The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-04-27
TODAY IN HISTORY
Birthday OF "The Tanners Boy. ="

Today is the birthday of Ulysses :.
Grant. the lesson Of whose life Ia among
the uplifting traditions of the republic
II Is not OF Grant. the soldier, or Grant
tho statesman. that Is the most striking
point in tho recalling of his birthday. but
OF Grant, the tanners boy. who became
rs well the president for two terms.
Of this great country. or Grant who,
almost like nash, from the deepest OBJ
scurity. became the most powerful man
OF the nation.
Like most men Of pure character. Grant
had the incstimable gift OF good mother.
From her he inherited his love for truth
and power 10 search the minds Of others
without betraylnr what was In hls own.
And from his father he Is credited with
having inherited his guiIeiess trust IN his
fcllow-men his great powers OF initiative
and his optimism.
Grant was born in p humble home on
the banks Of the Ohio. at a place called
Point Pleasant above Cincinnati, on
I'm the house-a roughly framed dwelling
covered with Tapped boards. and having
chimney outside according TO the
southern style OF those days. His fathcr
was tanner and his mother came from
line of worthy Pennsylvania farmers OF
English origin.
The boy bad been named r.r, iIram
names in A hat and drawing out TWO. He
was known as "Lys.' or "L.ysses,' and
the other boys in the town called him
thought befitting his quiet manners. He
began to work at an carly age and his
first marked CHARACTERISTIC was his love
OF horses ana skill in handling them.
AT years of age he drove team
hauling bark from tho woods TO his
fathers tanncry. and from that on 20 Is
he was known all over the countryside
a driver BY this time his father had
become thrifty I'm business, and he sent
Ulysses to private schools near bis home.
AT school he attracted little attention.
wore home made butternut jeans. was
shy In manner. and was not different
from any other basbful country boy just
leaving his native village.
In few years Ulysses however turned
out 10 be a good student. and his father.
looking about Tor a vocation for him.
finally decided TO send him to West Point.
When he started he carried with him q
new trunk. bearing the letters III. L.
fun Of him because the initials spell
Hug" he had thcm changed To L. n. g..
and as Ulysses IL. Grant he signed his
name on the books OF the academy.
But here he found this name was to
he changed again. for the congressman
who appointed him assuming that his
name was simpson, for his mothers fam
fly. had sent his nomination In for Tlys-
ses s. Grant. and by this name Grant
entered West Point. aud became known
TO fame
One Of the most characteristic things
of Grants life was the masnaninty
shown 10 General Rober, f.. Lee at Apo
matto&. Al Lees suggestion the terms
OF surrender were written out. and in
them, as Grants oye fell on Lees hand
some sword, the great commander inter
polated tho line. This will not embrace
the side arms Of officers, nor their pri-
vate horses or baggage This was the
highest expression OF the greatness oi
Grants character. Lee. standing before
his conducror. could bring himself only 10
say. This VIII have A happy effect;
and today the whole south honors the
manity, so tender and ar-reachlnG. that
Slorifed the end OF the awful struggle
between brothers In blood. and heralded
the new birth OF the union.