登陆注册
5380500000154

第154章

"Honor no order for a sight or copy of the Memoirs while I am absent, even though it be signed by Mr.Clemens himself."I gave my permission.There were weighty reasons why I should not only give my permission, but hold it a matter of honor to not dissolve the order or modify it at any time.So I did all of that--said the order should stand undisturbed to the end.If a principal could dissolve his promise as innocently as he can dissolve his written order unguarded by his promise, I would send you a copy of the Memoirs instantly.I did not foresee you, or I would have made an exception.

...........................

My idea gained from army men, is that the drunkenness (and sometimes pretty reckless spreeing, nights,) ceased before he came East to be Lt.

General.(Refer especially to Gen.Wm.B.Franklin--[If you could see Franklin and talk with him--then he would unbosom,]) It was while Grant was still in the West that Mr.Lincoln said he wished he could find out what brand of whisky that fellow used, so he could furnish it to some of the other generals.Franklin saw Grant tumble from his horse drunk, while reviewing troops in New Orleans.The fall gave him a good deal of a hurt.He was then on the point of leaving for the Chattanooga region.

I naturally put "that and that together" when I read Gen.O.O.Howards's article in the Christian Union, three or four weeks ago--where he mentions that the new General arrived lame from a recent accident.

(See that article.) And why not write Howard?

Franklin spoke positively of the frequent spreeing.In camp--in time of war.

.........................

Captain Grant was frequently threatened by the Commandant of his Oregon post with a report to the War Department of his conduct unless he modified his intemperance.The report would mean dismissal from the service.At last the report had to be made out; and then, so greatly was the captain beloved, that he was privately informed, and was thus enabled to rush his resignation to Washington ahead of the report.Did the report go, nevertheless? I don't know.If it did, it is in the War Department now, possibly, and seeable.I got all this from a regular army man, but I can't name him to save me.

The only time General Grant ever mentioned liquor to me was about last April or possibly May.He said:

"If I could only build up my strength! The doctors urge whisky and champagne; but I can't take them; I can't abide the taste of any kind of liquor."Had he made a conquest so complete that even the taste of liquor was become an offense? Or was he so sore over what had been said about his habit that he wanted to persuade others and likewise himself that he hadn't even ever had any taste for it? It sounded like the latter, but that's no evidence.

He told me in the fall of '84 that there was something the matter with his throat, and that at the suggestion of his physicians he had reduced his smoking to one cigar a day.Then he added, in a casual fashion, that he didn't care for that one, and seldom smoked it.

I could understand that feeling.He had set out to conquer not the habit but the inclination--the desire.He had gone at the root, not the trunk.

It's the perfect way and the only true way (I speak from experience.)How I do hate those enemies of the human race who go around enslaving God's free people with pledges--to quit drinking instead of to quit wanting to drink.

But Sherman and Van Vliet know everything concerning Grant; and if you tell them how you want to use the facts, both of them will testify.

Regular army men have no concealments about each other; and yet they make their awful statements without shade or color or malice with a frankness and a child-like naivety, indeed, which is enchanting-and stupefying.

West Point seems to teach them that, among other priceless things not to be got in any other college in this world.If we talked about our guild-mates as I have heard Sherman, Grant, Van Vliet and others talk about theirs--mates with whom they were on the best possible terms--we could never expect them to speak to us again.

.......................

I am reminded, now, of another matter.The day of the funeral I sat an hour over a single drink and several cigars with Van Vliet and Sherman and Senator Sherman.; and among other things Gen.Sherman said, with impatient scorn:

"The idea of all this nonsense about Grant not being able to stand rude language and indelicate stories! Why Grant was full of humor, and full of the appreciation of it.I have sat with him by the hour listening to Jim Nye's yarns, and I reckon you know the style of Jim Nye's histories, Clemens.It makes me sick--that newspaper nonsense.Grant was no namby-pamby fool, he was a man--all over--rounded and complete."I wish I had thought of it! I would have said to General Grant: " Put the drunkenness in the Memoirs--and the repentance and reform.Trust the people."But I will wager there is not a hint in the book.He was sore, there.

