“DEAR MR. FIELD:-I thank you sincerely for the handsome volume, 'Recollections of George W. Childs,' which contains such pleasant reminiscences, some of which are personal to myself. I am sure that I have read all these 'Recollections' in 'Lippincott's' or detached pamphlets, but they have increased value and interest by being assembled in one 12mo volume, with good binding and good print. With failing eyes I notice these things, and, while our newspapers are simply a disgrace in their type, I am glad to observe that our leading book-publishers have made large improvements in their type, approximating the more costly books of England.

I

"Mr. Childs takes such a kindly view of men and things that it is refreshing to read its pages. have partaken of his hospitality in his princely homes at Long Branch, Philadelphia and Wooton, and know of no gentleman at home or abroad who better dispenses the wealth which he has earned by his own hand and brains. Whilst essentially American, he does not limit his expenditure, as most rich men do, to their own locality, but he takes in the whole world, as illustrated by his me

morial fountain to Shakespeare at Stratford-onAvon, and his memorial windows and tablets at Westminster and Winchester, England.

"I am not sure you know him personally; if not, and you want to meet him, I can bring you together at my table some time this spring. With great respect, your friend,

"W. T. SHERMAN."

CHAPTER IV.

HIS LIFE IN NEW-YORK.

GENERAL SHERMAN has been for five years

one of the most familiar figures in New York. He was a devoted theatre-goer, and it did not take long for the amusement-seeking public to learn who he was and to honor him whenever he appeared in the auditorium, whether in a box or in the ordinary orchestra chair. It was the custom of the spectators on such occasions to give evidence of their knowledge of the presence of the General, and it was not an infrequent thing for them to applaud him liberally on his entrance to the theatre.

On one occasion, the representation of “Shenandoah,” at the Twenty-third Street Theatre, the audience became so enthusiastic over the presence

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of General Sherman in a box that it compelled him by its applause to come forward and make a speech from the box-rail. In all these demonstrations there was ever evinced the greatest respect and love. His very appearance riveted the attention of the spectators and his civilian dress could not disguise the bearing of the soldier, while his stern and furrowed face always indicated the warrior.

Another cause of the familiarity of the public with General Sherman's personality was his frequent presence at public dinners. There is no association of any prominence in New York City at some annual banquet of which General Sherman has not been an honored guest, and on a vast majority of these festive occasions he made speeches. At all celebrations, civil and military that the town has known since 1886, General Sherman was conspicuous, and on all such occasions the same spirit of reverence, respect and love was manifested toward him.

Immediately prior to 1886 General Sherman lived in St. Louis. In the latter part of that year he removed to New York and took up his residence

at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. For nearly two years he resided there, and then, in 1888, he removed to his late residence, 75 West Seventy-first Street, where he established a thoroughly comfortable home with his daughters. This house was comparatively new and the General took a lively personal interest in its fittings and furnishings. He had in the basement what he was wont to call his office, and the decorations of this apartment were almost wholly reminiscent of his military career. The walls were adorned with photographs of his comrades and subordinates in the civil war, each of whom he recalled vividly and about whom he was always ready to relate some interesting anecdote. In the centre of the apartment he had his working desk, a plain piece of ordinary office furniture, which was generally littered with letters and telegrams. Close by this, at the side of the room, was another desk at which his private secretary was accustomed to sit and receive daily instructions.

Among the photographs on the walls was a central group of three pictures. The middle one of these was a full-length likeness of Ulysses S.