Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-09-17

HIS OFFICIAL AND DOMESTIC HABITS
TENACITY HIS STRONGEST POINT.
General Hancock IS seen at his best at
his home, for there he throws aside the
worriment of his official cares and respon-
sibilities.
There's but the twinkling of star
Between man of peace and war.
No one is more thoroughly domestic in
his habits. He has always preferred the
quiet of his own home to the glittering
splendors of fashionable life. Of children
be is passionately fond. Rising at six
takes bath first and then has wild romp
with his three grandchildren, at present
with Russell Hancock, their father, and
their mother, stopping with him. When
he lost his only daughter few years ago,
most beautiful and accomplished young
lady of eighteen, it took him long time
to recover from the blow, and his wife has
not yet laid aside her sombre habiliments
commemorative of the sad event. Direct
ly after breakfast and glancing over the
papers and personal mail the General goes
to 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. He eats
SpdIluSly, W Wu1Cu udy uuuUblCoo NO
mainly ascribed his perfect health. After
sometimes cigar, and this is the sum
total of his day smoking; so, as will be
seen, he is no great slave to the seductive
weed. His spare time in the evening he
usually devotes to reading. He has well
furnished library and shows a preference
for historical and statistical works.
He goes to bed early, at ten O'Clock
generally, and is sound sleeper
that precious boon of clear conscience
and good digestion. His residence, the
largest and finest on the island, and thus
notably distinguished from the others. is
model of cosy comfort both outside and
inside. Wide porches in the front and
rear. with creeping vines and beautiful
flowers scattered about, show discrimina-
ting taste, while the pictures and works of
the interior evince the broad culture of the
master occupant.
AS already stated, General Hancock does
not 60 into society much. of course he
visits good deal among the officers of the
post, and very pleasant society it is, COM
posed mainly of the members of his staff
and their families. On Sundays he gen.
orally comes to the city in the morning to
attend DR.. Bellows church, where he and
Mrs. Hancock have pew. In the sum-
mer he rarely frequents summer watering
places, having somehow, Notwithstanding
his eminent sociability, a dislike for this
kind of life. He is par excellence do
nestle man, and his accomplished wife,
although before their marriage one of the
reigning bellies of ST. Louis, has the same
cept on official business, and since
his nomination has politely, though firmly,
declined invitations to visit our lead
ing places of fashionable resort or to 60 on
trips through the country, he being strong
ly averse to anything which would look
like making show of himself. Once in a
while he and his family take little sail
down the bay on steam launch-the Pin
afOre-kept at the island exclusively for
his use, and this, with the quiet repose Of
his cool. double porched and vine embos-
omed residence, and society OF his family
and books, his official duties and at the
present time entertaining an unwOnted
rush of visitors-one of the pains and pen
alties of being Presidential candidate
make up the sum total Of his daily life.
The fact has been frequently noted that
no newspaper representative has been able
to interview" him. It Is not that he does
not have well settled opinions on all the
leading political questions of the day.
Few men are frmer in their conviction,
few better read or better posted, few able
to give to their ideas more terse expression.
He does not paraphrase. He calls spade
a spade. One Of his strongest mental char
acteristics is irmness-a bull dog tenacity
of purpose. The day he was nominated
he said he would not be interviewed"
and he has not been and will not be.-N.
Y. Herald. ''' Il