Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-12-24

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A correspondent Of the New York Evening
Post recently visited the village Of Of Kinder
hook, and gives the following view OF Ex-Pres-
ident Van Buren, and Ills farm:
"About two miles south Of the'village is the
dwelling Of tho Ex-Prssident Van Buren,. II
Is plain, substantial, and commodious house
built in the year 1897, Of tho best materials,
and with more regard "a comfort than show.
by Gen. Van Ness, father Of the present May
OF Of Washington. 1t stands little distance
from the road, ia the midst Of grounds planted
with trees and shrubbeiy. Mr.. Van Buren's
farm consists Of one hundred and thirty-seven
acres, part of which lies in the forest, and some
portion is the rich moist meadow of Kinder
hook river.
Here Mr.. Van Buren, employs himself in the
cultivation Of his newly purchased acres,
which, before he came intd possession Of them
were much neglected. There was garden to
be made, for the fine old garden Of Gen. Van
Ness was gone 10 decay there were fences to
set up and paths 10 be laid out, and decayed
fruit trees to be replaced; there were shade
trees that had grown up in wild luxuriance to
be cleared away, and the meadow lands over
grown with dwarf alder to be reclaimed.
Thus far the state of the farm does credit to
his skiful administration. A large garden
has been laid out, with a greene house, and
long wall for espaliers and the protection OF
fruit trees; copious spring has been made to
supply succession of fish ponds; and the pro-
cess of making into good meadow the moist
lands covered with useless bushes, is going on
with great activity. remember that The Eve
ming Post said something not long since about
Mr.. Van Buren's cabbage, but looked for
them in vain, they were early cabbages, the
earliest and finest in the whole country, but
they went TO the kitchen long ago. saw
great vari,y of young pear trees ordered from
Hamburger eight weeks before, and now IN the
ground healthy and Aourishing; they were OF
those fine kinds lately introduced by the lmpro-
vers of the pear, who are making 1t The mos,
delicious of all table fruits, and table fruit OF
all seasons.
The Ex-President begins the day with
ride of Ten or fifteen miles on horseback after
breakfast he is engaged among his workmen
till he is tried, and he then belakes himself to
his library which he is constantly enlargeing.
In these occupations and in friendly intercourse
with his old friends and neighbors, the farm
ers of Undertook. he passes his time. sup
pose be must like, now and then look
-" Through the loop holes Of retreat,
"To peep at the great Babel Of the acorld.'
and to speculate upon what they are doing at
Washington since he came away; but he is so
absorbed in his agricultural occupations, that
lie appears to have no more time TO think OF pol
i,ics than any other well informed man, not
politician by profession. Twas glad to find him
so free from the pedantry Of party men, aud to
know that his mind could so readily command
resources beyond the occupation IN which SO
large par, Of his life has been engaged
When, however, the conversation is diverted
to political subjects, he expressed himself
with frankness and decision, and with that
penetration into the minds and motives of men,
which is one of the most remarkable of his fac
uI,ies. His style oftonversaton is lively, lido
matte, simple-givi.g you much matter in
few words-very different from that Of most
| men trained in the forum, or in Legislative de-
| bate, who are apt to fall into diiuse, speech
making wearisome manner.