Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-11
Four Generations
Continued from Fifth Page.)

whose hospitality / had the honor to enjoy
one evening, live in republican simplicity.
Their rooms are decorated with pictures.
hags, trophies and mementoes in a style
OFTEN found among our army officers. Mrs.
Grant Is a charming onversationalist; she
shows an intense interest i'm American af-
fairs, particularly the forthcoming exposi-
ton at Chicago and the political outlook OF
the republican party for 1892. Although
they boast OF no great wealth, the Grants
by their name and official station take rank
with the highest at the Austrian court.
They are well satisfied with their position,
especially Miss Julia Grant (now the Prin-
cess Cantacuzcne), and her only brother,
Ulysses Simpson Grant. a bright boy of Ii,
who wears a military uniform on occasions
and hopes to enter West Point in due
course of time"
At the time Of my visit the future Rus
sian princess was a bright, handsome girl,
full of vivacity and thoroughly unconven-
tional in her manners.
General Fred Grants appreciation of the
compliments paid him is expressed in a
letter from Vienna on January 81, 1892,
from which the following extract may be of
interest: Permit me to take this occa-
sion to thank you most sincerely for the
copies Of The Omaha Bee, which comes to
me regularly with each mail and which l
and all this legation read with the greatest
pleasure. How the Missouri valley must
have increased in prosperity and popula-
ton since l was there to support such a
great and able newspaper. Mrs. Grant Joins
with me In thanking you for your most
kind remembrance of us and we both beg
that you will convey to your son, whom we
were so glad to have met, our thanks for
the beautiful and complimentary article
which he kindly sent us"
AT the time Of my visit to Vienna there
was a vacancy in the office Of secretary of
war and speculation was rife as TO who
would be chosen to fill the place. MY high
est ambition" said Minister Grant to me
before we parted, lis to be secretary of war
some day" without saying a word to
the colonel | communicated his wish to
John Wanamaker, then member of the
cabinet, invoking his influence on behalf
OF Colonel Grant. Before leaving Europe
I received a favorable response from the
postmaster general, postmarked from San
Augustine, Fla. Within a few days after
my return to America / made a personal
appeal to President Harrison for Colonel
Grants appointment. The president looked
quizzed and dubious. 81 should like to
crafty Colonel Grants ambition" said he.
but doubt whether his appointment is
feasible. While / do not always adhere to
tradition and precedent, there is a sort OF
unwritten law which has governed all
former administration that no West
Pointer should hold the position of secre-
tary of war" A few weeks later the AS
ISOLATED Press announced the appointment
OF stephen p. Elkins to the place coveted
by Minister Grant.
In October, 1894, the Society of the Army
Of the Tennessee, of which General Gren-
Vile NJ. Dodge was the president, held it's
annual reunion at Council Bluffs. On the
day the reunion was TO open my ste
nographer. the late Tug Wilson, while oc-
cupying the chair in the ante-room of the
editorial department, handed me two cards,
with this explanation: "a couple Of men
whom I don't know and whom I don't con-
slider of very much Importance left these
cards, so | did not let them com in"
CHANGING at the first card | read the name
Frederick D.. Grant. On the second card
was inscribed p. Tecumseh Sherman.
without losing much time | passed down
to the headquarters OF the Department OF
the Platte and found the two unimpressive
gentlemen with strange names in the office
occupied by General Brooke, the depart
ment commander. After renewing our
acquaintance and while my visitors were
In the editorial sanctum General Grant
was Joined by his son, Ulysses s. Grant.
third, now about to graduate from West
Point, and who expressed much pleasure at
being able to renew the aoquaintances made
In Vienna three years previous.
The only other member of the Grant
family whom I have met is Ulysses s., the
Oldest son OF President Grant, a resident
OF San Diego, who headed the California
delegation to the republican national con-
V~ention at Philadelphia, to which also
was a delegate. His resemblance to
President Grant was so striking that
could have singled him out among thou
sands. Mr., Grant is a recognized leader
in the republican party in his state and
may in the no distant future represent
California in the United States senate.
Il RANEN- 4 EEn