As much of the book as I have read gives no hint, as far as I recollect.

The sick-room brought out the points of Gen.Grant's character--some of them particularly, to wit:

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 蜀汉纪

    蜀汉纪

    我是刘诞刘诞侬晓得哇?(不晓得。)好吧,可能你对我不是很熟悉,但是我的哥哥你应该认识。我大哥名叫刘范,是个不得了的人物,官拜左中郎将,在朝中那也算的上是数一数二的……(刘范?也不晓得。)好吧,好吧,既然不晓得,那我就不说我大哥了。我还有三弟,三弟名为刘瑁字叔玉,在京城也算……(不用再说了,也不晓得。)好吧好吧,幸好我还有一个比较有名的弟弟,叫做刘璋!(哦?刘璋?)没错,就是你脑海里的那个刘璋。(我脑海里没有刘璋啊喂!)这里,是汉末后世还给它取了一个独立的名字——三国这是个老套的故事,这是一个离奇的故事且看刘仲玉将会在这个时代产生怎样的纠葛开始怎样的生活
  • 人究竟为什么活着

    人究竟为什么活着

    “人究竟为什么活着”这一问题是亘古难题。乍一看本书的名称,专门研究人生哲学的人,可能会不屑一顾或嗤之以鼻,以为又遇上了一位现实版的唐·吉诃德;一般世人,则可能感觉到这一问题好像是不难回答的。
  • 陆先生的闪婚甜妻

    陆先生的闪婚甜妻

    苏墨随便从酒吧中拉了个男人去前男友的婚礼上砸场子,却不想拉到的竟然是前男友的叔叔。从婚礼上下来,苏墨揪着这位叔叔的衣角,“叔叔,你家缺婶婶吗?有名无实的那种。”叔叔看着她,思考了两秒,“缺。”次日看着手中的小红本本苏墨欲哭无泪,喝酒真能误终身啊!拿着本本苏墨凑到男人身边,“叔叔,这事,还能再商量一下吗?”男人系好领带看她一眼,“叫老公。”苏墨......包子在旁边对着男人竖起大拇指,“爸爸,三十多年了,你终于做了一件对的事。”{本文1V1,男女主身心干净,包子出没,很宠,很萌,很闷骚。}有人问陆清泽,这辈子最幸运的事是什么?陆清泽看着不远处跟儿子玩耍的女人,眉眼温和。“丢了二十多年的宝贝,还能再找到,还有比这更幸运的吗?”
  • 妃本红裳之凌霸天下

    妃本红裳之凌霸天下

    相传,灵魂徘徊在人世之间不肯离去,是因为生前还有未完之怨!雪胭,被她人赋予名字的冥界妖灵死亡,将她的的模样永恒的定格在青春的年华被黑色厌恶模糊了面容的阎王在一张张狰狞面孔的环绕下,分不清是帅是丑。“汝,阳寿已尽,奈何阴寿未满,心愿未了…”心愿未了,心愿未了雪胭不知道这是第几次听见他这般说了只知道她不知道那心愿是何,难道是因为她死的太早所遗留下了遗愿?!那么若是复活了呢?!因为这一个疑惑,她借尸还魂却发现自己不会做人……【片段欣赏】幽幽清风吹拂,满园开放的花儿随风摇摆如此良辰美景,漂亮少女慵懒的打了个哈欠,眼看着某女又是奄奄一息,一脸菜色仿佛下一秒就会昏倒的模样,漂亮少女笑眯眯的看着一脸担忧的众人,红唇轻启:“今日可有吃饭?!”某女怔愣片刻,迷茫摇头:“不曾”“昨日呢?!”她继续问“没……”想都不待思想,某女果断到“大昨天呢”嘴角浮现笑意,漂亮少女笑容可人“没!”又是一果断不加思考“你是想把自己活生生的饿死吗?!”嘴角的笑意越发浓重,漂亮少女继续问“哎!”某女惊讶抬头,一脸疑惑:“为什么一定要吃饭”众人绝倒O(∩_∩)O~本文一对一,男女主身心皆干净欢迎跳坑
  • 寒门贵女

