Letter from Hattie to Edward, May 17, 1879
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Hattie to Edward, May 17, 1879
Subject
Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885; Grant, Julia Dent, 1826-1902; Presidents--United States--Election--History; Presidential candidates; Tours
Description
In this letter to her brother Edward, Harriet writes about meeting Ulysses S. Grant, "Gen Grant". He was doing a tour around the world and made a stop in Canton, where they held a reception and dinner party for him. Harriet found him to be very humble. She says his wife is not pretty and does not have polished manners, but is very friendly. Harriet wonders about the general running for the next presidential election. He drank too much at dinner, but Harriet says she understands the admiration he receives.
Creator
Noyes, Harriet Newell
Source
The College of Wooster, Special Collections, Noyes Collection, Box #2
Publisher
Unpublished
Date
1879-05-17
Contributor
Council on Library and Information Resources Hidden Special Collections Grant
Rights
Format
PDF
Language
eng (English)
Type
Text
Identifier
noyes_c_cor_196
Coverage
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
Canton China
May 17th 1879.
My dear Edward,
Shall I tell you "all
about Gen Grant" and our
seeing him. It is too late tonight
I fear to give detailed account
but the facts are that we have
[u]seen[/u] Gen Grant have shaken
hands with him, have "looked
into his eyes" and heard him
make a speech and have sat at
the same table with him.
Our Chinese friends think our
customs are most singular that
we could presume to look upon
the face of a "[u]king[/u]" and our
English friends have the same
feelings to some extent But we
are freeborn Americans, and know
that all [u]men[/u] {the men embrace the
women} are created free and
equal. I am afraid I shall
have to admit that we are not
recognized as American [u]citizens[/u]
for the address of welcome to Gen Grant
the Consul assured him was
signed by [u]all[/u] the American citizens
in the place and not a feminine
name was the therunto appended.
I think we are all very glad that
Gen Grant has come and glad
also that he has gone. It was
quite an excitement to have here
the man whom the Governor of
Hongkong said was the most
illustrious guest that had ever
been entertained there although
they have had Queen Victoria's son
the Grand Duke Alexis & other
notables. Gen Grant was expected
on Monday, came on the Ashuelot
a steamer of the US Navy. She was
so slow that instead of getting here
at 4.30 PM as expected did not
arrive until 9 so the grand
reception that had been planned
was rather a failure. Wednesday
all the missionaries were invited
to the Consul's to lunch at one-o-clock
but I omitted Tuesday at 5
P.M. the address of welcome
which was to have been
read the evening that he
arrived was read at the
Consulate and the General
responded & afterwards we
were introduced to him.
We called on Mrs Grant
just before. Thursday eve there
was a grand dinner for the
foreign community and
afterwards a general reception
and fireworks from ten until
twelve. Mr Henry & I
went up were the only representatives
from this part of the city.
Friday morning early the left.
We sent Mrs Grant a little box of
curios small shoes &c &c for
which she sent her thanks.
Gen Grant is all that the
papers say of him very plain
and unassuming. I suppose
no one ever lived that had as
much admiration showered
upon him as he has received
in his two years journey around
the world, but he seems
unspoiled by flattery. Mrs Grant
is quite large cross eyed which
spoils her looks somewhat. She
is very social & pleasant but
has'nt at all the polished manners
of Mrs Pres Hayes. We
hear that the Gen is to be
met when he reaches San
Francisco by a delegation of
75,000 man from across the
country. 125 trains. Will
you be one of the excursionists?
Is he going to be our next
President? I wish he were a
temperance man. "Tell it not
in Gath" but Mrs Happer said
that she knew the night of the
reception that he had been drinking
more than he should. I have
not heard any one else speak of
it. I am so sorry. He is undoubtedly
a great man and a man
that men delight to honor, and
worthy of their admiration in
many ways. Well I must
close it has struck eleven.
Ever your loving Hattie.
