The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-21


WASHINGTON. Dec. ie.--The real person
atty Of the widow Of Gen. Grant Ia like
10 disappear entirely In the cloud Of hurried
and fulsome panegyic called out by her
death:
Gen. Badeau, the historian. has said that
b was always impressed with thesinsulaI
influence the wife welded over the General
II IA unlikely that this influence would have
long continued after Gen. Grant had passed
middle age and emerged from obscurity
and perjury into a worldwide popularity
had she been the colorless domestic char
acter one gathers from these publications
Ter domination OF Grant continued TO the
end
AZ q matter OF fact Mrs. Grant was q
masterful woman. an individuality OF
great force. ambitious Of place and power
with strong passions and active likes and
disukes. Notwithstanding her alleged un-
obtrusiveness. nothing is more certain than
that Mrs. Grant dearly loved the incense
Of public distinction won by the great career
OF her husband, and that she made the
most Of It. That IL not discreditable to
Ter memory.
Those In q position to know say that in
the pursuit Of any given object she was at
times. Like Mrs. Lincoln, given to somewhat
vehement demonstrations toward its attain
ment. especially when opposed. Viewed
in this light As q person Of brains and force,
the love match she made with Grant is all
the more striking and impressive. Under the
peculiar circumstances Of the affair. it. is in
itself proof that she was an extraordinary
parsonage.
Both were the children OF farmers
Socially he was her equal In every respect
The lad was q West Point graduate with
a career before him. Miss Dent was ono
Of half dozen children OF a rough Missouri
pioneer. though he called his backwoods
settlement a plantation, localizing II with
the high sounding name Of White Haven,
and was himself dubbed Colonel.
Those were the hottest days of the great
anti-slavery battle, and Col Dent, who was
tolerably well OF and owned few negroes,
was in sentiment q fiery Southerner, who
fairly expect GRATED hatred OF the Yankees.
That was the prevailing sentiment in his
family and neighborhood. Miss Dent her.
self probably despised all Ysnkees, except
one.
That Col Dent held no high opinion Of
the penniless West Point Lieutenant OF
Northern proclivities ia certain. and there
Ia some evidence that be at first positively
opposed Julias proposed match Never
theIese, Miss Dent was determined enough
and strong enough to marry the man OF
her choice. This event In her career Is
alone proof Of strong distinctive per.
Gen. Grant was no martinez. He was
not perpetually on guard lest his personal
dignity should suffer. He was uncon.
ventional and democratic. In the camp
he not uncommonly called his young aides
by their first names and enjoyed their
society. He was a conhding sort OF man
in his friendships, easy-going in social
q nd minor matters.
Such a person is easily imposed upon by
I he designing, and Gen. Grant was often.
times their victim. In a certain way.
I herefroe. Mrs. Grant was her husbands
protector. and felt herself to be such. And
as such she was bold and watohful diliRent
and artful
She made il her business, even in war
time, to be with her husband in camp and
field whenever II was possible. She made
long and tiresome journeys for this pur-
pose. Her watchfulness Of Grant il illus
trated by a story told by Cen Marcus J.
Wright, an ex-Confederate oficer.
Some years before Grants death Wright
was travelling in Arkansas for the War
Department. On the train out Of Memphis
for Little Rock he fell in with the Grants,
and was invited to q seat with Gen Grant,
who vas we'll aware Of Gen. Wright q OFFICIAL
connection. They soon dropped into con-
vereation about the war, and Grant was
volubie and frank, as was his wont with
friends and those he could trust. Mrs.
Grant eat in the seat Immediately behind
the two.
Pretty soon Gen. Grant, dwelling upon
sorne interesting event. disclosed impor.
tant facts palpably Of an Official and conf
DENTAL nature. Mrs. Grant quickly leaned
forward, and putting her hand on the
Generals shoulder. smilinsly. but firmly,
said.
'Lood here. Ulysses, you oughtn't to be
telling Cen. Wright such things."
At hrst Gen. Grant went on with what
ever the subject was, saying to his wife:
"Oh, Gen. Wright is all right, Julia; he
understands this Ia just between us two"
But presently Gen. Wright observed
that the ex-President's manner was con.
siderably toned down, and the conversation
became moro general.
After . little while. however, Grant
warmed up again, and again Mrs Grant
cautioned him.
Nov. now, Ulysses. that will never do:
Gen. Wright doesn't care to hear such
things.'
Thereupon Grant would modify his con.
fdencee. and his mentor would fall back
This was repeated four or Ave times, .Julia.
interfering whenever the General became
too free. II was all done In perfect GOOD
humor, but with definite purpose on Mrs.
Grants part. which she made at least
partially effective. She made no apolo-
gies to Gen. Wright for her evident dis.
trust OF him a. . stranger. nor did Grant
show any petuAnce.
Gen. Grant yielded in Q sort Of whimsical
way To his wife's domination, doubtless
much a. the great MARLBOROUGH did to the
more assertive Sarah Jennings. The fam.
ily' ran the household Affairs a. II bat
pleased them. without much References n
Gen, Grants predictions. At the railway
station In Galena. ILL.,. he called tho atten.
ton Of . local friend 10 a truckloed ~
trunks ready for shipment East
DO you - that pile7 That Ia the Grant