An attempt to remove Grant’s body to Washington was made in Congress but overwhelmingly defeated.  The speech by Congressman Amos Cummings in the House of Representatives, was a happy condensation of the facts.  He fittingly said:  “New York was General Grant’s chosen home.  He tried many other places but finally settled there.  A house was given to him here in Washington, but he abandoned it in the most marked manner to buy one for himself in New York.  He was a familiar form upon her streets.  He presided at her public meetings and at all times took an active interest in her local affairs.  He was perfectly at home there and was charmed with its associations.  It was the spot on earth chosen by himself as the most agreeable to him; he meant to live and die there.  It was his home when he died.  He closed his career without ever once expressing a wish to leave it, but always to remain in it.

“Men are usually buried at their homes.  Washington was buried there; Lincoln was buried there; Garibaldi was buried there; Gambetta was buried there, and Ericsson was buried, not at the Capital of Sweden, but at his own home.  Those who say that New York is backward in giving for any commendable thing either do not know her or they belie her.  Wherever in the civilized world there has been disaster by fire or flood, or from earthquake or pestilence, she has been among the foremost in the field of givers and has remained there when others have departed.  It is a shame to speak of her as parsimonious or as failing in any benevolent duty.  Those who charge her with being dilatory should remember that haste is not always speed.  It took more than a quarter of a century to erect Bunker Hill Monument; the ladies of Boston completed it.  It took nearly half a century to erect a monument to George Washington in the City founded by him, named for him, and by his act made the Capital of the Nation; the Government completed it.  New York has already shown that she will do far better than this.”

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  His glory as the centuries wide,
    His honor bright as sunlit seas,
  His lullaby the Hudson tide,
    His requiem the whispering breeze.

  Wallace Bruce.

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=The Thirteen Elm Trees=, about ten or fifteen minutes’ walk from General Grant’s Tomb, were planted by Alexander Hamilton in his door-yard, a century ago, to commemorate the thirteen original States.  This property was purchased by the late Hon. Orlando Potter, of New York, with the following touch of patriotic sentiment:  “These famous trees are located in the northeast corner of One Hundred and Forty-third street and Convent Avenue; or, on lots fourteen and fifteen,” said the auctioneer to the crowd that gathered at the sale.  “In order that the old property with the trees may be kept unbroken, should the purchaser desire, we will sell lots 8 to 21 inclusive in one batch!  How much am I offered?” “One hundred thousand dollars,” quietly