中国广州，
1879 年 5 月 17 日。
亲爱的爱德华，
我可以告诉你“关于格兰特将军的一切”和我们见到他的事吗？今晚恐怕已经太晚了，
但事实是我们已经看到格兰特将军与他握手，
“看着他的眼睛”，
听到他发表演讲，
并与他坐在同一张桌子上。
我们的中国朋友认为我们的习俗是最奇特的，
我们可以假设看到一个“国王”的脸，
我们的英国朋友在某种程度上也有同样的感受。
但我们是自由出生的美国人，
并且知道所有的男人和女人都是被创造出来的自由和平等。
恐怕我不得不承认，
我们没有被承认为美国公民，
因为领事向格兰特将军保证，
他的欢迎词是由当地所有美国公民签名的，
并且没有附加女性名字。
我想我们都很高兴格兰特将军来了，
也很高兴他走了。
尽管有维多利亚女王的儿子亚历克西斯大公和其他名人，
但香港总督称他是有史以来最杰出的客人来到这里，
真是令人兴奋。
预计格兰特将军将于周一乘坐美国海军的一艘轮船Ashuelot。
她太慢了，
以至于没有像预期的那样在下午 4 点 30 分到达这里，
直到 9 点才到达，
所以原计划的盛大招待会相当失败。
星期三，
所有传教士都被邀请到领事家吃午饭，
但我没有在星期二下午 5 点。
领事馆宣读了他到达当晚应该宣读的欢迎词，
将军回应了我们，
之后我们被介绍给他。
我们刚才拜访了格兰特夫人。
周四前夕，
为外国社区举行了盛大的晚宴，
之后从十点到十二点举行了一般招待会和烟花表演。
亨利先生和我上去是这个城市的唯一代表。
周五早上早点离开。
我们给格兰特夫人寄了一小盒古玩小鞋等，
她对此表示感谢。
格兰特将军就是报纸上对他的描述，
他非常朴素和谦逊。
我想，
从来没有人像他在两年的环球旅行中所受到的那样，
对他倾注了如此多的钦佩，
但他似乎没有被奉承宠坏。
格兰特夫人的个子很大，
而且是斗鸡眼，
这在一定程度上破坏了她的容貌。
她非常善于交际和讨人喜欢，
但一点也不像海斯总统夫人那样优雅。
我们听说，
当将军抵达旧金山时，
来自全国各地的一个由 75，000 人组成的代表团将与他会面。
125列火车。
你会成为远足者中的一员吗？他会成为我们的下一任总统吗？我希望他是一个节制的人。
“不要在加斯告诉它”，
但哈珀夫人说她知道招待会当晚他喝得比他应该喝的多。
我没有听到任何人谈论它。
我很抱歉。
毫无疑问，
他是一个伟大的人，
一个男人乐于尊敬的人，
在很多方面都值得他们钦佩。
好吧，
我必须关闭它已经敲了十一点。
永远是你的爱人，
海蒂。
May 17th 1879.
My dear Edward,
Shall I tell you "all
about Gen Grant" and our
seeing him. It is too late tonight
I fear to give detailed account
but the facts are that we have
[u]seen[/u] Gen Grant have shaken
hands with him, have "looked
into his eyes" and heard him
make a speech and have sat at
the same table with him.
Our Chinese friends think our
customs are most singular that
we could presume to look upon
the face of a "[u]king[/u]" and our
English friends have the same
feelings to some extent But we
are freeborn Americans, and know
that all [u]men[/u] {the men embrace the
women} are created free and
equal. I am afraid I shall
have to admit that we are not
recognized as American [u]citizens[/u]
for the address of welcome to Gen Grant
the Consul assured him was
signed by [u]all[/u] the American citizens
in the place and not a feminine
name was the therunto appended.
I think we are all very glad that
Gen Grant has come and glad
also that he has gone. It was
quite an excitement to have here
the man whom the Governor of
Hongkong said was the most
illustrious guest that had ever
been entertained there although
they have had Queen Victoria's son
the Grand Duke Alexis & other
notables. Gen Grant was expected
on Monday, came on the Ashuelot
a steamer of the US Navy. She was
so slow that instead of getting here
at 4.30 PM as expected did not
arrive until 9 so the grand
reception that had been planned
was rather a failure. Wednesday
all the missionaries were invited
to the Consul's to lunch at one-o-clock
but I omitted Tuesday at 5
P.M. the address of welcome
which was to have been
read the evening that he
arrived was read at the
Consulate and the General
responded & afterwards we
were introduced to him.
We called on Mrs Grant
just before. Thursday eve there
was a grand dinner for the
foreign community and
afterwards a general reception
and fireworks from ten until
twelve. Mr Henry & I
went up were the only representatives
from this part of the city.
