The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-18

naming ten cadets at large. on the APP
~plication of the young man. so APP
point him.. The application has been
made to become effective next year.
and President Mckinley will carry out
the wishes of his old chief in confirm
ing the application.
In this letter handle to the presi-
dent by Col. Frederick ID. Grant, father
of the boy, is embodied the story Of a
message from the lead hero of the war
and In the endorsement of the dead
lieutenant of that chief. As the life
of the general closed the wish that
his grandson should become a soldier
grew stronger. He called his son to
his bedside and dictated the letter.
Then as ne leaned back YEARLY on his
couch he said: when our boy reaches
the age Of Is give this to the presi-
dent" The following is the text of
the letter:
New York. April 3. 1ssk TO the
president of the United States: May /
ask you to favor the appointment of
Ulysses 5. Grant, the son of my son.
Frederick Grant. as a cadet at West
Point, upon his application! In doing
so you will crafty the wishes of U. s.
Grant"
The brief petition Of General Grant
for the appointment of his grandson
was written only 20 days before his
death. His physicians had said there
was nc hope for his recovery, and
while lying almost helpless in his
chamber his thoughts naturally turne
to the final counse and acts that he
felt were for the benefit of those he
knew he was so soon to leave. Then
he thought of his little grandson. and
the cherished wish for a military ca
reer for him prompted him to ask that
a request for his appointment be writ
ten. 1t was then and there prepared
at the dying generals dictation. and
signed by him. For nearly two years
the precious document was laid away,
and then brought out for ar endorse
ment, most fitting. though not neces-
sary. save to add to its pathos.
The endorsement reads thus:
New York, Feb. 1. 1Ss7.-To the
president OF the United States: 1t
seems superfiuous that any addition
should be necessary to the above, but
l cheerfully add my name in the full
belief that the child of such parents
will be most worthy of the appoint
ment solicited. w. T. Sherman. gen.
eral."
Again the application was placed in
secure keeping, where II remained un-
disturbed for IL years, to be brought
from its hiding once more last week
and placed in the hands of President
Mckinley.
Ulysses III. bearing the name of
grandfather and uncle. is unmistak-
ably delighted over his prospects, and
did not attempt to conceal his pleas
ure when seen at his fathers home. %
East gid street, New York. ON the day
the application for his appointment
was placed I'm the presidents hands.
He is a sturdy lad. has just completed
his 18th year and measures . feet and
IL inches i'm height, with a quite GER
tain prospect of reaching beyond 6 feet
when he puts ON the uniform OF a West
Point cadet. He is now two inches
taller than his father and four inches
taller than was his famous grand
father His other bodily measurements
are in good proportion to his stature.
and he gives every promise of Develop
ing a physique far above the ordinary.
He has proved himself the possessor
of more han usual mental abilities of
a boy of his age, is very studious,
high in his class at DR.. Cutters
school n shows marked proficiency,
particularly in acquiring languages. He
manifested an early fondness for the
military by joining the cadet corps of
troop A. national guards, when but IL
years old.
II am quite happy over he pros
poets of my appointment to West
Point" he said. for 1t is not only my
desire, but the earnest wish of my
grandfather. l have thought a great
deal about IL ever since 4 knew my
grandfather had written a request for
IL when l was a very little child. L
hope for the appointment n expect
IL, and as soon as IL is made l will be-
gin to prepare especially for my ex-
animation. The appointment cannot go
into effect until j am IL years old, so
] will have a yea for preparation, and
expect to devote most OF II to hard
study in the scientific school of Column