The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-29
Grant. Pension Protese.

Certainly the story is authentic that
President Grant once asked me If I could
not raise the standard of beauty in the
dead letter Office" said Assistant Attorney
General James n. Tyner, laughinsly, ac-
cording TO the Chicago Times-Herald but
the sequel TO it has never been published.
The President was passing through the
department and jokingly commented on
the unattractfve appearance Of the clerks
and quizzically inquired If l could not
raise the standard of female beauty.
Naturally l regarded the matter as
jest and replied that I would be glad TO do
so, and was open TO suggestions.
Why, employ one handsome woman
and perhaps she will leaven the whole
loaf he answered and when 1 assented
he inquired seriously
" Would you give a pretty girl an ap-
pontment If l sent her to your"
'''Of course l would, 1 replied, never
dreaming, however, that he "as in earn
est.
But the next day lovely young girl
came into my office with note from
President Grant, simply asking me to full
fill my promise, without referring, how
ever, to its character. I questioned her
closely, and found her as innocent and
unsophisticated as she was pretty. She
was a Southerner and had lived on
pidttdtiOu all iItI ne, Dut NdHtSh d SON-
eminent position, and. being backed by
the President, 1 set her at work in the
dead letter office.
Some time later, while Grant was on
his trip around the world l spent a cou-
pie of months with him in Paris, and one
evening We sat talking of the past
asked him if he remembered this young
lady.
" Certainly do, for have good cause
Al Holt
II intimated that l was satisfied there
must be story back of his appointment,
and as he was in one of his rare reminis-
cent moods he related the following ex-
traordinary experience:
1T was just before the battle of the
Wilderness that mounted my horse and
went for ride. l was full of anxiety, and
in my preoccupation went outside of our
lines and found to my dismay that l was
being chased
d" My horse was a good one, and I rode
hard until came to a little, half-conceal-
ed cabin. where I dismounted and said 10
| a man that came TO the door.
Are you a Confederate or Union
| man?'
q am a Confederate" he answered
proudly.
." well, sir, am Gen. Grant; can you
hide me for a little while, as 1 am being
! pursued!
How do you know that I won't be-
| tray your" he inquired curiously.
Because 1 trust your face I re-
| piled, and without more ado he seized my
horse by the bride and we went into a
deep ravine back of his home. where mo-
ment later he left me, after bidding me
to keep prefeetly still.
g 1T was a glorious moonlight night, and
I could see every object distinctly. About
II o'clock I heard the bushes crackle. and
for a moment my heart leaped for fear as
my host came cautiously up behind me
Have you betrayed me?" I inquired
| sharply.
| mo, SIR" he replied almost harshly,
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 I
| jumped into the saddle l grasped his hand
and tried to thank him. told him that il
1 could serve him or his to let me know
| L 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 I wanted to raise the standard of
! female beauty in the dead letter office -