The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-05-17
AN IMMORTAL QUARTETTE.

1t has been a pleasure during leisure
hours OF life tn ponder the records
that tell Of the achievements OF men
who were called. great. We have at
times 10 thought sought TO sum the
lives OF great characteristic foot up
the excelencics and deeds that gave
them renOwn-that thus we might
distinguish the greatest among the
famous, the best among the good. II
we were asked to name four Ameri.
cans whom we esteem entirely great
we would pronounce the names OF
Washington, Robert E. Lee, Jefferson
Davis and Y. s. Grant. The figures Of
uhese four men loom with surprising
greatness. They we're OF divers types,
but each had within him the elements
that make nOblcmen.
Under our eye there came com.
munication written by Mrs. Jefferson
Davis for the N. Y. World. 1t deals
with some phases OF the character OF
General Grant. We extract these:
The heart Of the man was with his
agonized foemen when he said OF the
paroled Confedcrates: LET them keep
their horses: they will need them to
cultivate their farms" His respectful
conduct to General Lee when his sym.
pathy was 81 evident as to touch all
those present elected the admiration
OF both contestants.
| A soldier might well have forgotten
all but the desire to possess the sword
OF Lee, that precious symbol OF the
Iknighthood OF the nineteenth century.
General Grant did not keep IL ''as II
trophy" but respectfully returned it
to the hand that had made its fame
as deathless as that OF Excalibur.
Mrs. Grant told me that when he
was in COMMAND at Vicksburg his ear
was always open to appeals from des-
titute citizcnd: that 1t was only nec-
essary for her to state, a case nf dis
tress for General GidnG To set about
relieving or rectifying il.
When our discouraged troops wcle
evacuating Vicksburg after perform.
ing prodgies OF valor without avail,'it
was General Grant who gave the t,f.i
der: "Instruct the commands to be
orderly and quiet as these prisoners
pass, to make no offensive remarks"
| General Grants animus was shown
in the modest commentary. II hope
I have always treated those who were
not on the same side with me, both
in the 1cld and politics, with justice.'
So, even In the stress and heat OF
hostilities, military an d political, the
humanity Of the man sllonc through
the soldiers coat of mail.
Perlla ps 1t is hardly delicate for me
to repeat an anicdote told'm by Mrs.
Grant, yet IL speaks such volumes for
him as Il tender husband that yield
to the tcmptatation and give it with
an apology to her for violating her
confidence. She had suffered mUre or
less all her life from an astigmatism
of which she was very anxious to be
relieved, and when he learned Of her
intention TO submit to all operation,
fearing that she would suffer pain, he
said: Those are the eyes have so
long loved; keep them as they are."
No words can express the sympathy
that the little quiet household OF
Beauy0ir House felt in the heroic,
gentle sufferer Of Mt. Gregor. Mr. Da.
Wis locked first at the daily column
which told OF his condition. and when
report OF l,,s increasing weakness
was telegraphcd lie said: "Poor suffer
er: l would give him comfort and ease
: II l could. Ihop6 he will live to finish
his book. l believe he will tell the
6 truth lis he sees it.' .i1G, ~