Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-06-08
PRETTY Story of Grant.


Certainly the story is authentic that
President Grant once asked me If l
could not raise the standard of beauty
in the dead letter Office" said Assist
| ant Attorney General James N. Tyner,
laughingly, but the sequel to it has
never been published.
'"The President was passing through
the department and jokingly comment
ed on the unattractive appearance Of
| the clerks and quizzically inquired if
could not raise the standard of female
| beauty.
Naturally I regarded the matter as
| jest and replied that would be glad
| to do SO, and was open to suggestions.
why, employ one handsome wom-
an and perhaps she will leaven the
whole loaf" he answered, and when I
assented he inquired seriously:
Would you give a pretty girl an
appointment if l sent her to you?"
"'Of course would I replied, never
dreaming, however, that he was in
earnest.
But the next day lovely young girl
President Grant, simply asking me to
fulfill my promise, without referring,
however, to it's character 1 questioned
her closely and found her as innocent
and unsophisticated as she was pretty.
She was a Southerner, and had lived
on plantation all her life, but wanted
a government position, and, being
backed by the President, 1 set her at
work in the dead letter Office.
''While Grant was on his trip around
the world I spent couple Of months
with him in Paris, and one evening as
we sat talking of the past I asked him
if he remembered this young lady.
"'Certainly l do, for l have good
cause to remember her. he responded
cordially.
Il intimated that 1 was satisfied
there must be story back of his ap-
pointment, and as he was in one of his
rare reminiscent moods he related the
following extraordinary experiences: a
cit was just before the battle of the
Wilderness that l mounted my horse
and went for a ride. l was full of anx-
iety, and in my preoccupation went
outside of our lines and found to my
dismay that was being chased.
"'My horse was a good one and l
rode hard until l came to little, half
concealed cabin, where | dismounted
and said to a man that came to the
door:
"'''Are you Confederate or Union
man."
"''I am Confederate" he an
swered proudly.
".'Well, sir, am Gen. Grant; can
you hide me for a little while, as I am
being pursued?
How do you know that l won't
betray you?" he inquired dhriously.
"'"Because l trust your face,' re-
Piled, and without more ado he seized
nv horse by the bride and we went
| into a deep ravine back of his home,
where moment later he left me, after
bidding me to keep perfectly still.
LIT was glorious moonlight night,
and l could see every object distinctly.
About II o'clock l heard the bushes
| crackle and for moment my heart
leaped for fear as my host came eau
| tiously up behind me.
"'"Have you betrayed me? / in
| Quired sharply.
"'"No, SIR" he replied almost harsh
| ly, 1.-The pursuing party has passed, the
| coast is clear and you can return to
your army"
HE put me on the right road, and
| as | jumped into the saddle grasped
his hand and tried to thank him. I
told him that if l could serve him or
his to let me know
- never saw him again, but the day
you spoke to me his daughter came to
me with letter from her father, who
is very poor, reminding me of my
| promise. And this concluded Gen.
Grant, was the sole reason 1 wanted
| to raise the standard of female beauty
, in the dead letter office Chicago
Times Herald.