The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-27
rs CRAM WISHED
His Widow Spends Her Days
in Comfort
WHITE HOUSE MEMORIES
Song Which She Sang to the
President.

A special to the Philadelphia Record
from Washington says: Mrs. Grant. the
widow Of the distinguished union general
has just put the finishing touch, in the
way of some pages Of "reminiscences. to
journal which she kept in California in
1894. while spending a years with her
daughter-in-law. Mrs. Ulysses Grant,
which is designed as a gift for her. "Cal-
fornia,' she declares, is a glorious state.
Its sunsets were an ever-recurring source
| of pleasure" and her maid opens the
book and reads aloud a description Of one
Of these, one is struck by the beauty OF
her diction As VIC sat together in the
bay window overlooking the triangle for
med by the intersection of Massachu-
sets avenue and @ street her busy hng-
ers evolved a wonderful bit of worsted
! work-a siumber robe for her great grand
son, the little Russian prince.
Time has dealt gently with the woman
| whose life, interviewer with that of one
Of the principal actors in the republic s
great drama, could scarcely have been
placid and in her black silk gown, with
! its soft white trimmings, she might still
! be described as elderly" In manner
she is kind and motherly, and one Won
ders that she should have retained her
simplicity and naturalness in the artifi-
cial atmosphere to which she has been so
! long exposed.
when I am in the vein for II" Mrs
| Grant says, L write with great ease, and
last evening. spurred by Mary's reminder
! that the book was not yet finished
dashed of page after page without stop
! ping. My eyes have failed almost en-
tirely, however, and, spectaeles being Of
no assistance, cant read what 1 write.
This makes revision difficult, and I de-
cline many overtures from magazines and
newspapers for articles. My poor sight,
too, deprives me of the pleasure of going
into society. which I should very much
enjoy. It is embarrassing not to know
people, and SO 7 accept no invitations
Still, time doesn't hang heavy upon my
hands. Mary reads the newspapers TO
me every morning, and I knit and take
drives, and loll about, and Nellie and
play patience and other games Of cards.
81 am astonished, indeed, al what lad
les accomplish nowadays, and am con-
stantly asked to take part in things for
which I seem unable to find time. am
very fond of fiction, particularly Of his
torical novels, and as you came in Mary
was reading aloud Miss Crowinshield's
first book DR. Weir Mitchell is one of
my special favorites. I think Hugh
Wynne' very fine, but [ don't like any
one better than Brett Harte.'
Mary Johnstotn?"
Mrs. Grant was hazy upon the subject
however. and not enthusiastic.
'T can't recall the name of her book
which I read" she said. shut whatever
it was. it had sad ending, and left an
unpleasant impression upon my mind"
The conversation now drifted to mod
ern women and their work
"They are doing wonderful things" she
admitted, but the domestic accomplish
ments seem to me to be Of the first con
sheraton and I hope these are not being
neglected. So many men go astray now.
there must be something wrong. ] once
wrote by request a letter to be read be-
fore the pupils of the Lincoln school at
La Sale, which embodied my sentiments
upon this subject, in which I urged wo-
men to keep the hearthstone warm and
the mistetoe green In some way 1t
fell into the wrong hands, and it was af-
terward shown me by a New York lady
who had bought it and wanted to know
if were really the author It had been
copied by Mary and signed by me. and
the difference in the chirography made
her doubt its genuineness.
II have also written book for my chill
dren-my personal "reminiscences. 1t has
not vet gotten beyond the manuscript,
but I mean to have it published some
day"
A stir in the street below. where
tUssel was in progress between two BOYS
called Mrs Grant to the window at this
juncture and threw her into flutter Of
anxiety. Raising the sash she endeavor-
ed TO demonstrate. and. failing of make
herself heard. called to the servant in
that he should go at once and see that
the smaller Of the two was not imposed
upon. The interruption diverted the con
versation into a new channel
THE triangle in front" she said re-
suming her seat. ais a mass of foliage in
summer. and makes this room very cool
and attractive Indeed. the whole house
IS comfortable. and wei arranged
sometimes wish II were larger. So I might
have al my children with me at once bur
lis size is quite in keeping with my
means AIy daughter. Mrs Sartoris. ana
laer family. live with me. and when they
are all at home there are only two spare
rooms. We have never really furnished
it. JUST using what We happened 10 have