Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-12-01
Portrait OF .Eiadsesa.

4
We find the following personal details in
q pen and ink sketch of Mr.. Tilden by
New Y DIRK correspondent Of the PiJtsburg
Evening Chronicle" Mr.. Tilden looks
smaller than he really is by reason Of his
STOPPING carriage-With his small, smooth,
boyish round head bent, with that sleepy
droop in the left eyelid which is undoub5-
eddy caused, at least partially, by ptosis,
with his smooth face and his small delicate,
utterly unobtruSive features and plainness
OF dress, which, though always scrupulous-
ly neat, is simplicity itself. His face is one
Of the most unobtrusive, gentle, harmless
faces you could pick out in d crowd. lis
clear, blue eyes are somewhat paled by age;
his complexion, though tolerably fresh for
a man Of his age, does still betray the
wear Of study and mental labor, and the
wrinkles round his eyes deepen the impress
sion of a character formed by severe
strain of Intellectual activity during a
busy life. The pleasantest part Of Mr.. Til
denis face, as he stands there listening to
his friends, is his mOuth-a pleasant, small
mouth, utterly wanting in sensual warmth,
but Indicative Of much decision and firm
ness. The nose, too, which is small, thin,
but with an Inclination to a bulge at the
end, is firmly and clearly drawn, and the
expression of the entire face has more OF
this character of frmneSs than Of any
thing else. 1t has been said that Cover
nor Tilden's Individuality is all-absorbing
i'll all his relations of life, that he towers
over all his associates and advisers, and
shapes his policy to suit himself and no.
body else. There is certainly no indica-
ton of this in his appearance, which is
that of d man who cares but little for self.
His house in East Twentieth street is one
of row Of wide, handsome, imposing
broWn-stone houses, with extensive bay
windows, which add to their pretentious
appearance. Even at it's threshold you
meet the evidences Of his practical, pre-
else bent Of mind. From a large. shining
brass plate on the handsomely carved door
the name Samuel j. TildeD stares you
broadly in the face. Mr.. Tilden's neigh
bors are too exclusive to thus display their
names, but he is too exact, too particular,
to mislead his fellow-citizens who are in
search of him, and with that sense of order
and completeness which is innate in him,
he is careful not to leavehis home without
the designation Of it's occupants name.
The ring Of the bell is always answered by
a man servant-either by the imposing
butler, who looks like church warden or
bishop in his tremendous dignity and ex-
quisite attire, OF by younger lackey. One
quality of these functionaries which at
once ingratiates them in the visitors heart
is their candor- If you ask, sis Governor
Tilden in ?'' there is no ''I'll see" or'' |
don't know" about them, but with praise
worthy candor they either inform you that
he is in or that he is not, and if he is they
will freely and frankly let you know
whether the governor is willing OF I'M
willing to see you.
The hall is wide and high and the coat
rack is Invariably strewn with coats and
hats-for when could you ever call at Gov
ernor Tilden's house without finding a
which is spacious, and the furniture OF
which, if not rich or sumptuons, is certain
ly tasteful and elegant. The chairs are
large, easy, cosy, and the table and book
case soon WOO your presence by their stores
of magnificent art publications. The vases,
bric-a brdc, the minor ornaments are all in
keeping with the simplicity of the furni-
ture. The woodwork is very fine, not
only in The parlor, but about the Whole
house. Back of the parlor is q middle
we come upon the dining room in the
rear, which is very spacious. extending, as
1t does, the whole width OF the house
Here Governor Tilden entertains nearly
every day party of his friends at dinner.
He still adheres to the old fashioned Gus
tom of dining in the middle of the day and
taking d simple 'tea" in the evening for
supper. In the southeast corner Of this
room is new telegraph apparatus, and
here the governor may be seen all day re-
ceiving the latest information from MI.
Hewitt and Colonel Pelton at the Everett
House committee room, with which Coy
ernor Tilden stands thus in instantaneous
and easy communication. While one Of the
governors personal secretaries operates
the instrument, the governor stands pa
tiently by or PAGES the floor until the result
is announced.
Up stairs are the cover nor's study his
bedroom, and also Colonel Pelton's apart
ment and those of his mother Mrs. Pelton,
the governors sister, a very amiable lady,
well-known in New York society, who
presides over the governors mansion, and
who will also be the mistress Of the White
House in case Governor Tilden takes his
seat. 1t will thus be seen that Governor