CHAPTER XXXIV. MANNERS AND HABITS. "NOW Major!" said one of our Tanner-Boy circle, "you have been giving us a great many facts and details about Gen. Grant, as he appears in the war." "Yes," replied the Major, his countenance lighting up with patriotic pride as he spoke, "I have felt it to be my duty to lay before my young countrymen every thing in the life of the great commander just as it is.” "This is the way I like to learn history," added the eldest of our group. "I shall always try to remember what we have heard about his youth, about West Point, Texas, Mexico, the wicked Rebellion in our country, and how well he has fought for us all." "And I shall not soon forget about that wonderful Mississippi River," chimed in Ned, "nor the perseverance of Gen. Grant to open it to free trade." "Nor I," said Tom, "about that voyage through those wild passes in the woods." "Would you like to hear how Gen. Grant looks and acts among his friends?" inquired the Major, as he glanced at his young circle. "Oh! yes, dear Major! indeed we should!" was the response of all. "Well, then," he concluded, "I will tell you." Gen. Grant is about the medium height. His countenance is open and keenly expressive of a man of deep thought. He has auburn hair, and wears a beard and mustache, both trimmed close. His eyes are a grayish blue, and indicative of quickness and distance of perception. The mouth and chin are peculiarly significant of his character-will and firmness. When excited, especially in action, the eye becomes fixed in a remarkable manner, and the lips and chin assume a tightness and rigidity that strike the beholder at once. The lips contract and the chin works as the mind progresses with its plans, until the whole man is roused, and he seems ready to bear down all opposition before him. "We have heard much, Major," casually observed one present, "of the indifference of the General to dress. Are we to understand that he carries this to extremes?" "By no means!" quickly responded the Major, his dignity now fairly roused. "I wish it to be distinctly understood that Gen. Grant is not in any sense a sloven. Gen. Grant, remember, is a gentleman." "Oh! I am sure I should have thought so by what you have told us. No one but a real American gentleman could or would have done the noble things recorded of Gen. Grant." MANNERS AND HABITS. 291 "I have been with him," the Major concluded, "in the familiarity and seclusion of camp-life; and I know perfectly well what his personal habits are.” "Then please tell us, won't you?" He messes with his staff, and sits at their common table sociably, as he would with his own family. There are sometimes ten officers attached to him, and he shares with them the expenses of the mess. You will not see any attempt at show or parade in any thing about him. All his arrangements are made with reference to economy of time and space in the public service. He has just the fewest table utensils, and they are of the plainest and most durable kind. The fare is simple, substantial, healthful. At breakfast, for instance, a mutton-chop and cup of coffee. Roast beef, potatoes and hard-tack for dinner. No dessert. At an early hour in the evening a cup of tea and bread and butter. The General's bed is a hard camp cot. A tin washbasin, a small incased looking-glass, a few towels, a hair-brush, a tooth-brush, supply his toilet. No intoxicating liquors are on the table at dinner, or at any other time. It is not his habit to use them, nor does he encourage it in others. His dress is plain, the three stars indicating his exalted position as Lieutenant-General being worn in a manner entirely unostentatious. He is so constantly engaged in his arduous duties that the aspect of his apparel can occupy his mind to but little extent; yet there is that about his motions, even in his outward indifference to show, which marks his superiority. Like Garibaldi, Grant would look a man of mark in a red flannel shirt. So deeply, earnestly, sincerely intent is this distinguished soldier on the salvation of his country that the fripperies of fashion and adornments of dress sink beneath contempt in his eyes. Talk to him of carriages, and he thinks of those that carry the guns of the Union against the Rebellion. Speak of horses, and he is reminded of the brave squadrons he would set in the field for liberty. Mention tempting viands, rich dinners and splendid suppers, and his mind recurs to the rations of his noble troops in line of battle. Name the fashion of dress, and he sees before him the stalwart forms of brave men wrapped in army-cloaks, musket or sword in hand, all eager to strike for the right. No man of all the hundreds of thousands he has commanded ever heard Gen. Grant use profane language. His manners are grave; evidently like those he saw at home in his youth. He has humor; but it is of that quiet sort which never indulges in boisterous laughter. Always hopeful, always disposed to speak well of every one, always devoted to the constitutional Government he has sworn to defend, never complaining, never jealous, self-reliant, persevering, modest, honest, brave. MANNERS AND HABITS. 293 No conception of him could be more mistaken than to suppose Gen. Grant to be a jovial, swaggering, sporting man; dressing like a laborer, studying to be careless; fond of jokes and drinking. He is nothing of the kind. From his youth he has abhorred personal disputes. He never uses or tolerates improper language. He is cordial, cheerful, yet reserved. His sincerity is transparent, and his reticence extraordinary. No one living can ascertain his plans if he chooses to retain them. In his opinions he is always tolerant yet always earnest. He has no ostentation; no desire to make a show of himself or his deeds; no taste for gratifying idle curiosity. One striking feature in his intellectual character is his ability to ascertain and decide on the relative merits of different men and things at one and the same time. In this respect he has the rare faculty of selecting the right man for the right place. One of his highest meeds of praise consists in the fact that through all his commands to his present elevated post he has had no jealousies, bickerings or quarrels among his officers. He has had no courtmartials. Not a man of his immediate command was ever shot for desertion. The opinion entertained of Grant by Garibaldi was recently elicited at an interview between the brave Italian and the American consul, in London. "I admire your General Grant," said Garibaldi on |