose ! ought not to eat q
course out OF It's turn, but take the
greatest delight in picking out bits OF
Iruit and eating them during a meal.
One OF the reasons do not enjoy din
ing out as much as do nj home Is be-
'ause | feel compelled to sit through a
ong list OF courses. few Of which ]
eat, and to resist the constant temp.
alton to taste little fruit In the mean. |.
While TO help pass away the time"
Napoleon was famous for eating out OF
he various dishes before him with his
lngers. General Grants use OF the fin.
,ers never went beyond picking out
mall fruits. He was always refined
n his manners at table, and no matter
low great was the hurry, or what were
ever violated the requirements Of true
'oliteness.
He ate less than any man in the
rmy; sometimes the amount OF food
aiken did not seem enough to keep a
ird alive, and his meals were frugal
nough to satisfy the tastes Of The most
vowed anchorite. 1t so happened that
O one in the mess had any inclination
0 drink wine or spirits at meals, and
one was carried among the mess's
upplles. The only beverage ever used
/ table besides tea and coffee was
'ater. although on the march II was Of
en- taken from places which rendered
not the most palatable or healthful
{ drinks. II a staff officer wanted any
hing stronger, he would carry some
cmmissary whisky in n canteen. Up
n q few occasions, after hard days
Idle in stormy weather. the General
)lned the officers of the staff in taking
whisky toddy In the evening. He
ever offered liquor Of any kind to
!sitors at headquarters. His hospitali-
, consisted in inviting them to meals