The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-21

the last Easter Sunday of his life, and it
seems particularly appropriate that it should
be brought to light at this glad season.
Everything connected with that day is as
clear to me as if it were but yesterday. 1t
was clear and crisp-a perfect day for the
time of year, for it was on the 9Th of April
1885. Gen. Grant, as nearly everyone
knows, lived at 3 East Sixty sixth street. He
occupied the second story front room, which
has large bay window overlooking the
street and Fifth avenue. just to the left of
this room was a room fitted up as an Office.
1t was cool enough for HIM to have fire
in his CRATE, remember, and he was sit
ting directly in front of it in big chair.
son the Wednesday night previous he had
fallen almost into state of collapse, and it
looked very much as if the end was at hand.
But he rallied, and by Sunday began to rea-
lie that he had pulled through a crisis.
He felt that he was near his death, and was
in that state of mind where man gives
rein to his innermost thoughts. Presently
he put his elbows up on the arms of his
chair and put the fingers of his two hands
together and began. to look into the fire with
far-away expression, as he always did
when in deep thought. Whenever he as
sumed this attitude no one interrupted him,
for it was sign that he wished to commune
wit himself He sat thus for some time,
and finally fell asleep.
SIN the meantime walked over to the
window and stood looking at the crowd In
The street. 1t was alive with people from all
the walks of life. Women attired in elegant
Easter gowns and bonnets stood side by
side with maid servants, and millionaires
were right in line with men of all work and
day laborers. All stood SILENT and gazrd
anxiously up at the Generals windows.
They didn't seem to be there out of morbid
curiosity, but because they were interested,
and they could not have possibly been more
respectful in their bearing.
presently Gen. Grant awakened, and 1
said to him:
60 'Gener al, we've had fine April shower
while you were asleep, and it scattered the
great crowd who had gathered in the street
to watch your windows, but the sun is out
again, and they are all back, with lots OF
others besides
90 st is a beautiful day., he said, conf ng
over to the windows and taking his stand
by me. Then he began to look down on the
people in the street. He stood behind the
curtains, and they could not see him that
day, but frequently during his illness when
he went to the window to look out the peo-
pie would catch a glimpse of him, and off
every hat would go. This always pleased
him.
&C See what all these people think of you,'
said 1. They come here day after day,
all sorts and conditions of men and women,
and gaze quietly up at your windows
GO Yes he answered. I'm very grateful
for their sympathy and then he walked
over and sat down in front of the fire again,
putting his hands up in his meditatlve atti-
tude.
@ General, why wouldn't it do for you to
express that gratitude, said I. All these
bulletins l send out are about pain and tenn
perature. The people would be sc glad to
have message directly from you
% Il would like them to know that j am
appreciative, he said. and then he was
silent.
81 sat down at table near him, ana pres
emily he said:
90 Write: Gen. Grant has just awakened
from short nap, and expresses himself as
being very comfortable Here he stopped,
and then continued: He wishes it stated
that he is very much touched by and very
grateful for the ptayerful sympathy and in
terest manifested for him by his friends and
by those'-heIe he hesitated again, and then
continued by those who have not been
regarded as SUCH
g But, General said /, swhy not dictate
something in the first pc rson and sign ito
Ono lie answered, sit is much better
coming from you. How would it look for
me to send out bulletin about myself?
You might say for me, Il desire the good
will of all, whether heretofore friends OF
not -
DE-. Shrady was reading from his steno-
graphic notes as he talked. He put the doc
ument down and handed to the reporter an
other, saying:
'sHere is the message as l wrote it out and
submitted it to the General 1t is written
in pencil on piece of yellow paper torn
from u pad and reads as follows:
"Gcn. Grant has just awakened from a
short nap, and expresses himself as being
very conn ortable. He wishes it stated that
he is very much touched by, and very CRATE
full for, the prayelful sympathy manifested
for him by his friends and by those who
have heretofore not been regarded, ed, as such 1,
He says: y desire the good viii of all,
whether heretofore friends or not,
GEORGE +. sHRADI.
April 5, 1885; 5:15 P. M
.'Gen. Badean came into the ROOM Dr..
Shrady Went on, s'just as Gen. Grant dicta-
ted mis- last sentence, and he cried:
Z" splendid, splendid! Stop right there.
Gen. Grant l wouldn't say another word
mo bulletin was ever sent out without
beng first approved by the Generals fam
u H1r,-