El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-07-08
GRANT HAD BUT
ONE Love AFFAIR
Mrs. Casey Tells How the
Former President WoOed
Julia Dent.

lDLAr July A--a o.
Emma Dent casey, sisterinlaw Of
Ulysses s. Grant. celebrated her send
birthday here the other day. she is
a delightful. mentally energetic per-
sonsze. who reads four newspapers a
day I'm an effort TO keep up with the
war news, but she IS one OF the few
privileged Americans who can drop
the curtain on the nations present
conflict at moments notice, and
roll it up on a leisurely landscape Of
the 18th century when American his
tory was enacted in stove pipe hats
and hoop skirts.
Airs. Casey has pictures OF Ameri-
can history in her brain as Tar back
as Folks administration. She can
give you gIImpses Of American troop
ers going off 10 fight the war with
Mexico. crowded on the flat lIissis-
sippi river boats-stroug men Of pio-
necr blood. eager for adventure and
prepared TO face the greatest hard
ships
She can picture for you the intense
autagonism between the early Demo-
Gratis and Republicans, temporarily
smoothed over by the peacemaker,
Henry CLAY. but reaching an abrupt
climax with the election Of Abraham
Lincoln; Of the dreadful, wearing
suspense of the period Of the civil
war. which WIS predicted 20 last 30
days and which lasted FOUR Years
and OF tle day when the mourutul
t5iinE Of che village bell and the APP
pearance Of crepe on every door told
the news Of the assassination Of Linz
coin.
First Meeting with Grunt-
Then Mrs Casey VIII summon
cheerful picture OF the quiet planta-
tf0n life before the war; the old CO.
louial houses. with their wide stair
ways. their walnut and mahogany
furniture their vine covered Veran-
das and their simple. child like slaves
where Grant met and courted Mrs
CaseT's sister, Julia Dent
Mrs Casey was 10 years old when
she first met Grant-a rather pre-
rocious. tom boyish girl. with cork
screw curis and ruffled panralOons
that hung several inches below her
skirt. Accompanied By three Of her
uickaninnies. she had just returned
from profitable visit 90 various
birds nests when young officer in
Uniform rode up 10 the front gate
il VIII be difficult for those who
have seen pictures Of Grant 20 be-
llere this, but airs. casey declares
that he was very handsome ar this 4
period OF his career-sO handsome
that AIRS Casey's young heart nut
tered dangerously, and the little bird
which she neld in her hand was al
most squeezed TO death
Recovering her dignity in time
however she escorted him around TO
the back Teranda. where the family
was seated and where he explained
thar be was classmate OF Mrs. Ca
se1-s brother. Fred Dent. They had
both attended West Point. and both
were lieutenants in the army Julia
was not at home on this ausplcious
occasion
Grant Meets julia Dent.
Grant announced that he was sta
TONED al jefferson barracks. not far
from the Dent place. and was there
upon invited 60 visit the plantation
is often rs possible The lieutenant
took advantage OF this Invitation by 7
calling twice week
Then Julia Dent came home after I
that. the young man visited the Dent I
home almost every day Grants love ar 4
fair IS one Of the few instances which ]
prove that the course OF true love {
sometimes runs smoothly. For Julia /
frankly showed her liking for him 4
from the beginning. and raised no OBJ T
stacles in his suit
cast In one Of her brown eyes. due TO
cold contracted in infancy. but her
personal charm was so great that teO-
pie forgot 90 notice this defect
She had q pretty figure. trim hands
and ankles abundant brown hair and
p firm. determined chin Grant and
she used to go fishing together. and
discuss Dickens and Sir Walter Scott
Grant loved her deTotedly- She was
his one and only love affair
Suddenly came the declaration Of
war on Mexico. and Grant received
his orders 10 the border. He had only
80 hours I'm which 10 make sure OF
Julia He set out on horseback for /.
the Dent place late at night. About
I1 idniEht he came 10 the stream which
separated 10 from the Jefferson bar
swollen. Nevertheless, he plunged On.
The water was extremely cold and
over his head. but he swan beside
his horse and gained the opposite
shore a few minutes later. shiver-
ing and hedraEgled. he presented him
SELF Ic the Dent household.
Promises 10 Marry Grant.
1t must be recorded that the fair
Julia laughed herself nearly into hys-
ferries at the sight Of her swain,
sneeziuE and dripping with water.
iu her brothers clothes. which were
much too large for him. only with
heroic efforts did she control her
mirth and promise 10 marry him when
he came back from Mexico.
Airs. CaseE's recoIections Of the
Mexican war are somewhat blurred,
although her brother. Fred. was
wounded iu g. Grant returned from
1Texico a captaiu. and married Julia.
All went vel until he was ordered
TO q post in the west. and Julia. un-
able to stand the riEor Of travel