Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-08-11
GOV. TILDEN 's ALBANY HOME.

GOV. TILDEN IS ALBANY HOME.
HOW HE RECEIVES HIS vISIToRs-Hls
BUSINESS NJ THODs--PERsONAL ANI
SOCIAL CHARACTERIsTICs-A EXTEN-
sIvE ESTABLISHMENT.
Correspondence of the Graphic.)
ALBANY, July Ex-Governor Tilden's
house in Albany, wherein he holds his ex-
ecutive residence, is, perhaps, the hand
soonest dwelling in the city. It is situa-
ted on Eagle street, beyond Madison aye
nue., upon the summit of one of the three
hills upon which Albany is built. It is a
ttwo-story building. with mansard roof,
elaborated upon the style of Swiss COT
tage, with verandas upon both sides, a
doorway in the middle flanked by bay-win-
d0ws, and an observatory tower on the
roof. Two acres of lawn and grounds sur
rounded the house, and are filled with
handsome flower-beds and occasional shade
trees. A carriageway leads through the
lawn to the door and encircles the house
on it's return course to the gate. A fancy
colored gas lantern hangs between the
columns fronting the doorway. Two iron
greyhounds couchant guard the entrance.
Inside hall runs through the entire
length of the house, intersected by another
in the middle. A parlor is upon the left
hand side as you 60 in.
| It is furnished beautifully, and contains
pictures, books and bric-a-brac than could
not have been the unassisted collection Of
bachelor. An oil painting of Samuel j..
Tilden himself stands upon an easel in one
corner of the room. This table is covered
with books that haye evidently been open
ed and studied. Upon the table, also, is a
huge album filled with portraits.
Upon the other side of the hall is anoth-
er parlor, now transformed into the gov
ernors workshop. A library desk stands
in the center, at which the governor him
self is very probably hard at work writing.
| A bookcase here is crammed with calf
bound books of law or reference. News
paper files lay strewn about the floor. Ev-
cry chair has all opened newspaper or two
lying on it, and piles of them cucumber
the floor. The trash baskets are filled with
the yellow wrappers in which they came.
Into this work-a-day world the arts inva de
as in the parlor. Handsome busts of IA
nous men look down upon the presidential
aspirant from the mantel and from nu-
merous brackets, five water-colors and. en-
cravings swing upA the walls, and the
furniture here as well as everywhere else
in the house includes all the later cunning
devices of the furniture man to secure
hitherto unknown comfort among his So
fas and rockers.
Beyond this room is smaller room and j,
crossing wide hall, still another, all work
rooms, where Col Pelton and his clerks
carry on the business relegated to them by
the governor. The dining-room is on the
same floor and opens on an enchanting
| greenhouse.
| This dwelling belongs to Robert L. John
son, and is rented to the governor at $10,-
600 a year-a sum exactly the amount of
| his salary. The State allows yearly 900
for rent of the governors house. So that
Governor Tilden pays out $4,000 to secure
a mansion wherein the inequalities of the
chief magistrate of the Empire State may
be fittingly dispensed. The charge that
he was renting so fine house at so high a
rent altogether at the expense Of the State
which some journals have made, thus falls
| to the ground.
Access to the princely home of the gov
ernor is very easy. A servant answers
yonr ring at the bell, and in reply to your
inquiry shows you into the parlor if the
governor is engaged, and if not, let's you
walk right into his presence in his work.
room. The slight-built man at the table
usually rises, and without a word extends
his hands to you. He discerns at once,
probably by a study of your features,
whether you have called upon business or
curiosity, and whether that business is
slight or important, and he disposes of you
in an instant. If that business is slight he
has one formula, ''See Felton," and he
motions you, possibly, towards the inner
work room, where the colonel is engaged.
If the business is something beyond the
ordinary, he bids you sit down and devo-
tes himself strenuously at once to your
case. In all his talk with you there are
several things noticeable at once. He
looks you openly and frankly in the eye
There is no lodging your glance. He lis
tens rather more than he talks. He ap-
pears anxious to hear whatever you may
desire to say. And when you have said
your say he soon sums up the Importance
of it and gives you an answer. He is able
to say ''no'' upon reflection quite as readi-
ly as ''yes." If he were not, his executive
business would never have been kept so
well in hand as it is.
Recently one Of the most fascinating and
gifted women in the State begged him for
the one boon, for the obtaining of which
her whole life is devoted-the pardon of
loved one from life sentence. So strong
and moving was her appeal that the gov
ernor's private secretary and the lieuten-
ant governor each joined their appeals
with hers. With tear in his eye, his
hand clasped, and every muscle of his face
betraying his emotion, the governor said ::
MADAM, 1 can not"
This is the governor during business
hours. Socially, among a companionable
few, he is pleasant and jovial as the best
! bon canaerade,e and IS not incapable OF
smart and bright things.
AS there is no Mrs. Tilden, the sister of
the governor, Mrs. Pelton, would be the
chief lady of the White House in case of
the governors promotion. She is a few