Thursday
Sep092010
Bravos Today, Boos Tomorrow
Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:09PM
Ulysses S. Grant showed his strengths and his weaknesses. To me, he lived a life well spent. He failed at most occupations he tried except one, General in charge of the Union Army in America's Civil War. He accepted Lee’s surrender with, “Let us have peace.” Those words, above the entrance to Grant's Tomb, were what I was standing under with freshmen from Stevens Institute of Technology. I wanted them to know his story.
The day of Grant’s funeral, August 8, 1885, more than one million people lined the streets, from City Hall to Riverside Park. Even citizens from the South came to pay tribute. Yet, he was known for his drinking. He had two scandal-ridden presidential terms. He made bad investments. He lost all his money. He even had to sell his Civil War memorabilia to settle a debt.
On his world tour, 1877 -1879, crowds came to see "The Savior of the Union." He was entertained by Kings, Queens, a Kaiser and an Emperor. Years before, in 1866, Congress honored him, making him the first ever, “General of the Army of the United States,” or today’s equivalent of having four stars.
Towards the end of his life, he was impoverished, dying from throat cancer. His friend, and eventual editor and publisher, Mark Twain, encouraged him to write his memoirs, so his family could have money. He completed them and died five days later, having once remarked, “The fact is, I think I am a verb instead of a personal pronoun. A verb is anything that signifies to be; to do; to suffer. I am all three.”
When Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant was published in 1886, it was compared to Caesar’s Commentaries. Three hundred thousand copies were sold. He, thus, left his wife and children $450,000. The Park Ranger imparted these facts as I gave out pamphlets saying, “Take one. Maybe some day, he'll interest you."
Grant’s Tomb was finished in 1897. Thousands came to its opening; thousands made daily pilgrimages, until World War 1, when his flaws were discussed more than his virtues. When the Tomb's roof began leaking, his descendants threatened to move the bodies of Ulysses and his wife Julia, unless repairs were made; they were, in 1997; yet, recently a Congressman suggested Grant’s image be removed from the fifty dollar bill, and be replaced with Ronald Reagan's.
Afterwards, all groups had lunch at Carmine’s, on Broadway at 91st Street. A student approached me with, “I do not eat greens, or tomatoes. I do not eat pasta. I do not like meat sauce. I do not care for Italian bread. Coke does not agree with me." I said, “How about a vegetable plate?” He said, “I do not eat vegetables.” I said, “Then it's butter and water for you." I made no inquires if he ate dessert, which was chocolate cake.
While raining, we ambled through Central Park, entering at West 72nd Street, or “Strawberry Fields” named for a Beatle song. Several sang a verse as I showed them where John Lennon lived, across the street at the Dakota, the same place where he was killed. His widow, Yoko Ono, still resides there. At one time, she owned all apartments on the seventh floor, illustrating money may buy privacy, but peace of mind can't be purchased.
The park, was manmade. The designers obeyed the laws of nature, which are not geometric. Every path and road curved. Every hill and vista was designed, including the six bodies of water. The protruding bedrock was all that was original, left by the receding Wisconsin Glacier, which also gouged out the harbor.
At a water trough built in the 19th century, I said, "Imagine a team of four matched horses drinking here. They were pulling a light weight road coach, or a drag. It had seats on top. Whenever the owner felt like it, he loosened the reins and let his horses race around the park; hence the term 'drag racing.' ”
At the Museum of Modern Art, crowds were everywhere, to see the Matisse show and because it was August, the month many Europeans went on holiday. When I said, "Explore this place, and be back in one hour and fifteen minutes" twenty students bolted for the exit. I grabbed them with, “Don't you want to see a Kandinksy, a Braque, a Picasso, a Cezanne?”
Then I went downtown, though today's itinerary read "uptown only." I wanted a site that had universal interest; that was Ground Zero. Though most of them were about nine years old that day, there was one common denominator amongst us all; that was fear. Perhaps they could recall that?
