Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1872-01-19
THE CUSTOMS OF OUR FORMER PRESIDENTS

The progress made in the rapidity, COM
fort and cost of travelling in this country is
we'll illustrated in comparing some of
the tours made by our early Presidents
with those made in these days by our chief
rulers. Col. Forney, in his anecdotes of
public men, gives some interesting facts
connected with Westinghouse through
the South in 1871. He left Philadelphia,
then the seat of Government, in March of
that year, in large coach drawn by six
horses, carefully selected by Washington
himself for their style and endurance. AS
it was said of him that mo man in the
army had a better eye for horses" his Sc
lection proved superior. His tour extend
ed through Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,
Georgia and the Carolinas. He was trans
ported OH water, wherever that kind of
conveyance was necessary, in barges rowed
by naval officers. This tour lasted three
months, and extended over eighteen hum
dred miles. 1t was regarded as great
feat at that day, and accounts of it were
published abroad.
If Washington lived to-day he could in
less time than one month make a journey
to the Pacific, a distance of seven thou
sand miles, and travel through dozen
States in silver palace eating and sleeping
cars. Washington was as fond of travel
ing as President Grant. He took his sum-
mer vacations and trips with as much
pleasure as our present much abused
President. The example of Washington
was followed without censure or exception
by all his successors, save Mr.. Lincoln,
who was constantly at work in the midst
of a great war. Washington was more
particular as to his personal attire and ap-
pearance in public than either Mr.. Lincoln
or General Grant. He had three fine car
riages for his use F: large family coach, a
light carriage and chariot, all light-cream
colored, painted with three enamelled
figures on each panel, and very handsome.
He went in the coach to church every
Sunday morning, with two horses; used
the carriage aud four for his rides into the
country and to LansdOwne, The Hills
and other places. When he visited the
Senate he had the chariot, with six horses.
All his servants were white, and wore liv-
cries of white cloth, trimmed with scarlet
or orange.
His habit, when the day was fine, was
to take walk, attended by his two secre-
taries, Mr.. Lear and Major William Jack
son, one on each side. He always crossed
directly from his own door, on Market
street, near Fifth, to the sunny side, and
walked down towards the river. He was
dressed in black, and all three wore cooked
mats.
On state occasions, as was the custom in
those days, he appeared in full dress. His
appearance on the occasion of his opening
Congress in person in 1794-5, is given as
follows:
The carriage of the President was
drawn by four beautiful bay horses. 1t
was white, with medallion ornaments on
the panels, the liveries of the servants
white turned up with red. His costume
was full suit of black velvet; his hair,
blanched by time, powdered to snowy
whiteness, a dress sword hanging by his
side, and his hat in his hand. ~ ts
THE Washington correspondent of the
New York Herald says Of the Russian
trouble:
One thing is very certain, that come
what will of our relations with Russia, the
President will sustain his Secretary and
accept the fullest consequences, even tc
the point of instantly recalling Governor
Curtin and suspending all relations with
Russia, should Gortschakoff attempt to
put any indignity upon Mr.. Fish.