Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-09-17

CHARGED
ANrcpory OF PRESIDENT ADAMS-A cor
respondent OF the New York Sun furnishes the
following anecdotes of one of the early Presl-
dents. as related to him by an old citizen OF
WaShineton
John Quincy Adams was in the habit OF
treastiug the bilow when he was PreSldent. -
Instead OF going to fashionable resort, he
might be noticed very early in the morning
swimming in the Potomac amid school OF
boys and youths, who took their morning bath
earlier than was their wont, that they might
swim with the President OF the United States,
ID was with them as with John Quincy an
cestor, sink or swim, survive or perish; they
we're bound to be atioat at that particular time.
Adams generally selected place near the Long
Bridge mot Long Branch The boys annoyed
the long boatmen very much, sezing the steer
ing oar, &c, as the latter would be rowing and
polling their wood and coal boats up the river,
and they frequently had to dodge biletS OF
wood, which the vexed river men would hurl
st them. Adams bald pate, meantime, would
30 bo6blDg up aud down in close proximity to
these scenes, and on one occasion ooatman
SHE'D missile at him with an accompanying
admonition to the old bald head to get away
IRON there
MI Adams had sort Of weakness for the
water. Oo another occasion, 10 company With
his valet, Ia Swiss, who had been in Europe
with him he attempted TO cross the Potomac
in a small skiff to Mason's Island, and when
about in the middle of the stream their craft
began TO leak rapidly. Both were good SWIM
mers, and they stripped of nearly al their gar
ments, and tied them IN buodles to be ready
Tor the threatened emergency. Ii soon came.
The skiif wen. under, and its late occupants,
each With his bundle, spaniel like, between his
;eeth, swan with the force of Leandcrs toward
me nearest shore But the swittuesS OF the
current compelled them TO drop their packages,
and they reached the muddy shore OF the island
with but u shirt and pair OF drawers between
them. ,,
Adams stripped his remaining garment 10 add
~ tho wardrobe of his valet, who thus coolly
ACQUIRED for summer day, approaching tne
nearest kabitatiou, borrowed clothing tol HIM
self, and proceeded round by distant orlugc
10 the city Having procured suitable ATTIRE
for the President and himself, he took carr,
age and drove back, to where the future odd
man eoouent' had been stark-n naked Tor some
three hours in Potomac mud and water. AT
that time the newspapers could not we'll re-
mort whether all was quiet or notice tins nipple
on the Potomac, and men then had not such
prurieucy for notOriety, even when the Joke
was favorable. This event was OF course nm
heralded.
The first thing President Adams did On his
return To Washington was to purchase valu-
able gold watch for his valet to supply the
psce Of one which that faithful atten1ant lost
in the adventure.
IudicIous as it must strike one to reallZe the
head of great nation 10 such a predicameDt
and it is in strong contrast iOr Repuohcan
simplicity to the habits OF later PresldentS) 1t
\ a oIfornor1l nc
memory recalled it 10 him, afford that eminent
" wise, pure and scholarly Chiet Magistrate
more pleasure than the routine oil dinners, ra-
ces, dances, and cigars has vouchsated the
present when shall We Say?) occupant OF the
White House.
KEEPING SWEET POTATOES. q recent
meeting OF the New York Farmers CLUB a
basket OF sweet potatoes was shown IN per
iect state of preservation, which were grown
in lSG7. The owner said the potatoes were
dug in October. dried iu the sun during the
day and then taken to the cellar IN oarre's'-
"iIcre the barrels are placed In proximity "
the heater, where there IS temperature
through fall and winter, OF ABOUT ~ OF ~ ue-
srees, but no fire is kept up during the sum
mer season.
lrrNs.-The Gar has published ukaSe
abohshing the hereditary character oil tue
Russian priesthood, which is now caste com
prisiug 10000 families. The right to OBTAIN
ordination is now extended to all, l,whlle priest
son can betake himself to ordinary life.
Lord Elcho proposes the arrangement OF an
international shooting match between kngIlsh
and American marksmen. This gentleman
has, during number of years past, taken
very prominent lead in the management and
conduct OF outdoor national sports in Great
Britain.
Nj. Revolt, an architect well known in France,
in the course of his attempts 10 arrive at ex
actness in the drawings OF distant objects, by
the aid at one time Of the camera lucida, and
Ar another OF the ordinary telescope, has iu.
vented an apparatus combining the principles
Of the two instruments. This instrument he
calls the Teeiconogrsphe.
The anvil chorus is to be sung at the Syden-
ham Crystsl Palace by eight thousand voices,
with accomplishments OF anyils, cannon and
bels. The idea is sneered at by the London
musical journals ,r
An exchange says the whole season OF opera
lust closed iu London may be summed up 10
Two words-Nilsseu and Patti. Everything anc
everybody have been subservent TO them