Morris tribune., 1897-10-06
GRANT COULDN'T TELL HIM.
one Thing About which the Great Gem
38A8 eral Knew Little.

one Thing About which the Great Gem
l3AA eral Knew Little.
| The late General La Fayette Nc
Laws enjoyed an intimate friendship
with Grant. both as general and
president. They were students to-
gether at West Point. and it was
there the friendship that ripened in
later years was first begun. Nc,
Laws as a soldier fought Indians in
the west in many campaigns. He
was on the frontier under Taylor
during the Mexicanwar. When the
civil war broke out, he cast his lot
with the Confederate cause, and
finally attained command of divi-
sion under General Longstreet.
During the four years Of strife
Grant never forgot his friend, Like
wise McLaws cherished the friend
ship for the Federal general.
When General Grant was elected
president, the friends of McLaws
urged him to apply for the Savan-
nah postofice. The Confederate
general hesitated for a time, feeling
that by doing SO he would incur the
censure Of southeIners. Like Grant,
however,, he was broad minded and
had accepted the result Of the war.
like soldier and a true type of an
American citizen. He thereupon
decided to make the application for
the Office and took the train north
to see Grant in person. The presi-
dent had left Washington for Long
Branch. Going there, McLaws
sought him at his cottage. He had
some misgivings as to how the pIesi-
dent would receive him. They had
not met in years McLaws won
dered if the accession to the high
office of the nation had 'swelled'
Grants head. Approaching the cot
tage, the Confederate general found
the president sitting on the veranda,
with his feet upon the balustrade,
smoking one of those cigars which
finally helped to end his life. Like
all other presidents, Grant had left
Washington to avoid the Office seek
ing pest, and he did not want to be
disturbed in his retreat
Hello, Mac! Where did you
come from?'' was the greeting that
the president gave the Georgian as
he drew near enough for recogni-
ton.
II am truly glad to see you. l
came over here to escape the Office
seekers. Pull up chair and tell
me how you have been getting along
and all about yourself since we last
met" Grant continued, with that
warm, pleasant and affable air char
acteristic of him. .-.s
The greeting was so cordial, de-
spite the remark about the Office
seekers, that General McLaws final
" found it an easy thing to bring
up the Savannah postomce matter
and announced his candidacy for
the appointment. General Grant
assured him that he should have it
and that it would give him a great
pleasure to make the appointment
Then they talked about their life at
West Point and reviewed their ex-
periences covering the years up to
that time.
In some respects they were alike
Neither had the faculty for accumu-
lating and saving money General
McLaws confessed that he did not
have it and addressed the question
seriously to the president:
Can you tell me, general, how
to make and save money!
my dear Mac, l have not the
slightest idea in the world, " replied
Grant. TIL
1t was true, for Grant never could
save money. He had no business
instinct. Before the war he had as
hard struggle as any man in the
country, and even after he left the
presidency he was an easy victim
for schemers, who used him in
swindling schemes which he thought
honest, until their dishonesty was
exposed. sa q ~
When General McLaws returned |
to Savannah, he received the APP
pointment as postmaster, and the !
friendship between the two lasted
until death.-Chicago Times-Her-