White House gossip

by Edna M. Colman

Mr. F. F. Dent, her father, made his home with them while they were in the White House. A most interesting man, he was the object of family attention and devotion. Although a Southerner who never changed his political views, he was devoted to his distinguished son-in-law, with whom he differed radically on many questions. President Grant’s affection for his wife’s father expressed itself in many practical ways. When serious reverses came to Mr. Dent, and it seemed as though all of his property must be sacrificed, the President bought up the notes on the old Dent homestead and so arranged matters that the income from it was paid periodically and promptly to Mr. Dent, who was left to believe that, through a readjustment, the property was still his own. Mr. Dent died in the White House, and his funeral was held there.

General Grant brought his army efficiency into the executive office, along with two of his generals, Babcock and Porter; and with his genius for organizing, he soon had a schedule that left him a little time to follow the pursuits that diverted and rested him.

An early riser, seven o’clock found him reading the papers. He breakfasted with his family at eight o’clock, then went for a stroll to enjoy his cigar. By ten he was in his office ready for the day’s tasks, and when three o’clock came he considered the day’s work completed sufficiently for him to leave his desk.

A daily pleasure was the visit to his horses, which were a hobby. After making the rounds and giving a word or a pat to each, he enjoyed a walk or drive, the latter usually to please his wife. His horses were Cincinnatus, a dark bay charger; St. Louis, and Egypt, carriage horses, beautifully matched; Julia, for a buggy; Billy Button and Red. Shetland ponies; Jeff Davis, a saddle horse quite hard to manage; Jennie and Mary, the property of Miss Nellie. Five vehicles found place in the carriage house, and thus the tastes and fancy of every member of the family were considered—a landau, barouche, top buggy, pony phaëton, and road wagon.

General Grant’s love for horses had become proverbial before he became President. At the time that he was elected, he had a stock farm near St. Louis, where it is said he kept more than a hundred animals.

Cincinnatus was a good saddle horse, and the President could ride him to any part of the city and leave him standing unhitched for any length of time. He never became frightened at parades or street fights or commotion.

One of Grant’s best horses was named Butcher’s Boy, into the possession of which he came in an odd way. General Grant was riding through the city one day and attempted to pass a butcher’s wagon, which was jogging along in front of him. The boy driving the horse whipped up and the General whipped up, and the two had a lively race. Grant was in a light rig and the boy had no idea in the world that he was racing the President of the United States. His horse was so good, however, that he kept ahead for a long distance, and President Grant admired him so much that, when the wagon stopped at a butcher’s shop, he made note of the place. Some days after this, he sent one of his friends to look at the horse and purchase it if possible. The result was that the butcher’s horse took his place in the White House stables.

During his administration, new stables of the White House were built.

The family dinner hour was five o’clock, and the master of the establishment required punctuality from all of his household. The table was invariably set to accommodate half a dozen extra guests, and there were few days in the strenuous eight years when the family dined alone. With old-fashioned wifely care, Mrs. Grant saw to it that the dishes the President especially liked were included in the menus. His favourite dessert, rice pudding, gained international fame as concocted under the direction of the incomparable steward.

General Grant’s presidency simply transferred the national interest from the house on Minnesota Row, given him by an admiring public, to the White House. His election and inauguration also brought to publication many interesting stories of his boyhood, youth, and military career through which his pride in his sturdy all-American ancestry, the events and exploits which made him so rich in nicknames, and the youthful achievements of pluck and persistence that cast their prophecy of his calibre as man while he was yet in his teens all became household history. Familiar, also, was thus made the life at West Point, the thrilling experiences of the Mexican War, and the drab, disheartening struggles of the civilian life at “Hardscrabble,” and the clerkship in the family tannery.