The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-30
MRS. GRANT AND GEN. WHEELER
Striking Meeting in "a New York
Hotel Drawing Room.
From The New York Journal.

From the New York Journal.
Mrs. Ulysses 5. Grant leaning heavily
upon a cane--a pathetically dignihed fig
ure In her Widows weeds, spite of sugges-
tons of advancing years-stood In the
Windsor's drawlng-room yesterday morn
ing, the honored guest. the leading spirit
Of a great body of women working for our
suffering heroes
The Womens National War Relief As
ISOLATION had assembled TO acclaim its
president. and the tribute paid to the wife
of the nations dead soldier was one to stir
the heart and dim the eyes.
BY her side supporting her through the
somewhat trying ordeal Of that affection
ate greeting, laughing with her like boy
and towering over her short stature by
barely an inch or so, was Gen. Joe"
Wheeler.
mot friends merely-comrades," said
the general I'VE have known each other
through the years"
Notable women Etood about them. Miss
Helen Could dainty ana smiling in black
and white; stately Mrs. Daniel Lamont
and Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walworth, direc-
tor general of the association, were head
ing off guests, among whom We're several
officers, to left and right.
'Wonderful women! Think of what they
have accomplished for the soldiers" MUIR
INJURED Gen. Wheeler, looking at the
throng.
"And yet" put in Mrs. Russell Sage IRON
ically, none of these women vote. oh,
/ am not a suffragist, but 1t Is only be-
cause we have no power politically that
we are allowed to do so much. What would
the soldiers at Montauk have done with
out us?
"wen of the 10000 sick there were prob
ably 1000 who did not receive good care,
but the other 9000 now The general
was protesting weakly. But at this mo-
ment somebody twltched his sleeve.
The little warrior turned hastily to find
himself by a fair-haired boy and girl,
whose dancing eyes looked out from a
wilderness of curls.
"If you please said the latter, breath
lessiy, 1--WE heard the band and we came
in, but we're not invited and may we
stay? And are you real fighting gen.
eral?'
To all of which the delighted general re-
Piled affirmativey and henceforward made
his way about the rooms under the escort
of a juvenile staff. The children were
Bessie Hentz Blatz and her brother, Rob.
ut seems to me women are very import
ant" said Mrs. Grant with smiling
pride in the legions about her.
Mrs Sartoris, lovely in black just touch
ed with white, who had accompanied her
mother on her entrance, overcome by the
memories the scene awakened, slipped
away early in the reception.
The generals popularity only increased
as the time wore on. Mrs. Grants voice
was just heard saying: Like a military
man for President? oh, / am always for
| the soldiers" when, II love to see the I'M
| forms on the Streets" admitted one 0f
the small mans admirers with a linger-
| ing look at the blue and gold braid before
! her, mot that ! like war, but have such
| a fancy for military accoutrements."
81 have worn nothing else since May
g. madam" and the general bowed pro-
| foundly.
Mrs. Grant summoned him again. A
moment more and the room was hushed
to silence while he made the acknowledge
ments of the distinguished woman beside
| him.
when she accepted the honor OF being
| your president, she did so with the mis-
| givings, but when she heard of the cabi-
| net assigned to her" with a glance at
| Miss Gould and the group about her,
| ''her fears gave way to perfect confidence.
zone thing as a Southern man ! must
| saw" he went on, Though Il brings back
one of the most distressing periods of Mrs.
| Grants life. Much has been said Of the
renewal of affection between North and
| South When the sun had set on the last
day of Gen. Grants life, President Cleve-
| land asked the widow what her wishes
were. 1t might have been expected she
would have asked such obsequies as a
gentleman, an officer and statesman OF
bis rank merited Instead, she merely re-
| piled: If Gen. Sherman or Gen. Sheri-
dan is to be a pall-bearer, I ask that a
| prominent Confederate general-Gen.
| Johnston or Gen. Buckner--be made a pail
bearer Also That was her only request"
Mrs. Grant was sobblng softly and a
| wave Of emotion swept over the hearers.
There were other words of praise for
the woman who had given delieacles, COM
forts and personal service to barren Mon
| tauk
"Our soldiers go forward" cried the gen.
| eral land behind them the hearts OF
| American women support and encourage
them Their great effort Is to be worthy
of the women's devotion"
Mrs Walworth threw In word for the
soldiers with the laughing insistence that
sis was not a woman, but man--Gen
| Wheeler-who was the angel of the camp
But Mrs. Roger A. Pryor rounded all
up in word;
I'VE wish our honored president honor
| obedience and troops OF friends as lonl
a.. she lives. We thank the God who
made us for Mrs. Ellen Hardin Walwortt
and for the lovely lady who wears tins
crov Of her youth, the crown of patriot
ism, and above all, the crown OF oui
hearts devotion"
Miss .,ioulds eyes were downcast anC
her face suffused with color.
Gen and Mrs. Gillespie and the ladies
OF Governors Island win receive the as
ISOLATION on Thursday afternoon a la mill
faire.