The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-07

He Wanted the Standard Of neau1v
Raised IN tho Dead Letter Once.

NC " 0nJ00 vm0 SUo0O0s0 w HsCo03X
Raised In tho Dead Letter O0ces
kkC CERTAINLY the story is authensis
that President Grant once asked
me II could not raise the stan.
slard Of beauty In the dead letter office.s
said Assistant Attorney General James N.
Tyner. iaughingly. but the sequel to 4
has never been published.
THE president was passing through IL
department and Jokingly commented a
the unattractive appearance Of the clerka
and ouizzically inquired II could not rain
the standard OF female beauty.
Naturally l regarded the matter ~
Jest and replied that would be glad to Do
SO. ard was open to suggestions
Why, employ one handsome woman
and perhaps she will leaven the whole
Loaf he answered. and when 1 assense9
he inquired seriously:
Would yoQ give pretty girl an -.
pointment IL l sent her to your
OF course I would, / replied. never
dreaming. however that he was in earnest
but the next day lovely young gtri
came into my office with note from Pree.
ident Grant, simply asking me TO fulhu
my promise. without referring. however.
to It's character. / questioned her closely
and found her as innocent and unsophiati.
Gated as she was pretty. She was q
SOutlleIueE sttu tta0 uNC0 Oti Ptdut&tIu0
al! her life. but wanted a government poai.
tion and. being backed by the president
1 Sc; her at work In the dead letter office.
while Grant was on his trip around
the world I spent a couple Of months with
him in Paris. and one evening as we sa&
talking OF the past asked him IL he r.
memhered this young lady.
Certainly do, for l have good cause
10 remember her. he responded cordially.
Il intimated that I was satisfied there
must be q story back Of his appointment,
and as he was in one OF his rare reminis.
cent moods he related the following extra
ordinary experience:
1T was just. before the battle Of the
Wilderness that mounted my horse and
went for a ride. was full Of anxiety, and
in my preoccupation went outside Of our
lines and found to my dismay that was
being chased.
My horse was q good one and rode
hard until came to a little. half-concealed
cabin. where 1 dismounted and said to .
man that came to the door:
"'"Are YOU Confederate or Union
man?"
"."I am a Confederate he answered
proudly.
s...."Well. cir, am Gen. Grant: can yea
hide me for q little while. a. am being
pursued"
"'''How do you know that won't b.
tray your" he inquired curiously.
"'"Because trust your face" replied,
and without more ado he seized my horse
by the bride and we went into a deep ra-
vine back OF his home. where moment
later he left me. after bidding me to keep
perfectly still.
I was n glorious moonlight night. and
could see every object distinctly. About
IL o'clock heard the bushes crackle and
for a moment my heart leaped for fear az
my host came cautiously UP behind me.
Have you betrayed me?" inquired
sharply.
"'"No. SIR" ne replied. almost sharply.
'the pursuing party has passed, the coase
Is clear and you can return to your armE
He put me on the right road aiidis1
jumped into the saddle grasped his hand
and tried 10 thank him. ] told him that e
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 II very
poor. reminding me OF my promise. And
this concluded Gen. Grant, was the sole
reason l wanted TO raise the standard u
female beauty In the dead letter Office -.
Chicago T1mes-Herald.