Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-12-07
From the Washington States and Union.
"A VISIT TO "MELROSE," TENNESSEE

Ine home ana GTNt6 ~ dHnJcW VHCAoVe- VVno
of Art,and Cariositics at the Hermitage-Jack-
sons Companionssn Battle Healy's Last Picture
of the Oh Hero-The Room IN 'ehich he Erp'-
red-7he Hermitage 7omb-A HERDS Triumph
We visited, while in Tennessee, the home and
grave of Andrew jackson, and have caught and da-
guerreotyped 1t for the Of our distant readers
We left Melrosc on the morning Of the 9Th of Au-
gust with Miss s., and gentleman friend from
Wisconsin, in that gay mood which makes its own
enjoyment and enjoys everything The road we
travelled was rich in that wealth of foliage and soil
which, in Tennessee, so orci5y strikes the eye Of
stranger We passed deep seas of verdure. acres
upon acres of grass varying from bright glitterng
emerald to the richest and darkest green-parks
whose flowers scented the air with fragrance, and
stately oaks, glorious in their strength of huge
branches and rich foliage On either side of the
road little springs bubbled up in veins of silver from
the ground and sang low sweet songs, while clusters
of purple wild flowers exhibited their delicate sprouts
and light leaves
After drive Of about two hours, a turn in the
road brought to lovely grove, where it was evil
dent nature had been left to her own luxuriance for
every trace of habtaton hidden by broad leaves.
Our carriage wound its way through this lone and
shadowy spot and in u few moments we drew up
before portico fringcd with dropping branches
There was something grand and solemn in this I'M
adorned and unpretending structure, which told us
it was the Hermitage before our eyes lay
the house and garden of Andrew Jackson.
An ancientlooking negro answered the bell, and
we were soon ushered into spacious hall, the walls
of which were papered with an Italian landscape
As the light from the open door fell upon it. it seem
ed almost like reality, actual was the bend OF the
trees and so natural the ivy that half covered the
columns. fair city with sunny spires in the dis
lance; marble fountains, showcring diamond ram;
temples with graceful inches: columns hung with
trellised wreaths; dancing figures scattering How
crs, was the varied scene which it presented. On
little walnut tables in different parts of the hail.
were three busts of men, whose minds have made
them prominent among their kind-Gen Cass,
Americas most vencrated statesman; Judge " ood-
bury appointed Minister to France by the old hero;
and Mr. Livingston, a member of his Cabinet.
There was grandeur in the double parlors into
which we passed from the hall, where we receivcda
cordial welcome from Mrs. Adams, SISTER of Mrs.
Jackson the old hero's adopted daughter. whose alb
sence from home We very much regretted) Mrs.
A. has sweet face, with the traces Of much beauty,
and that most excellent thing in wonan-a low
voice. Her manners are quiet and natural, without
anv apparent Consciousness OF having name or fame
to support. The parlors were perfect cabinets of
treasures, arranged with exquisite taste Besides
ten choice portraits there unique curiositeS,
a catalogue of which would ill page. There were
also gems of another nature-rare books-and an
exquisite little pitcher, made Of the f'mouS elm tree
under which Mr.. Penn made his treaty with the In
dians 1t contains $50 minute slaves hoped with
silver, and presented by the coopers of Philadelphia
to Jackson while President. But the most interest
ing thing IN all the collection was rude hickory
pitcher made of the original tree which was severed
from the parent root by British bullet on Long Is
land during the Revolution. 1t about fifteen
inches in diameter, and the spout and handle was
formed of the natural branches Of the tree. silver
plate attached gave the name of the donor, and its
history. Next in interest to this relic from
Mount Vernon-a large arm chair, covered with hair
CLOTH the seat i,uch dlapi.atcd from constant clip
pings by visitors for memcntOeS. This pres
ent from the Washington family. On an atar-like
stand, between the windows, stood piece of rare
sculpture of the pureSt Paran marble-an exquisite
bust of the old hero by Persico," which possesses
in remarkable degree the expression which earned
for the original the soubrquet of "Old Hickory
The shape Of the head and the outline of the face had
a power and decision which seemed to penetrate in
to you. 1t expressed all that his life has proved
True to his princples-truc to his party-:rue to
his country-sll truer 10 himself
In the back parlOr hung fine likeness Of Gen.
Coffee, of Louisiana, favorite officer who diSn-
guished himself at the battle of New Orleans; his
countenance strongly marked and darkened by cx-
posture to a deep bronze hue. He looked the very
incarnation Of military glory, as if he might have
followed in the triumph of Roman emperor. On
Itc wall WAS dlOtucT, Vi LIT. rTendn Vi
gina, surgeon in the same battle. This had state
ly courtesy of bearing and air of chivalrc grace
that might suit the hero Of tournament. In the
same room was fine Vandyke head of Capt Easter,
of Virginia. one of Jackson's staff-the figure tall
and noble, and the face remarkably handsome.
Over the entrance door hung one of IIealys i'm
mortal pictures, likeness of jackson, finished the
week before his death. The skin with an unnatural
blue tngc-the features thin to emacation-the
mouth wan and fallen the cheek white and rnkcn-
t,c tenplespale and CHASTITY told that the span was
almost measured. the dark valley close before And
yet from those white hairs and age-dmmed eyes
break forth ray of glory which speaks oil peace and
safe anchorage after the weary storms of life as if
they already felt the entodng clasp of wings invsi-
BILE, and the thousand silver chords which had kept
the heavenly prisoner long in it's e:rthworn cell
were about to snap asunder. As We gazed. that pic
ture seemed TRANSPORTED to celestial brightness the
golden light gushcd forth, bathing that sanity face
with halo of glory, if the soul were half way ON
its journey to another world.
| 1t is a painting over which eyes will gliSten and
hearts beat when the hand that created it is moui
derng in the grave If the sight of it brings sor
row, it is softenng and refined or if it recalls mel
ancholy past, it is exalted and redeemed
On the opposite side of the room was another
portrait taken in the prime of life and in the zenith
of his military glory. The noble head is covered
with plumed "chapeau'-the sword mounted
with gold-the dark blue coat laced with crimson,
and the ganntletted hand raised with a gesture Of
! proud command The one picture recalls the clash
ing Of bayonets- of MISUNDERSTANDING ban
nerS-soundlng trumpets-the march, the dust the
glory of battle. The other recalls his after life,
when he meekly gathered up the laurels of life.
time and laid them at the foot of the Cross lie
made public profession of religion in the year 1887
and united himself with the Rev. DR.. Edgars'
church in Nashville. The one was proud severe
the expression of the head-the other tender, holy,
the expression of the heart Suspended on either
side Of Hcays picture were ikcnesses of his adopted
son and daughter, the latter with delicate oval
face, abundant beautiful hair, and mild Madonna
expression.
After surveying all that was Of interest in the
drawing-rooms we followed amiable hostess
across the hail. and in another moment stood within
the chamber which had received the old hero's last
breath. 1t was small antique looking room, such
as are found in many old mansions; the light care