The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-01-08
Anecdotes of Presidents.

. A correspondent of the Cinc;nna
COmerci1 gives that paper some il
teresting anecdotes Of the two Ma
> sachusetts Presidents. We read:
There is still living in Quincy a
, old gentleman by the name of Til
rell, who has worked for four gene
rations of Adamses. As a boy b
!, helped his father, who worked in til
, family OF Mr.. John Adams, and al
terward he was constantly emplOye,
there, in fact brought up in th
house. He has a perfect recollection
! OF both the Presidents, and delight
, to talk OF them. Naturally enough
his admiration for the family, and al
+ belonging TO them, is unbounded.- -
lie devoted an afternoon to me il
showing me various objects of inter
est and relating incidents showing
tue characteristics OF his early mas
ters AS domestic men.
When at home Mr.. John Adams
was the very model of hospitality
his house was always full of compa
ny, and they were elegantly enter
tanned. The minister, whether set
tied there or stranger, always dinet
there on Sunday No one was evel
known to be sent away from thei
door uncared for. Rich and poOl
alike were welcome, and those of tn.
latter class who did not take pains oil
were unable to come, were tenderly
cared for at the expense of young
Charles TirrelPs legs.
There was an old black woman
named Phoebe, who was a nurse for
Mrs. Adams when the latter was
young, but who became poor and
needy. Mrs. Adams provided her
with everything she wanted, visited
her and watched with her when sick,
and sincerely mOurned her when, in
1910, at the age of 90, she died. :
Mrs. Adams, who is known to the
biographers as very intelligent and
capable woman, and an ornament OF
the Executive Mansion, was also, ac-
cording to the estimate of this OBJ
serving gentleman, Mr.. Tirrell, one
of the most remarkable of the domes-
tic geniuses. She knew accurately
the value of a sirloin or load OF
hay, and was equally difficult TO
impose upon in the purchase of the
one or the other. She was master
of the house, and by her quiet yet
firm way ruled the household, a task
which did not come within the scope
OF her husbands powers. He was
quick and sometimes irascible. He
paid no attention, generally, To any
part of the providing department,
and when he did was pretty sure TO
hlundcr She, on the contrary, was
thoroughly familiar with all the de-
tails, and could not be cheated by
sharp tradesmen or idle servants.
Mrs. Adams would sometimes ga
to the door and call Tor Charles,
Mr.. Tirrell, who might he working
in the field under MIR Adams super
vision. The latter would look up and
reply quickly, .'IIe cant come. He's
busy Mrs. Adams would make no
reply. In few minutes Mr.. Adams
was sure To say, CHARLES, guess
y ou hal better go and see what the
old lady wants"
1t does not need two elances at
John Adams portrait to see that he
was a very dressy man-one whom
it would bc surprise to find without
a carefully prepared and elegant
toilet. lie was also great horse
man, and would ride for hours to-
gether without becoming fatIgned
This was his custom at a very late
period Of his life. He was remarka-
bic as all early riser, as great
smoker, and as great lover of ci
der. 1t was common with him TO
rise at three or four o'clock in the
morning, and read, smoke, and drink
cider for one or two hours before the
rest of the family were stirring.
When he went out to dine he al
ways had his hair deliberately curled,
and was never at ease unless he had
his own pewter plate to eat from. 1t
Taffefr artfefaer With %lf hfhfAtp4 hfp ta take tbs
went.
There must have been something
in his manner that impressed those
Who came in contact with him with q
sense of his greatness. The men on
his farm who knew him only as a
private citizen, and who were aceus-
toned to see him give way even
more than ordinary persons to sud
den and almost upreasoning fits of
passion, still felt that he was a great
man, and paid their respects to him
as superior being.
There was something touching in
the relations between himself and
children. 1t is said that he never
passed group of children without
removing his hat and howing. Once,
late in life, he was riding horseback
past a school house IN Braintree,
while the scholars were at recess
They saw him coming and ranged
themselves on each side of the road,
and as the ex-President passed, the
boys removed their hats, the girls
curlisied, and all then cheered him,
the courteous old gentleman riding
between the ranks uncovered, as il
receiving the applause OF an admiring
multitude. --
Hisimmobility and nervous strength
was another peculiarity. Tie has
been known to stand, leaning upon
his cane, for hours together, watching
his men while they were laying a
stone wall, for instance, as motion
less as statue, or as scare-crOw In
a eorntield: This peculiarity was
noticeable in his latest years, when
he had long passed the age usually
allotted to man.
John Quincy Adams can hardly he
said to have had any home life in
Massachusetts Though horn in
Braintree, now Quincy. he WAS much
with his parents, and his father, soon
after his birth, became very mnch
engaged in public affairs. He made
his second voyage'to Europe when
only thirteen, and as early as in his
fifteenth year he became private sec
Iretary to Francis Dana, just appoint
ed Minister TO St. Petersburg. This
was the beginning OF an official Ca
reer that was intermitted for short
periods only until his death, at the
tagc Of eighty one years. lis hlsto
iry as a public officer is so remarka-
BILE that it deserves to be briefly re-
capitulated.