We gazed at the two buildings rising, the two memorial parks settling into what were the footprints of the two towers. All surrounding buildings, bearing witness, and once chipped, cracked and crumbling, had been repaired.
Are we, begs the question.
Everyone met for a dinner of hamburgers, and we walked to Rockefeller Center for a view of the city from its observation deck.“Meet me in the middle of West 50th Street in forty minutes” I instructed as I got on the elevator to go down. I forgot they were to exit through the gift shop, in the lower level, which was not the way we entered. When the appointed time came, eleven students were missing. When they eventually appeared, the coach returned to New Jersey and I walked to the subway.
I was not noticed. I was not followed. I was not Ulysses S. Grant. Only the obscure escape public kudos and public criticism.
(If you enjoyed this entry, please pass the link to someone of like-mind. I welcome all new subscribers.)
The day of Grant’s funeral, August 8, 1885, more than one million people lined the streets, from City Hall to Riverside Park. Even citizens from the South came to pay tribute. Yet, he was known for his drinking. He had two scandal-ridden presidential terms. He made bad investments. He lost all his money. He even had to sell his Civil War memorabilia to settle a debt.
On his world tour, 1877 -1879, crowds came to see "The Savior of the Union." He was entertained by Kings, Queens, a Kaiser and an Emperor. Years before, in 1866, Congress honored him, making him the first ever, “General of the Army of the United States,” or today’s equivalent of having four stars.
Towards the end of his life, he was impoverished, dying from throat cancer. His friend, and eventual editor and publisher, Mark Twain, encouraged him to write his memoirs, so his family could have money. He completed them and died five days later, having once remarked, “The fact is, I think I am a verb instead of a personal pronoun. A verb is anything that signifies to be; to do; to suffer. I am all three.”
When Personal Memoirs of U.S. Grant was published in 1886, it was compared to Caesar’s Commentaries. Three hundred thousand copies were sold. He, thus, left his wife and children $450,000. The Park Ranger imparted these facts as I gave out pamphlets saying, “Take one. Maybe some day, he'll interest you."
Grant’s Tomb was finished in 1897. Thousands came to its opening; thousands made daily pilgrimages, until World War 1, when his flaws were discussed more than his virtues. When the Tomb's roof began leaking, his descendants threatened to move the bodies of Ulysses and his wife Julia, unless repairs were made; they were, in 1997; yet, recently a Congressman suggested Grant’s image be removed from the fifty dollar bill, and be replaced with Ronald Reagan's.
Afterwards, all groups had lunch at Carmine’s, on Broadway at 91st Street. A student approached me with, “I do not eat greens, or tomatoes. I do not eat pasta. I do not like meat sauce. I do not care for Italian bread. Coke does not agree with me." I said, “How about a vegetable plate?” He said, “I do not eat vegetables.” I said, “Then it's butter and water for you." I made no inquires if he ate dessert, which was chocolate cake.
While raining, we ambled through Central Park, entering at West 72nd Street, or “Strawberry Fields” named for a Beatle song. Several sang a verse as I showed them where John Lennon lived, across the street at the Dakota, the same place where he was killed. His widow, Yoko Ono, still resides there. At one time, she owned all apartments on the seventh floor, illustrating money may buy privacy, but peace of mind can't be purchased.
The park, was manmade. The designers obeyed the laws of nature, which are not geometric. Every path and road curved. Every hill and vista was designed, including the six bodies of water. The protruding bedrock was all that was original, left by the receding Wisconsin Glacier, which also gouged out the harbor.
At a water trough built in the 19th century, I said, "Imagine a team of four matched horses drinking here. They were pulling a light weight road coach, or a drag. It had seats on top. Whenever the owner felt like it, he loosened the reins and let his horses race around the park; hence the term 'drag racing.' ”
At the Museum of Modern Art, crowds were everywhere, to see the Matisse show and because it was August, the month many Europeans went on holiday. When I said, "Explore this place, and be back in one hour and fifteen minutes" twenty students bolted for the exit. I grabbed them with, “Don't you want to see a Kandinksy, a Braque, a Picasso, a Cezanne?”
