The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-08-26
Hancock az Home.


RESIDENCE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS.
A Herald reporter, who has been visiting
Governors Island, writes 3s follows:
General Hancock is seen at his best at his
home, for there he throws aside the worri-
ment Of his official cares and responsibilities.
No one is more thoroughly domestic in his
habits. He has always preferred the quiet
OF his own home 10 the glitiering splendors
OF fashionable life. OF children he is pas.
sionately fond. Rising at O'Clock, which
is his uniform habit, he takes bath first
and then has a wild romp with his three
grandchildren, at present with Russell Han
cock, their father and their mother stop
ping with him. When be lost his only
daughter a few years ago, most beautiful
and accomplished young lady OF eighteen,
it took him a long time TO recover from the
blow, and bis wife has not yet laid aside
her sombre habilimeDts commemorative OF
t1e sad event. Directly after breakfast and
glancing over the papers and his personal
mail, the General goes 10 his office,
where, as already stated, he spends
the most OF the day. Till dinner he
occupies himself in talking with his
family and entertaining visitors. lie
eats sparlngly, to which may doubtless
be mainly ascribed his perfect health. After
dinner he smokes, sometimes pipe and
sometimes a cigar, and this is the sum total
OF his days smoking; so, as will be seen, he
is no great slave 10 the seductive weed. His
spare time in the evening he usually devotes
to reading. He has wei-fuTDished library,
and shows a preference for historical and
statistical works. He goes TO bed early
at 10 O'clock generalIy-and is a sound
sleeper-that precious boon OF clear
conscience and good digestion. His resi-
dence-the largest and finest on the island
and thus notably distinguished from tue
others, is model of c0sey comfort both out
side and inside. Wide porches in the front
and rear, with creeping vines and beautiful
flowers scattered about, show discriminating
taste, while the pictures and works Of art
and well-lined bookcases TO be seen in the
interior eyince the broad culture OF the
master occupant.
AS already stated, General Hancock does
not go into society much. or course he
visits a good deal among the officers OF the
post, and very pleasant society it is, CON-
posed mainly Of the members OF his staff
and their families. On Sundays he general
" comes to the city in the morning to at
tend DR.. Bellows's church, where he and
Mrs. Hancock have pew. In the summer
he rarely frequents summer watering
places, having somehow, notwitbstand-
ing his eminent socabilitv, a dislike
for this kind of life. He is, par ex-
CeHence, a domestic man, and his ac-
complished wife, although before their
marriage one Of the reigning bellies
OF st. Louis, bas the same domestic
tastes. He seldom travels except on official
business, and since his nomination has pO-
Iitely though firmly declined invitations to
visit our leading places OF fashionable re-
sort or to go on trips through the country,
he being strongly averse to anything which
would look like making show OF himself.
once i'm awhile he and bis family take lit
Tie sail down the bay on steam launch
the Pinafore-kept at the island eX-
clusively for his use, and this, with the
quiet repose OF his cool, double-porch-
ed, and vine embOsomed residence, the
society Of his family and books,
his official duties, and at the pre-
sent time entertaining an unwonted rush
Of visitors--one OF the pains and penalties
OF being a presidential candidate up
the sum total OF his daily life. The fact has
been frequently noted that no newspaper
representative has been able TO "lnter-
view " him. 1t is not that he does not have
well,settled opinions on all the leading po-
litica questions OF the day. Few men are
firmer in their convictions, few better read
or better posted, few able to give TO their
ideas more terse expression. He does not
paraphrase. He calls spade spade. One
of his strongest mental characteristics is
firmness-a bulldog tenacity Of purpose.
The day be was nominated he said he would
not be interviewed" and he has not been
and will not be.