The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-09

son he amt known so well But the old man is
trump you bet Though as said before, he don't ap-
preciae himself That's just IT, He don't take tum-
bic 10 himself as you say in New York.
Dye suppose that il was son OF the great Alexander
Hamilton I'd keep an auction shopY No, sreei ia Keep
thoroughbreds and raise shine
But perhaps Mr. Morris, he is happy as ne IS "
. THAT may be ]" exclaimed the ambitious little man
but great name ought to be kept up even II you had
10 run circus 10 do it,
BY this time the hour was up for the auction TO be-
GIN So leaving the auctioneer and following MS direc-
ons the reporter proceeded along Washington street
70 the corner Of Mansion. On the way, in order TO
make sure OF the address, he stopped 10 ask gentle
man sitting doorstep and tanning himself 'Where
does Mr. Philip Hamilton ve?"
Iheres no such person, was the quick and de-
who lived around
81 mean" was tho astonished retort 'tho son of
the great Alexander Hamilton"
ION, yes, now | understand; you mean the old
man /"
"And is that his nameP"
''Thats his name.
FACE TO PACE
So tho reporter went his way soon stood in front
OF low white paling extending a few hundred feet on
TWO streets ana enclosing so dense of foliage
lhat IL was Impossible az hrst glance to observe
down the road, with weghty but firm tread a tall
portly man, with white hair and side whiszers and
He looked like retired admiral an old commandant
Of navy yard. His suit of blue just sufficiently
suggestive of the marine service while the conscious
command and 10 have his own way made tho delusion
all the greater of his being some old superannuated OIL
wicket and proceeded up the avenue leading TO the
house tpointcd out as that of Mr. Philip Ham
iton) there little doubt remaining in the
reporters mind that this was the man he
sought, and so he elected to follow When,
the wicket dog hard by growed in irritation and tho
big man in the blue suit turned round greet the in
truder well preserved, hale hearty and good look
ing IN fact handsome man, is cXJudge Philip Hamil-
ton youngest son of the first United States Secretary Of
the Treasury Standing five feet ten inches, erect
palm tree full in the face and little wrnkled with
u "A q
seemed as IL he had many years of health and vgor
to exhaust before succumbing to the inevitable destroyer
Nor ala he seem to be devoid of lively spirits though
cool and reserved with strangers all the Hamitons
are for the reporter noticed that the old gentleman
was beginning banter with of his hired help Just
as he entered The house had pretensions to show
modest white frame building removed from the road
anu ilu III ey irees ana shruDDery u seemed snug
ana suitable residence for an old couple descending into
the valley of the shadow Vines railed and under
the piazza; heavy hedgerow stood beside the avenue
leading to the rear part of the house. All about
cool and green and inviting to rest
HIS CHARACTERISTICS.
Tho conversation not of long Duration but vet
long enough to show that the exJudge has lost any
Of his mental vigor and keen observation. He flat
tered with the kindly notices published in the New
York papers concerning his deceased brother 1t
possible to detect slight resemblance to Secretary
Fish In the manner voice and features of Mr. Hamilton,
though the latter looks really ten years younger than
the distinguished head of the State Department.
Fish is of the old knickerbockcr type
full featured good naturcd, mellow -voced--a not
likely to Brighten children from their playthngs Judge
Hamilton lived among the Knckcrbockers many
years that his features would seem to have assmated
to the ancient type Among his friends and neighbors
tho Judge Is represented a OF merry mood,
trimming over with anecdotes of the olden days. when
the earth to him fresh and golden. The new
has no such charm for him as the old He
loves old houses old trees old books,
old wine and old friends His wife is still living He
had two sons of whom killed in the last
in the performance of gallant action. The other
practises medicine in this city or course Mr. Hamil-
rapport with the events of the day and the muta-
tons in politics and the progress OF the country He
goes regularly for his mail TO the Post Office where he
is always welcome visitor to those who know him.