Then I went downtown, though today's itinerary read "uptown only." I wanted a site that had universal interest; that was Ground Zero. Though most of them were about nine years old that day, there was one common denominator amongst us all; that was fear. Perhaps they could recall that?
We gazed at the two buildings rising, the two memorial parks settling into what were the footprints of the two towers. All surrounding buildings, bearing witness, and once chipped, cracked and crumbling, had been repaired.
Are we, begs the question.
Everyone met for a dinner of hamburgers, and we walked to Rockefeller Center for a view of the city from its observation deck.“Meet me in the middle of West 50th Street in forty minutes” I instructed as I got on the elevator to go down. I forgot they were to exit through the gift shop, in the lower level, which was not the way we entered. When the appointed time came, eleven students were missing. When they eventually appeared, the coach returned to New Jersey and I walked to the subway.
I was not noticed. I was not followed. I was not Ulysses S. Grant. Only the obscure escape public kudos and public criticism.
(If you enjoyed this entry, please pass the link to someone of like-mind. I welcome all new subscribers.)
Reader Comments (9)
You were lucky to walk to the subway and not be noticed.... It would be interesting to get into their lives and know what was important to each one. I used to have a saying in the hall at class change... "You can lead a horse to water; but you can't make him drink? You can lead a student to education; but you can't make him think?" You never know who you touched.
We are each our own teachers, and we make our own happiness. Have you ever walked in front of that same museum and enjoyed it just for the sake of enjoying what you know about it? Or alone, have you stood at the top of the Rock just looking down at the roof of St. Patricks to see the insignificance of the street level; but the overwhelming beauty of "How'd they pile those pieces so high and so beautifully?" One of my favorite photos was over the wall and straight down at the spires.
You only think you are unnoticed..
Trust me on this one, Janie - you are always noticed. What a beautiful piece of writing and commentary on history, behaviour and interaction. While some students may have missed out on some extraordinary learning, some did not and I know how well you connect to the ones who "did not"...they are still talking about you and the tour.
The kid who doesn't eat food, however, will struggle through life and all connections to Grant, history and even the Beatles will leave him untouched. His issues are bigger than a bread box!!!
Your memoirs will sell more than Grant's.
Your old friend, Anita
Hi Jane...You ae assuradely (where is Spellcheck when I need her??) fixed in the memories of all that have met you...only if you publish while still living will you know that!!!
PS...Ruth, where are you???
Hi Jane,
I very much like your response to the teen that wouldn't eat anything in Carmine's. This story and the last one remind me so much of what we did when I brought my students to you for your care, wit, and knowledge.
I love these short stories. I see a book in your future!!!!
Barbara
Yes, Magnificent One, you are all of above ! The Best Tour Guide and Most Exciting Person in New York City !
Hello Jane,
Ulysses Grant's memoirs have a unique position in publishing history - they've never been out of print. I have some fun with hard core trivia buffs as far as Grant is concerned. He is one of 4 Presidents of the US who never used their given first names throughout their professional careers - Hiram Ulysses Grant, Stephen Grover Cleveland, Thomas Woodrow Wilson and John Calvin Coolidge. Getting back to Grant and Lincoln - when Lincoln chose Grant to be Supreme Commander some apparently jealous general told Lincoln about Grant's drinking-Lincoln's response: "Find out what he drinks and send a case of it to all of my other Generals" Cheers, Lee
Thanks for the lesson on U.S. Grant. I get so much email I'd rather not have to deal with. I'm always glad to see one of your stories come up because I know I'm in for a few moments of education and pleasure!
Thanks again Jane for sharing your experiences and knowledge. I always enjoy getting your email and look forward to the next one. Keep on writing.
another good mixture of touring, history & humor. i think i'll cry if grant's image is taken off the $50. loved the origin of drag racing. if only we had a real time machine...........to go back & see such things.