The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28
III.

Tho recollections of Gen. Moade's personal
characteristics are not only interesting but
trustworthy, for the author OF this book was a
near relative. lilo was. we ore told, an excellent
racontcur. He had the rare gift of ignoring tho
irrelevant, of treating his subject with spright-
illness. and OF maintaining its parts In due pro-
portion. Although fond of argument, he re.
served 1t for proper occasions, and in general
conversation touched his subject lightly. His
thrust was keen il he thought a lesson needed.
but he always took a riposte with good humor.
To poke fun at people on account OF some pc.
culiarity was a favorito amusement of
his. but he did 1t genially, and. what Is
more he bore treatment of the
same kind without q shade of resentment. We
are told that, for enemies, he had no time or
heart for more than casual condemnation; the
soverest weapon that he used was ridicule. Far
more liberal in his views than the average army
officer, and ready at a moments notice to ac-
cord praise where he deemed it due. he would
face prejudice at q moments notice and speak
An incident illustrative of this disposition is the
following: In the course, of a conversation at
after the war was over, an army officer said
to him: You know. after all. General. that
" to %"n Stf E"!' IN the. wa wary To- this iis Gem. Meade
forthwith replied that he could not coincide
say @;;I to Ter Terry = Mentioning others whose M names SSs
our author cannot now recall. From tho worldly
point OF view Gen. Meade wns often imprudent
In his outspokenness, forgetting that tho great
majority of men like UNPLEASANT truths to BE-
considerably diluted. Despite. however. tho
general nrdor OF his temperament and the
qnickness of his perceptions. he was not
disposed to jump to conclusions. On the
earliest youth carefully to weigh tho
arguments on each side of n question which was
to lead to an important conclusion, and deliber-
ever, the conclusion would not be changed. ex.
ccpt upon new evidence; so, whether he were
acting in a military or civil capacity, he WIS
not vacillating. not tortured, as are some mon
of intrm minds. who only need to make a de-
cision and enter upon a given course to be as.
sailed with doubt, and to wish that they had
followed some other line.
One sometimes used to hear 1t said OF Gen.
Meade that there were occasions during the war
when, although he was a religious man,, he
swore as terribly us the army in Flanders. The
author OF this book finds 1t difficult to discuss
with gravity this accusation. He. himself,
never heard Gen. Meade swear. which proves,
at least. that he was not covered, as the
Scriptures say, with swearing. as with a gar
ment. AS to the occasions when the oaths are
that the offence cannot have been more heinous
in Gen. Meade than 1t was in Washington at
Monmouth. or Andrew Jackson. at New Or.
leans. When Gen. Meade broke his sword to
gade soldier falling back, when his comrades
were sweeping forward, in q charge on the enc
my's position. it is probable enough that he
swore also. but tho ejaculation. like the act, was
pose. What we should see under either mani.
festation is the hearts desire for victory, while
the banner floats toward tho front or maintains
its hold upon the stricken field. We are told
as calm rs a priest when. his boat being run
into by another one night on the Chesapeake
and being thought to be sinking. he passed
among the passengers with helpful words.