Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-03-27
Personal SKETCHES In WASH
..,t.. INGT0N.
The President and Wee President
SenntOrs, ete.-Thefr Habits and
~ 3tleaculfnT1tfes ftHhtHAhWff " ttN

number Of thatiliyely magazine:
THE PRESIDENT.
Everybody knows that he Is asmoker,
and n tremendous one, too. He told me
that while he was 10 the field he smoked
literally all the time, but that in civil
! life confined 20 the house as he is many
hours in the day, he has been obliged to
reduce the Number Of cigars he allows
himself. Especially in walking does he
smoke. He takes his solitary walks
regularly every day, and graduates the
length Of the walk to the length of the
cigar. When John Quincy Adams was
Secretary of State and President, he set
an example of care for rshealth with refe-
renee to bathing. Every morning early,
during the summer months, he took his
plunge into the Potomac. In that form
of hydropathic zeal, the present occu-
pant Of the White House certainly does
not initiate Mr.. Adams. The Executive
| Mansion enables him to. take his ablu-
tions in q more private and agreeable
manner than by swim in the great
river.
But President Grant has another
habit, which is very wholesome both for
body and mind--he. believes in the sani-
tary value Of an occasional journey, a
trip to the seaside, run, across the
continent. And he is right No matter
if partisan newspapers do ridieule him
for it, tits the proper thing for him to
do. 1t brings him into contact with
the minds Of the people. ltsaves him
from the illusions which an incessant
stay in Washington is sure to breed.
Above all, it gives to body and mind the
relaxation which both need from the
torturing strain of executive duties.
1t is hard to find fault, even in the
mildest fashion, with man like az
e she5s ',s' Mr.. ooLFAx. f
His sudden and alarming illness last
year led to.a pretty. wide discussion of
his health habits. Some very ridiculous
and false things were published on the
subject. 5DN sH9MilSfial
Mr.. Colfax has always been a very
healthy man. he believes in health
He has tried to take care of his health
he is Jolly and an eloquent advocate
of the sanitary value of constant cheer
fulness, of resistance to bother and
worry, of the avoidance Of personal
quarrels, of moderation in ambition, of
living at peace with God and man.
Moreover he takes all the exercise he
can get in rapid walking about Wash
ington; he is very temperate in eating;
and all his life he has wholly abstained
from Intoxicating drinks.
.Ata great dinner party here few
years ago, where were illustrious Amer
| lean and foreign statesmen, he declined
taking wine. A noted Senator himself
little heated, exclaimed across the la
BILE, half jestingly, "Collax dareS not
drink Y''uafnF smafnal
"You are right," said Mr.. Colfax, Sc
riously, II dare mott" That simple an
swer, given with gentle and earnest so
lemnity, was itself an impressive tenn
peranee lecture. g
',a CHARLES SUMNER
is prodigy Of physical endurance. ]
have it from his own lips that for many
years, indeed for nearly his whole life,
he has worked fourteen hours a day.
He has never been smoker He lives
" generously" and, in very temperate
IdbulOu, 10 Wluc uIiuhCis IL hio
younger days he was famous pedes-
trian, striking off for his dozen miles
without the least difficulty. He has
given all that up. He literally takes no
exercise Living so heartily, working
so laboriously, shut up to his pen and
his books for so many hours, it is aston
ishing that he keeps so well But he is
n man who will 20 suddenly when he
does go.
SENATOR sCHURz
is another interesting figure in the
Senate. What are his health habits2 A
glance shows you noble physical en-
dowment. He has muscular, active,
vital frame; all his movement are quick
and vigorous; and, with proper care, he
ought to have length of days and great
honor. AS to drinking and smoking, he
| is a thorough German-if we may still
saw that Germany has any monopoly of
those graees. mean, especially, that
! he has a Germans faith in beer, and a
G1erm.u's ability to fash intellectual
I;gbt % from the midst Of dense clouds
of tobacco smoke. His greatest peril
lies in excess of work. Such brain as
his cannot lie idle; nay, it is despotic
member, dominating the whole man,
and trampling on the gospel of rest and
sleep. Senator Schurz works very late
at night-even till one and two O'Clock
For exercise, he has a fine plan. de
has taken house about two miles iron
the Capitol, and resolutely walks the
whole distance, both going and coming.
MR.. BOUTWELL,
is a man of medium size, of wiry frame,
selfpossessed and temperate IN all
things. He takes good care OF himself
especially depending on billiards TOR
exercise. For that game he has pas
sion, and amid the click Of ivory balls
he eases his mind of the cares OF State.