otis very delightful TO hear him talk about former
times, said citizen of Poughkeepsie to the reporter
"When he is in the humor and likes his company he
talk we'll
''Does he talk muchS"
"Wel, yes; sometimes when the old man warns up
to the subject. You he has always something to
say. You should just hear him tell how he argued Sol
Ihompsons case before new country judge up at Utica
Greek and though his case was bad one at the best,
he won it,
Another impression given by a native of Poughkecp-
sic about him was to the effect that if such men as
Judge Hamilton could only be got to go into public
positions the country would be inestimaby benefited
"Look" said he, Eat what fine and impressive rep
resentative of America such would make at the
Court of St James or any other Court in Europe"
'Why Is it such cannot be induced TO try popular
favor ~ asked the writer.
my opinion, said the gentleman 'Gs that training
has great deal do with it, Men who live the pecu,
liar, shy and retiring lives of the Hamtons become
welded to that way of passing existence entirely that
the excitement Of politics acts as bugbear their
they remain out forever to crafty themselves"
Before quitting the Judge he observed to tho reporter
that the Hamltons had few salient points to notice
in their lives that short paragraph ought TO be su
cient to dispose Of the whole of them. OF course this
was only an expression OF the innate modesty of the
man. for there certainly enough materials in the
reer of so ongved TO make several respectable
volumes.
THE HAMILTON AT IRvIyGroS.
AT Irvington the HERALD representative Colonel
James Alexander Hamilton who is now in his eighty
eighth year. and wonderfully well preserved The family
TYNE stain
figure clear eve and mellow voice told he was Hamilton
and the offspring of Phil Schuyer's noble and beautiful
daughter Colonel Hamilton stands fully five feet ten
inches He whskers; his face is clean shaved
and ford "A boys He has good crop Of silver gray
hair on his head His manners are of the old school
simple suave and alike TO all The energy of mind and
muscle he exhibits at his advanced age Is the marvel of
all the villagers who love him as father and patri
arch He has passed forty years of a well spent life
in the neighborlood Of this picturesque highland vii
agc. He colonel in the OF 1912 and subse-
quenty Minister TO Russia under Andrew Jackson His
profession the law after he quit the temporary
service OF soldier. Being thrown like the rest Of his
brothers after his fathers DEATH on his own resources
he made his way the world to wealth and distinction
more rapidly than the others He had penchant for
politics, without ever taking any active part therein
but during the late war President Lincoln degned to
ask his advice on more than one critical occasion
low jutting spit of land below tho village
of Irvington marks the estate of Colonel
Hamilton, where IL projects the railroad into the
Hudson II originally several hundred acres in OK
tent but years ago cut up in three portions
one being given TO his daughter Mrs George L. Schuyer
second to his daughter Mrs r. /. Blatchford, and
third sold to Mr. Joseph Stincr, the tea merchant
of New York Still there is very fair extent of estate
left. In the middle of it, cminencc facing the
Hudson, stands Italian villa Of handsome proper
TONS though neglected to some extent as also are
the grounds Here the Colonel lives in the simple man.
ncr of the Hamiltons-no luxury, no extravaganza
The place is called Nevas and the owner is proud of
the name = we'll as of the place.
He had three daughters. Mrs. Schuyler and Mrs
Batchord dead, and the third daughter is now mar
rcd to the husband Of her deceased sister Mrs Schuyler
The Colonel is married to his second wife, daughter of
ROb o. O
years Chief Constable of the village Captain Warner
speaks in raptures of Colonel Hamiltons character
cone Of the old school," cried the Captain, who is man
of Lliputian frame with Brobdingnagian soul
conc Of the old school," he repeated. col
oncl Hamilton will leave like him
in the village when he dies. Old and young,
rich and poor alike love and honor him. He belongs to
Of the biggest families America produced and@
yet he is just simple and unpretendng you or me-
and TO see him hop around; why, sir he Is as spry as
green bay colt in fly time. Never was sick day and
may live ten years yet He Is tho sociabcst kind OF
man ever see. He has good kind word for every
body, and unless man is good terms with HIMSELF
why, he don't feel like throwing a kind word to any