Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1899-03-15


utmost difficulty he could prevail
upon her to visit the White House.
ARRAY yourself in your most at
tractive attire and put on your sweet
est smiles" said he, land you will
certainly succeed. johnson can never
withstand the pleadings of lovely
woman
Mrs. Clay finally left him, saying
that she would call upon the presi
dent the following morning.
The next night she returned TO the
hotel, almost broken hearted. with her
eyes full of tears. In broken words
she told her story. With much diff
ficulty she had obtained an interview
with the president. and TO her aston
ishment he received her with the
greatest Kindness. No gentleman of
the olden school could have been more
polite. He listened to her request
with the utmost patience. and ex-
pressed his deep sympathy with her.
He sent for papers. and after a care
full examination of the ease wrote an
order releasing her husba nd from
conf ne ment.
Take this TO the secretary of war.
said he. "He will indorse st. You
can then go TO Boston and present it
at Fort Warren"
He further said that he hoped she
would find her husband in better
health, and that on his release he
would rapidly improve.
She thanked him and left the White
House. Next she sought Secretary
SranItcn. After repeated annoyances,
A.. 10
remained in his chair. bolt upright,
stern as Rhadamanthus. Her evident
beauty and refinement had no effect
upon him. He had not even the gra ce
to offer her a seat. His manner chill
ed her, and she became apprehensive.
What do you want, madame?" he
gruffly inquired?
I'm well-chosen words sire told her
story. Describing her interview with
the President, she presented the order
for her husbands release, and asked
him if he would not be so kind as to
indorse it. Stanton matched the
document from her hand, read it
carefully. said ''humph." tore it in
two pieces. and dropped it into the
waste basket. The action was ac-
companied by a sneer. with neither
remark nor comment. Stanton turned
abruptly to his desk. resuming his
occupation, and Mrs. Clay was shown
to the door.
When Garland heard this story he
tried to console the Sorely-disappoi
ted lady. He slowly scratched his
head and gazed at her long and
earnestly. Suddenly he rubbed his
hands together, as though he had
solved "a problem. He told her to be
of good cheer. and not to be cast
down by the action of the Secretary
of War. Stanton was not the great
est man in Washington, although he
seemed to be greater than the Presi-
dent. There was one man in the
city greater than Stanton, and his
name was Ulysses S. Grant.
"Was not your husband, said Mr..
Garland, "a General in the Confeder.
ate army?"
The wife Thought not.
WELL" said Garland, 81 have quite
a distinct recollection near the last
days of voting in the Senate at Rich
mond TO confirm the nomination by
President Davis, of Clement C. Clay.
Jr.. for brfdagier general in the Con-
federate army. l am quite confident
of this. If he is bridagier general
he comes under the terms of THE sur
render at AppOmattox, and is enti-
tied to his release; burt the only ma n
who can grant his release is the
General TO whom the Army of Nor
thern Virginia was surrendered
Grant is here in Washington. Go
and see him-go and see him NOW
ght-immetliate he may
be gone. / saw in some newspaper n
Statement THAT he was going to New
York tonight Don't lose heart. He
is a manly man. Go to HRS house:
tell him that your husband was a
brigadier general in the Confederate
Army, and ask for his release under
the terms of the surrender
Garland called a carriage and Mrs
Clay drove to the Generals residence.
Grant was arising from dinner when
she was announced. He came into
the parlor. greeted her with his usual
quiet urbanity. and heard her story in
silence. Then he struck bell and
an attendant entered the room.
Send General Badeau to me-" he
said.
"A moment afterward Badeau made
his appearance. General Grant pre-
scented him to Mrs. Clay, and then
said: General. l wish you would
look at the roster and see whether
Clement c. Clay. Jr.. is brigadier
general in the Confederate army"
Badeau disappeared, but returned
within ten minutes with the infor.
nation THAT Mr.. Clay was upon the
roll of Confederate brigadiers. With
out more ado. General Grant with,
drew and wrote an order for the re
lease of General Clay. In handing
1t TO the afflicted wife, he said:
Take that paper to the Secretary
of War. 1 don't think he will throw
1t into the waste basket"
Meantime another carriage ha6
driven to the door. 1t wars the car
rfage that had been ordered to talk,
the General TO the train. He with
drew with an apology and Mrs. Clay
! returned to Garland and told him
what had occurred. Garland was de
lighted.
You may be sure" said he, ''tha'
Grant is right. Stanton will neithe1
tear this order in two nor throw i
into the waste basket"
On the following day the lady re
turned to the office of the Secretary
of War. She was treated even more
CURLY than on her first VISIT Rhada
manthus still SAT- i'm his chair
confronting her with stony gaze
She stood before him the personifica
tfon of womanly dignity. and ham
ded him the order of General Grant
He Sst1ar-tSd nc ;f SrrnriSo,1 v,<,,vl AL