Friday morning early the left.
We sent Mrs Grant a little box of
curios small shoes &c &c for
which she sent her thanks.
Gen Grant is all that the
papers say of him very plain
and unassuming. I suppose
no one ever lived that had as
much admiration showered
upon him as he has received
in his two years journey around
the world, but he seems
unspoiled by flattery. Mrs Grant
is quite large cross eyed which
spoils her looks somewhat. She
is very social & pleasant but
has'nt at all the polished manners
of Mrs Pres Hayes. We
hear that the Gen is to be
met when he reaches San
Francisco by a delegation of
75,000 man from across the
country. 125 trains. Will
you be one of the excursionists?
Is he going to be our next
President? I wish he were a
temperance man. "Tell it not
in Gath" but Mrs Happer said
that she knew the night of the
reception that he had been drinking
more than he should. I have
not heard any one else speak of
it. I am so sorry. He is undoubtedly
a great man and a man
that men delight to honor, and
worthy of their admiration in
many ways. Well I must
close it has struck eleven.
Ever your loving Hattie.
中国广州，
1879 年 5 月 17 日。
亲爱的爱德华，
我可以告诉你“关于格兰特将军的一切”和我们见到他的事吗？今晚恐怕已经太晚了，
但事实是我们已经看到格兰特将军与他握手，
“看着他的眼睛”，
听到他发表演讲，
并与他坐在同一张桌子上。
我们的中国朋友认为我们的习俗是最奇特的，
我们可以假设看到一个“国王”的脸，
我们的英国朋友在某种程度上也有同样的感受。
但我们是自由出生的美国人，
并且知道所有的男人和女人都是被创造出来的自由和平等。
恐怕我不得不承认，
我们没有被承认为美国公民，
因为领事向格兰特将军保证，
他的欢迎词是由当地所有美国公民签名的，
并且没有附加女性名字。
我想我们都很高兴格兰特将军来了，
也很高兴他走了。
尽管有维多利亚女王的儿子亚历克西斯大公和其他名人，
但香港总督称他是有史以来最杰出的客人来到这里，
真是令人兴奋。
预计格兰特将军将于周一乘坐美国海军的一艘轮船Ashuelot。
她太慢了，
以至于没有像预期的那样在下午 4 点 30 分到达这里，
直到 9 点才到达，
所以原计划的盛大招待会相当失败。
星期三，
所有传教士都被邀请到领事家吃午饭，
但我没有在星期二下午 5 点。
领事馆宣读了他到达当晚应该宣读的欢迎词，
将军回应了我们，
之后我们被介绍给他。
我们刚才拜访了格兰特夫人。
周四前夕，
为外国社区举行了盛大的晚宴，
之后从十点到十二点举行了一般招待会和烟花表演。
亨利先生和我上去是这个城市的唯一代表。
周五早上早点离开。
我们给格兰特夫人寄了一小盒古玩小鞋等，
她对此表示感谢。
格兰特将军就是报纸上对他的描述，
他非常朴素和谦逊。
我想，
从来没有人像他在两年的环球旅行中所受到的那样，
对他倾注了如此多的钦佩，
但他似乎没有被奉承宠坏。
格兰特夫人的个子很大，
而且是斗鸡眼，
这在一定程度上破坏了她的容貌。
她非常善于交际和讨人喜欢，
但一点也不像海斯总统夫人那样优雅。
我们听说，
当将军抵达旧金山时，
来自全国各地的一个由 75，000 人组成的代表团将与他会面。
125列火车。
你会成为远足者中的一员吗？他会成为我们的下一任总统吗？我希望他是一个节制的人。
“不要在加斯告诉它”，
但哈珀夫人说她知道招待会当晚他喝得比他应该喝的多。
我没有听到任何人谈论它。
我很抱歉。
毫无疑问，
他是一个伟大的人，
一个男人乐于尊敬的人，
在很多方面都值得他们钦佩。
好吧，
我必须关闭它已经敲了十一点。
永远是你的爱人，
海蒂。
Original Format
Letter
Collection
Citation
Noyes, Harriet Newell, “Letter from Hattie to Edward, May 17, 1879,” Letters from Harriet Noyes: Missionaries and Women's Education in Nineteenth Century China, accessed April 25, 2024, https://noyesletters.org/items/show/252.