    寒门贵女

    性格懦弱的寒门贫家女安馨代妹替嫁给年轻有为的富家少爷,遭到夫君冷待,大婚一年依然有名无实,更因遭人嫉恨被陷害至死。一朝醒来,懦弱不在,取而代之的狠辣果决,一脚踢飞索命狼狗,一纸休书休掉前世替嫁女紧追不舍的夫君。当胸无点墨变成满腹经纶!当愚昧无知变成绝世聪慧!当寒门贫女变成名动天下的天才!——奇案错综,诡谲离奇!密室杀,毒杀,鬼怪杀…真凶?是你!神探?是我!懒散的表象,天才的头脑,看透事情的本质,寻找最终的真相!试看她如何翻手风云,袖手朗朗乾坤!*对话一:“安馨,你是否能让我安心?”“你是谁?”“我是…”“你爱谁谁!”对话二:“不要逼迫我说出那三个字,太俗。”“哪三个字?”“我爱你。”“爱是一种发自于内心的情感,多见于人与人,或人与动物。你又不是人,且禽兽不如!”对话三:“此事说来话长…”“那就不要说了。”“但很重要。”“长话短说。”“…”结局一对一,女强,喜欢的妞妥善收藏,好生安放,不胜欢喜,O(∩_∩)O*【声明】1,推理是个精细活,或有疏漏,力求合理,诸位看官若有高手,还请海涵。2,有推理,必有凶杀,未成年的少年们,不要当真,本故事纯属虚构。3,喜欢本文,作者自然是极欢喜的,各位小主还请看文愉快,不喜欢本文的,还请勿喷,右上角有叉,轻轻一点,你也欢喜,我也欢喜。
  • 远辰落身旁

    远辰落身旁

    从讨厌到喜欢的距离有多久?可能就是秦未见跟林栩之的距离。“林医生,你等下会碎一台手机。”这是话剧演员秦未见,在跟她的心理医生证明她有奇妙能力的预言。在经历一场陨石坠落之后,她意外获得了看见未来的能力。通过碰触别人的肢体,秦未见可以看到对方在近时间内发生的灾难。而她提醒当事人避开凶险时,通常会被别人当做是“乌鸦嘴”。秦未见并未在意,她继续在她“拯救世人”的道路上渐行渐远。与此同时,她与林栩之的关系,一改之前的争锋相对,变得温馨起来……
  • 做人做事枕边书(大全集)

    做人做事枕边书(大全集)

    如果你的人生事业屡遭挫折,自己又不知道障碍在哪里,你将从本书中获得答案;如果你目前正值春风得意,好运连连,那么书中的方法和技巧更会使你如虎添翼,你的人生将更上一层楼。《做事做人枕边书大全集(超值金版)》为你的奋斗之路铺出了一条平坦的大道。书中的一招一式都会在你最需要的时候发挥作用。
  • 快穿之弱女进化论

    快穿之弱女进化论

    系统:宿主,你又在干嘛?楚倾心:额,就是想唱几首悲伤的歌……系统:宿主,千万别,这样你会黑化的……你一黑化,你就看不见我了……楚倾心:我黑化,为啥会看不见你,你不是就在这吗?系统:你一黑化我就被关进小黑屋了,嘤嘤嘤,宿主求别黑化……楚倾心:……楚倾心在这无数个世界中,看她如何在一个一个世界里从弱小变强大!【无cp】
  • 微反应心理学

    微反应心理学

    本书尝试以心理学的角度,运用心理学原理,结合生活中的实际案例,对平常可能遇到的各色心理现象进行了非常细致的分析,并提供各种独特有效的应对策略,教你巧妙运用人类共同的行为准则与心理机制。懂一点微反应心理学,相信将会对您以后的生活和学习起到深远的影响。
  • 四教仪集注节义

    四教仪集注节义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。