The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-09-28
GEN. ULYSSES S. GRANT
SEEN AT CLOSE RANGE,
BY ROBERT M. DOUGLAS,
In Charlotte News Observer.

As private secretary TO General o..
> Grant Judge Robert NJ Doug las,
y. NJ. l. j. D., or Greensboro, writes
OF hiT az he was IN intimate personal
life Judge Douglas IL son Of
stephen a. Douglas, and has held
many positions of note: secretary TO
Governor Holden. private secretary 10
President Grant. United states marshal
for North Carolina, associate justice
OF the North Carolina Supreme court.
In the Youths companian. he gives
most entertaining account OF his as
ISOLATION with General Grant az roi-
lows:
General Grant Tor the first
time in Nay. 1865, at the review OF the
Army OF the Potomac. Ia Washington,
soon after the close OF the war lie
was standing In full View on the prcsi-
Dental stand, and was holding his
hat slightly raised. | was then SIX
teen years old. intensely loyal. and At
an age when / would naturally be at
tractcd by the personality or great
soldier. / was the elder son OF stephen
A. Douglas. just four years earlier,
had received my fathers dying mes
sage TO support the Constitution and
obey the laws OF the United States.
The Impression that General Grant
made upon me | shall never forget.
indeed, [ have never fully understood
expected TO see him wear an express
sion or triumph. or at least oil eiation;
but his calm. itnpassive lace. with
tingc Of sadness. seemed looking be-
yond the present into the future or
back into the past. Certainly the fca-
lures wore no expression oil the con
pucror
was then 4 student at Georgetown,
and when was not in college made
my home with my stepmother IN
Washington. / told her OF my earnest
desire TO meet General Grant. shortly
afterward we called at his home. and
in her charming manner she frankly
repeated 10 him all that had said.
was embarrassed BY her Unexpected
oandor but was quickly treasured By
the pleasant smile and kindly manner
OF the general. II. had met my father
In Illinois not long before his death,
and admired his career. especially his
devotion To the Union.
The Families Intimate.
From about the time OF our visit
un,n his election 10 the presidency.
General Grant lived in the house that
had been given to him in what was
then called Minnesota Row. II was
one OF a block OF three houses that
Vice President breckenridge, Senator
Rice and my father had built IN 1895,
for their residences. AFTER my father 8
death we moved back to the old home.
almost directly across New Jersey Ave-
rue. our families became quite init
mate. and l WAS often at General
Grants house. Mrs Grant treated me
with a motherly kindness that won my
sincere and lasting attachment.
In 1866. General Grant accompanied
President Johnson ON his famous
swing round the circle" during which
the President visited Chicago To lay
the cornerstone OF monument to my
father | joined the party At Roches-
ter, y. y. carly in September, and left
il AT Chicago. During the journey /
saw much OF General Grant and usually
rode in the same car with him He
seemed embarrassed by his surround
ings. and apparently avoided appear
ing until after Mr.. johnson had spoken.
When he did appear. he was received
with great enthusiasm.
At the laying of the corner stone of
the monument the people called for
General Grant. and he stepped TO the
front Of the platform. lie was met by
the wild cheering Of thousands of per-
sons, the shouting continued for sew
oral minutes During that time the
expression that had so deeply impressed
me when / first saw him. again came
ever his face.
After my graduation in 1867, l went
TO North Carolina 10 look after what
was left OF the property that my
mother, who was the daughter of a
large Shareholder. Although | was
born in North Carolina, and had many
relatives in that State. looked upon
Illinois as my home. and fully intended
10 go to Chicago; but a chain of I'M
foreseen circumstances made me n per-
manent resident OF my native State.
AS was only eighteen years old,
my relatives persuaded me 10 remain
in North Carolina until became OF
frI mt hat In
meantime ! could study law and get
my law license while I was looking
after my property. and that / could
then 60 to Chicago a lawyer and
not as a law student.
Calls mt the White House.
In July, 1868, when North Carolina
Was rcadmittcd 10 the Union and the
State government was rcorganiZed,
Governor Holden appointed me his pr
vate secretary. II was position that
brought me into contact with the lead
Ing politicians of both parties. Soon
afterward l was appointed aid to the
Governor, with the rank of colonel, n
title by which / was generally known
until ] went on the bench OF the SUI
preme Court Of the State.
In March. 1863. soon after General
Grant was inaugurated, called on him
at the White House, in behalf Of n
friend. Toward the end Of our inter
view he said to me: What can do
but said frankly that l did not think
ii would be advisable for me TO accept
any office that he could afford to give
to n man of my age.
He hesitated for n moment, and then
asked me If / would like TO go abroad.
i told him l did not care to go abroad
and that moreover, believed that most
young men who were educated abroad,
or who lived long abroad, became un-
fitted for American life. He seemed
much amused. but do not remember
that he made any comment
That evening, as his family had not
= yet moved into the White House, ]
$called at his home. Mrs. Grant greeted
me cordially, and said she was sorry
that l had declined the position of
secretary to the President. I was as
tonfshed. Mrs Grant then said that
tho general had told her that I had
declined the position; they both re-