The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-05-15
From the Washington Herald.

President Grant had a way of keeping
official secrets until it suited his con-
venience to divulge them, as the follow
of a member of Congress had expired,
and as he had not been reelected there
was nothing left for him to do but to go
back home. Neither he nor his wife rel
ished this prospect very much, and the
representative had hopes of being given
an appointment by the President that
would keep him longer in Washington.
but as there were 100 others after the
same office he felt his chances were
very slim. AS farewell, they were in
vited to dine at the White House a few
days before the proposed date of de-
parture. Both the congressman and his
wife felt that if the. President favored
the appointment something would be said
on this occasion, but the evening came tS
close without the subject being men
| toned. Not even at parting, when gen.
eral regrets were expressed. was appli-
cation for the office brought in. ANY
way" said Mrs. Grant to the wife, you
must come to my reception on Saturday
so l shall see you again before you leave
the city"
That settled the matter They knew
they had to so home after that.
The wife attended the reception and
had many pleasant words with Mrs
Grant They were both regretting their
forced separation when the President
came upon them, and inquired the cause
of their distress.
You know Mrs. Grant Informed him.
Mr.. KS term has expired, and they
must go home
You need not go if you don't want to, y
volunteered the President turning to the
| wife.
I'VE don't want to- admitted the wife.
but we must There is nothing to keep
us here longer"
"Oh, yes, there is" went on the chief
executive, deliberately. II have given
your husband that appointment he want
ed.''
| The wife could scarcely contain herself
until she reached home, and gave the
| glad news to her husband. He was at
| that moment in the heated and aggra-
| waited task of packing books. and he
| could scarcely believe 1t possible after
the close silence on the subject at dinner
| time a few days previous. Even the sec
retaries, to whom he mentioned the APP
| pointment, doubted Its genuneness, stat
| ing that the matter was not mentioned at
| the cabinet meeting that day. However.
| an official announcement soon confirmed
the verbal statement, and put all fears at
| rest 1t is needless to add that the con-
gresham and his wife were delighted to
remain longer in the charming society of
official washington. There was much sur
| prise expressed at this action and many
disappointments, but this was President
Grants way of doing things.
Grant never denied his days of hard
struggles for a livelihood in the west,
when he was compelled to go from one
town to another when opportunity Of
| fered better employment. Even with
| these frequent changes he endeavored
to give his son Fred the best educa-
ton he could afford. He encouraged
him In his studies and had given him
| this principle of manliness to follow
Never to pick a quarrel but always to
stand UP for his rights.
One evening Grant informed Fred to
| bring home all his school books the
next day, as they were going to move
| into another town, where he expected
some employment. The following even
ing the father inquired of the son if
| he had brught home all his books, and
| on receiving negative answer repeated
his command, adding that he could help
| his mother to pack.
| second time did Fred report to
Grant that he had not complied with
| his request. The father was somewhat
surprised at this stupbornness, but he
determined to give him another chance.
| Still the boy refused to obey. Then
Grant demanded what he meant by
| such conduct.
Well" returned Fred, with some
hesitation, lit is this way: You have
told me to stand up for my rights and
| I have licked all the boys in the seven
| towns I've been in already, and l Just
don't want to begin on the eighth. i
don't want to move"
| AS q sequence of the foregoing the
wife of an official in the days of
Grants administration tells the fol-
| lowing tale:
| She had admonished her little boy
| frequently for fighting in the streets
| and finally she told him that If she
knew Of him disobeying her. she would
punish. him. few days later, the
mother caught. her son I'm the act,
with bruises, disheyeled hair. and dirty
clothes to tell of the fray. Mother and
| son walked down the street together
| the boy anticipating the punishment
| by crying very loudly. Whom should
| they come upon but President Grant
| himself, taking his afternoon walk.
The wifefof the official was mortified
to death, both at the condition of her
child and his behavior. This did net
seem to effect the Chief Executive at