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NEW YORK TIMES
June 27, 1885

ULYSSES S. GRANT RIDING IN A BATH CHAIR. GENERAL GRANT ENJOYS A TRIP TO THE HOTEL

The smiling and expectant faces of the entire household greeted General Grant as he came out on the cottage porch at 11 o'clock this morning. He was dressed for a drive. His longing took that form yesterday, and while treating him this morning, Dr. Shrady has promised that if were good,he could out for a drive after breakfast. In place of a horse and carriage, the General's gaze fell with astonishment upon a little black buggy top on wheels at the foot of the porch steps. Instead of a pair of shafts for horses, there was a single tongue where the thing might be pushed. With his hand on this rod stood Harrison, the General's servant, and he wore a broad grin on his features. Peals of laughter broke from the ladies as General Grant looked wonderingly at this mirth-provoking contrivance. It was the Bath invalid chair, so called from the name of the place where it was first used, which came up by last night's train.

The General trudged down the steps, looking as if the efforts of the ladies to surprise him had utterly failed, and he stepped into the contraption. Harrison grasped the handle and started up the path over which he had assisted the General on last week's unfortunate trip to the brow of the hill. The trip began smoothly enough, but when the ascent began, Harrison realized it was not as much of a plaything as it looked. It grew more and more like a real buggy to him with every step. Dr. Douglas, who was walking along, grabbed a boy who was watching the spectacle and had him assist Harrison for a spell. When they reached the to of the hill, a field glass was handed to the General, with which he swept the horizon of the Hudson Valley and the distant mountains.

As it was sunny where he was, General Grant asked to be moved into the shade. Harrison wheeled him up to the Hotel porch. The General dismounted and walked unaided to a chair near the door, the persons on the porch rising and standing until he was seated. Soon the General asked to be returned to the cottage where the ladies were waiting for him. A nap soon after his return home worked off the fatigue of this trip, and General Grant divided the rest of the day between napping and sitting in his favorite place on the porch. Dr. Douglas remarked during his 4 o'clock treatment that this day had been the best so far for the General. "Decidedly," the General replied in something above a whisper. There had been no extraordinary pain during the day. The evening passed without event.

 

 

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