The Washington herald., 1909-02-07
Bv JOHN 5. HARWOOD.

gin his career as the only living ex-
President OF the United States with
tim unparsIleIed III American Presden-
tial history. Several other former Chief
Executives OF this nation Travelled ex-
tenslvely on belrg freed from the cares
Of state. but no one went hunting IN Afri-
can Jungles-
Martin Van Buren was the first ex-
President 10 travel much abroad. Il was
so many years after he left the White
House. however. that he had lost some
what OF his official prestige, and moved
from one European city to another much
more quietly that some Americans who
never have held Office.
In striking contract was the wOrld-en-
circling tour OF Ulysses Simpson Grant
It was almost imperial Monarchs feted
him in their palaces. The greatest think
ers Of the world did him homage. De
came 10 them in the full blaze OF fame.
the hero OF many battles. who afterWaTd
had ruled over his cOuntrymen for two
successive terms.
No one knows fully what Mr.. Roosevelt
intends TO do after his trip Possessed
with so much strenuousness. he is not at
all likely 10 follow the example Of such
ex-Presidents as Madison and Monroe
When Madison retired from the White
House he returned 70 his ancestral estate
at Montpelier, Va, where ne devoted the
last nineteen years Of MS life chiefly 10
agriculture
Remains Leader Of Party.
Doubtless Theodore Roosevelt looks
forward 10 a career Ike that Of Jefferson
OF Jackson. who. even after they had re-
tired TO private life, still remained the
leaders Of their parties Or, should he
have the desire SIN 70 remain in the OFF,
cial saddle he may. like john Quincy
Adams, 90 back 10 Washington as a
legislator. Then there Is the example OF
Grover Cleveland. who. after four years
OF retirement. again became the standard
bearer OF his party and took hold Of the
nations helm
Not all ex-Presidents, however have in
creased their popularity by re-entering
politics Such was the case with Grant.
Merely as an American citizen, travelling
abroad he won the esteem Of foreigners
as vel as his own cOuntrymen- He car
ried himself with an ease and dignity
which he never lost IN the most august
presence and which he always tempered
with kindness on meeting those below his
own station. But when his name was pre-
scented as a candidate for third term II
aroused bitter criticism although his
friends always insisted that he did not
sanction a denomination
Grants Great World Journey.
Grant started on his historic journey
around the world soon after the end Of
his second term The fame OF no man IN
the country equaIed him IN Europe he
was treated with al the Difference due
royalty. He was the guest OF Queen Vic
toria N England, MacMahon and GreTy
IN France, the emperors OF Germany.
Austria and Russia the kings OF Bel
GUM, Italy. Holland. Sweden, and Spain,
Pope Leo XII, the Duke Of Wellington.
Prince Bismarck, Lord Lytton. Gambetta.
King Thebau OF Burma Prince Kung Of
China, the Emperor OF Siam. the MikacO.
and most OF the other notable persOnages
OF Europe and Asia Leaving Philadel-
phia May Il. Is77, he arrived at San Fran
cisco September %. 1873. HIS journey
across the continent proved the climax.
being one continuous ovation Every one
appeared proud Of him and Of his Won
derful tour.
After his friends who sought his third
denomination had been overwhelmed IN
the convention that named James A Gar
field. Grant went into Wall street, which
proved his Waterloo. He became a part
ner OF Ferdinand Ward IN q brokerage
house that collapsed with the failure Of
Ward IN the crash Grants fortune was
wiped out At this time also the cancer
from which he died appeared. having
fwl- nr~ - n
pleting effect OF the disaster upon his
vitality.
From finance Grant turned TO author
ship. with phenomenal success. The pen
saved his family from threatened poverty.
Royalties from his books amounted to
$4,000.
A luncheon in bis Office with William
Dean HoweIls and Mark Twain led 10
the making OF this fortune Grant spoke
of his financial embarrassments, saying
he cared not for himself but his family
whom he feared he soon would have to
leave.
Write your memoirs" exclaimed Mark
Twain Everybody is interested in you.
They VIII go OF Ike hot cakes"
Memoirs" replied Grant. II am no
writer. Ny sentences would bore the pub
lie 70 death.
But look at ne" said Mark Twain. 7
an 10 writer either
Sells His Precious Gifts.
Meanwhile Grant tried in every way 70
clear himself Of financial entanglements.
He went so far as to sell the gifts be-
slowed upon him IN his journey around
the world. Then at last he decided to
.ake Mark Twain's advice The humor-
fst first heard the news at the theater,
and the very next morning visited The
General" as the former commander OF
the Union armies was best known By
his friends. and learned that Grant had
finished three chapters, for each OF which
he was 70 receive $500 be was about 10
sign A contract for the serial rights. but
Mr.. Clemens persuaded him that the roy
alties offered were too low.
Frederick .. Grant, on hearing Mark
Tvaln's opinion, also beSoughI his father
20 demand higher terms from the pub
fishers, who as a result offered a con-
tract much more favorable
NO" said Gen. Grant, II the bust
ness IS to be as profitable as these people
seem 70 think, then il should 90 10 the
firm Of Charles l. Webster & Co, Of
which my friend, Clemens, is a member. -
To the writing Of his memoirs Grant de-
voted his last energies with the same IN
finching courage which characterized
him as a military hero He fought death
az the while. Hs stuck to the struggle
until he VAS too weak 10 guide the pen.
he wrote the last sentence four DAYS be-
fore his death. July 3. 1855. at Mount Nc
Gregor. eleven miles north OF Saratoga.
y Y. On August s, 1855. his body was
buried IN Riverside Drive. New York
City. after a civic and military urcces-