The Raymer enterprise., 1912-02-22
New NEWS OF YESTERDAY
Incident of the Last Illness Of
General Grant.
On Receiving His First Mcnth's Pay
as General en- Retired List He
Promptly Distributed the Sum
Among His Servants.
BY E. j. EDWARDS.

Y
The last official act OF President Ar
thur was the signing OF the bill on
March !. 1855 by which General Grant
'sas restored 10 the retired list OF the
regular army with the rank OF general
and with full pay. This made II pos
sible for General Grant then in his
last illness. 10 rely upon an income Of
about $4,000 year. and that was all
che income he could look forward TO
with assurance. for at that tilae there
was no certainty that he would be able
TO finish his personal memoirs for pub.
lIcatian.
About a month later Genera! Grant
suffered from the first OF several
severe relaEses. each cne of which. I,
was feared. would terminate his life.
He was Frustrated by the agonizing
rain. and though by sheer force os
Will ne maintained outw4rdly wen
derful mental composure and moral
courage, those about him believed
that they detected evidences that the
sufferers stout heart failed him for a
time.
Just at this time the mornings mall
one day brought him letter from
Washington. With feeble hands. and
yet with somewhat eager eyes. he
opened the letter. II was found 10
contain 4 United States treasury draft
Cor the amount OF the first months
payment under the act restoring him
TO the army on the retired list as gen
eral with full pay. The amount was
approximately $1,000.
SummonIng his friend OF many
years. Ex-Governor Chaffee of Colo.
rado, to his side. General Grant point,
cd 10 the draft TEen he wrote on
The pad of paper that he KEEP, at his
elbow:
.! wish you would take this draft
- banker friend of mine" naming
him u know he Will cash 1t. And
when he has done so wish you would
bring the money 10 me as soon as
possible"
General Charee took tie draft. say.
ing that he would get 1t cashed i'm.
media;ely. General Grant smiled ur
at him IN thanks. and then once more
wrote on the pad
Il am sure that my friend will cash
the draft, although ! have neve. had
amy banking dealings with him. Tell
him want II In bills OF small de,
nominations We need the money In
Sne hauss. and first of all want To-
pay the servants what We owe them
for Trey have been very kind and pa,
;ient."S
When Governor CharIee appeared
before the banker a little later and
explained his mission. he was barely
able 10 restrain his tears, "lt was
the most pathetic sight have ever
seHn,' he said There that great
man sat. suffering intense agony, and
yet his first thought. despite his raIn,;
was Tor others, his servants. And :.
was all the more pathetic 10 me be,
cause / haze known all along that he
has been hard pressed Tor ready
money; but his sense uf honor Is 50
keen, and until now he felt so small
an assurance that he would be able To
repay any debt. that II was useless foE
me TO ask him TO accept a loan. how
ever small"
The banker gladly cEshed the draft
in the manner General Grant had re,
quosted. and Governor Chahee hur.
rIed away. Later lie reported to thu
banker.
When placed the money in tho
generals hands. he looked ireer from
care and worry than he had for
weeks. He smiled his thanks 10 me.
and he wrote on his paa that | should
THANH yoG most heartily for your kind.
ness Then he took from the money
sufficient amount to pay the ser.
wants what had been owing them for
some time and directed that It be dis,
tributcd among them NJ once. That
act was characteristic OF the mani,
showed, in small way. the real no.
biliry Of his character
Greatly 10 his Peace. OF mind. Gen.
eral Grant little later received as.
suranccs that In addition 10 The pen.
sion which Mrs. Grant. as his widow.
would TeCeiyeIinder the act restoring
him to the retired list of the army. his
personal memoirs would bring Sc
large a SUN 10 Mrs Grant that thu
income from i would make her com.
Portable Tor lie,
Copyright. i5li by =, J. Edwards Al
Rights Reserved