The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-04-18
GEN. GRANTS LAST EASTER.
STORY OF HIS MESSAGE OF PEACE
I'M GOOD WILL TO ALL.

mr.. GEORGE y. shrndy Tells How II Cnme to
Ne Composed-Gcn. Grants Expression OF
His Appreciation or the sympathy shown
MRS. Grants Correction In the Message.
On Easter sunday almost twelve years ago
to q day Gen. Grant sent out hts last message
to the American people. 1t was a true Eoster
message. q message bearing tidinGs Of peace
and good will. The wires fla shed the few sim
nile words from North to South, from East TO
West, and the lips of q nation took them up
and repeated them to the echo. Even tho most
unrelenting of the rebels felt that the man OF
war was n man OF peace now, and they breathed
n wish that all might he we'll with him TO
his end. which was nearing. Thus his message
was realized to the fullest extent,
DR.. George F. Shrady. Gen. Grants physi.
clan. really inspired this message, and II was
dictated to him. He took 1t in shorthand,
and then wrote IL out. The eiiRirr I'll docu-
monts are now In his possession, and he cher.
ishes them with many others connected with
this great mans last days. These two men
stood very close together. They were more
than phvsician and patient to each other. which
relation Is In itself one of the closest in life:
they wero frienda in che best sense of the word.
When asked to tell how Gen. Grant dictated
this message. DR.. Shradv said:
There are several reasons why this mes
sage should no of particular interest Just now.
In the first place. rs the time set for the dedi-
cation OF the Grant Monument approaches,
everybody Is Interested In Gen. Grant as a
man Of peace, and this the only message no
sent out to the American people during.his long
illness was pre-emirently IA peace message.
Then, too, II was issued on the last Easter
Sunday of his life, and It seem particularly
appropriate that II should be brought TO light
ut this glad season. Everything connected
with that day is as clear tome as IL It were but
Yesterday. 1t was clear aud cr,sp-a perfect
day for the time of.year. for.it was on the 9Th
OF April 1885. Gen. Grant. as nearly every
one knows. lived at . East Sixty.sixth street.
He occupied the secon6-story front room.
which has q large bay window overlooking the
street and Fifth avenue. Just Tn the. left OF
this room was a small room fitted upsas an Of
fee. 1t. vas cool enough for him to have a fire
in his CRATE. l remember. and he was sitting
6iIoGtls insfront of IL In q big chair.
"On the Wednesday night previous he had
fallen almost into q state Of collapse. and IL
looked very much as II the end was at hand.
But he rallied. and by SUNDAY began TO realize
that he had pulled through n crisis. He felt
that he was near his death, and was In that
state of mind where u Liam gives rein to his
innermost thoughts. Presently he put his
elbows UP on the arEs of his chair and put the
fingers OF his two hands together and began to
look into the fire with n far-awny expression.
Is he always aid wacn in deep thought. When
ever he assumed this attitude, no one inter-
rupted him. for 1t was a sign that he wished
to ommun with himself. He sat thus for
some time. and finally fell asleep.
I'm the mean time I walked over to the
window and stood looking at the crowd in the
street. 1t wa, alive with .eople fro all the
walks of life. Women a,tired in elegant East
err go wns and bonn cts stood side BY side with
maitservants. and n.illionaires we:e right in
line with men OF all work and day laborers
All stood silent. and gazed anxiously up at the
Generals windows. They didn't seem to be
there olt OF morbid curiosity. but because they
were Interested. and they could not have pos
sibly been more respectful In their bearing.
Presently Gen. Grant awakened, and said
General. we've had a fine Arrl, shower
while YOU were asleep. and II seattle red the
great c.owd WHO had g thsred in the street TO
and they are all back with lots OF others be.
1t is n beautiful day he SAID. coming ever
TO the window and taking hts stand bv me.
Then he 'eEnn % look down on the people in
they could not sec him that day. but frequent
y during his illness when he went to the win
This always pleased him.
said l. They come mere day after day. all
sorts and conditions of men and won.ea. and
SA"S'. Yfeast''hs he ar answered Ss Ged' I'm Trna VeTy grateful for
their SYMPATHY and then he walked over and
hands up in his. meditative attitude.
General. why wouldn't II do for you, to
tins / send out are about pain and temperature.
The people would be so glad TO have II message
~ would like them to know that I am up.
preciative.' he sad. and then he was silent.
~ sat down at a table near hi IL. and pres.
Write: Gen. Grant has lust awakened
from a short nap and expresses himself as De-
Here he stopped and then continued:
II wishes il stated that he is very much
sympathy, and interest manifested for him by
mis- friends and by those'-here he hesttated
who have not been regarded as such
,om. ,snt; g Ge tS e T., said na1sd |; n ,M v not dictate
IN he answ, red. it is mich bitter COM
ing from you;, How would 1T look for me to
say for me, I desire the good will OF ali.
whether heretofore friends or not
Rrhl..ie totes as he talked. He put the docu-
n,cnt down and handed TO the reporter an
submitted II to the General"
a IL Is .o %5!ttsn in ! n psn snd on ro, q pi i. so Fl yellow
Gen. Grant has Just awakened from n
short nap and expresses himself us being very
''Iie wishes It stated that he is very much
touched by. and very grateful for. the prayer.
III sy npathy mRnifesteu for him by his friends
and by these who have heretofore not been re.
He SAYS: i desire The q cd will Of all.
whether heretofore friends or not
"GEoRGE L. SHRADY."
april. 8, 1885: 5;l5 p. NJ"
Gen Badeau came into the ROOM" DR.:
Shrady went on. "iust, as Gen. Grant dictated
his last sentence. and he cried:
" Splendid. splendid! ST. D rixht there. Gen.
Grant. wouldn't say another word
mo bulletin was g, err sent out without be-
ing first approved by the Generals family.
particularly. Mrs. Grant. but as tie General
dictated this one IL was uo3 deemed ueces-
sary to, show 1t 20 her before sending 1t
to the little Office on Madison avenue. be.
tween Sixty-tltth and Sixty-sixth streets.
from which place all bulletins were issued. OF
course. a. soon as IL fell into tho hands of Frank
w. Mack. who was stationed at that office To
cover the Grant case for the pl ess all over the
country. the wrics were hot with IL.
"A few minutes after IL had been sent ou'.
Mrs. Grant came into the room. and | said TO
herr:
Gen. Grant has Just issued an Easter mes.
sage to the people, and i handed To he: this
CODY.
"She objected 10 IL because no reropnition