that on the 21st he called at the Grant
home, 3 East 66th Street, and was astonished to see how thin and weak
the General looked. He was astonished because the newspaper, in a second
report, had said the threatening symptoms had disappeared, that the
cancer alarm was a false one.

I took for granted the report, and said I had been glad to see that
news. He smiled and said, "Yes--if it had only been true."

One of the physicians was present, and he startled me by saying the
General's condition was the opposite of encouraging.

Then the talk drifted to business, and the General presently said:
"I mean you shall have the book--I have about made up my mind to
that--but I wish to write to Mr. Roswell Smith first, and tell him I
have so decided. I think this is due him."

From the beginning the General has shown a fine delicacy toward
those people--a delicacy which was native to the character of the
man who put into the Appomattox terms of surrender the words,
"Officers may retain their side-arms," to save General Lee the
humiliation of giving up his sword. [Note-book.]

The physician present was Dr. Douglas, and upon Clemens assuming that
the General's trouble was probably due to smoking, also that it was a
warning to those who smoked to excess, himself included, Dr. Douglas
said that General Grant's affliction could not be attributed altogether
to smoking, but far more to his distress of mind, his year-long
depression of spirit, the grief of his financial disaster. Dr. Douglas's
remark started General Grant upon the subject of his connection with
Ward, which he discussed with great freedom and apparent relief of
mind. Never at any time did he betray any resentment toward Ward, but
characterized him as one might an offending child. He spoke as a man
who has been deeply wronged and humiliated and betrayed, but without a
venomous expression or one with revengeful nature. Clemens confessed in
his notes that all the time he himself was "inwardly boiling--scalping
Ward--flaying him alive--breaking him on the wheel--pounding him to a
jelly."

While he was talking Colonel Grant said:

"Father is letting you see that the Grant family are a pack of fools,
Mr. Clemens."

The General objected to this statement. He said that the facts could
be produced which would show that when Ward laid siege to a man he was
pretty certain to turn out to be a fool; as much of a fool as any o