The herald., 1897-05-16
Sketch of Her Home Life in
Washington
HER STORE OF SOUVENIRS
A PRECIOUS COLLECTION FROM
ALL OVER THE WORLD
"Reminiscences of Her Debut in Wash.
ington Society-The Marriage Of
the Generals Daughter

Special Correspondence to The Herald.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 10.-
While so much is being said about Gem
eral U. S. Grant why not little about
the present home-lfe of the one woman
who occupied his heart from early youth
to the day of his death? No house in
Washington possesses greater national
interest than centers in the residence Of
his widow: palatial home, made possi-
BILE by the hero's last great work, when
he bravely held the grim reaper at bay
until the memoirs were completed which
should yield her a competency Although
the dying soldier hoped much from his
book, in the way of retrieving the wreck
ed fortunes of the family, 1t is doubtful
if he had any idea of the wealth 1t would
bring. A rev years ago, when Mrs.
Grant found herself with ample means
at command, she determined to make
her permanent home in Washington
the city most endeared to her by pleas
ant memories-and after considerable
looking about she purchased the resi-
dence Of ex-senator Edmunds, 2111
Massachusetts, avenue, in which she has
now passed three winters. The commc-
dious house, Of red brick. faces south
(the pet fad for Washington houses).
and has an English basement, with three
stories above. Though in the neighbor-
hood Of many fine residences, it is far
enough off the main thoroughfares to
afford additional charm as a private
residence, while the view from the front
to the westward suggests the country.
Its square hall is furnished in highly poll
ished oak-floor, walls and ceiling-with
an ample hearth for wood fire, though
the house Is heated by steam through
out; and a beautiful stained-glass win
dow in the west wall lights the winding
stairway. The other two rooms on the
basement floor are library Cor recep-
ton room) in front, and breakfast
room in the rear. The latter Is decorated
in the delft style, the wall paper bringing
out the tints of the blue china plates
and plaques which adorn 1t on all sides,
while the same tint appears in the Dutch
tiles of the hearth, the clock and mantel
ornaments, and the draperies and rugs
and rare pieces Of china seen in the
glass-fronted closets. The parlor, din
ing room and pantries are on the second
floor, and at the head of the winding
stairs is a large square landing, into
which all these rooms open; while on tha
floor above are the bedrooms, bath
looms and linen closets. Like most Of
the handsome Washington houses, the
kitchen is in the rear cellar. the furnace
room and coal receptacles occupying the
'front.' This fashion originated in slav-
cry days, when the comfort or conven-
ience of the servants entered into no.
body's consideration. OF course there
are dumb-waiters from the kitchen to
the dining room, two floors above: but
it requires several more servants to ac-
complish the work in such house than
in one built on the good old country plan
of servants quarters on the ground floor.
with doors and windows opening on =
: back yard, instead Of on steep flight Of
stone steps leading to concreted area.
MRS. GRANTS SOUVENIRS
Mrs. Grants collection of various SOU
venirs of her travels around the world
and gifts made to her or to her husband,
are perhaps the most remarkable ever
seen in private house. They adorn not
only the great drawing room, library and
reception room, but are scattered
through the halls and stairways-all the
smaller articles in richly carved cabinets
ranged around the walls. The window
hangings and portieres are also of fine
ly embroidered or embossed fabrics from
far-away lands, and the rugs spread
upon the polished floors are from the
looms Of Persia, Turkey and India. The
linen closets, too, are stocked with the
choicest productions Of Ireland, and the
china closet with the most delicate and
beautiful ware of the countries which
!. produce the finest in the world. Every
: chair and table and other bit of furniture
of Indian teak wood, or Japanese mo-
sale, or Mexican onyx, or oriental carv-
!, ing bronze or lacquer-suggests tha
:. wonderful journey made by the Grants,
and Is doubly endeared to their owner
: by connection with the honors paid to
her husband. Each has its separate
> history, which Mrs. Grant loves to re-
;. late, and one might spend days in look
ing over the interesting and uncommon
> things collected under this roof.
HER WASHINGTON DEBUT
q There are many in Washington who
D remember Mrs Grants first appearance
r at the capital, when, naturally, she waa
somewhat less sophisticated in the ways
OF SOCIETY lHdI HOW. OAC IIlduc ucI US'
but here, so to speak, as the wife Of the
!, president, when her husband was inau.
= gurated, succeeding Andrew johnson
: That long-to- to-be-remembered 4th Of
! March in the Grant annals opened with
= a heavy rain, but after awhile the clouds
? rolled by and the sun shone brightly
: The procession was an imposing one
!, among it's pecuiiarities being huge ant
! gayly decorated ship Of state" drawr
:. on float and large omnibus filled will
= the survivors of 1872" The inaugura
g ball took place in the wing Of the treas
:, ury, then just completed, and on eacf
= floor of the great building telegraphit
instruments were set, so that all tht
!, dancers could be signaled at the sam,
- time. Mrs. Grants gown was OF pear
+ satin, made with a train, with lace
r. fiounces, and worn over immense hoops
v A lace fichu partially concealed hel
" shoulders; her arms were bare. the two
"a button gloves stopping at the wrist
h around her neck was string Of pearls
Is and wreath of camelias, with greer
n foliage, encircled her head. Her inaugu
> raj gown was lavender silk of the Tut
string" variety then in vogue. flouncet
with lace. 1t happened that the execu
tive mansion was not ready for the IN
coming president, and the family ho{