New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-26
JACKSON And HIS WIFE.
From Lippfpeotrs Maonsine.

From LipptReOWs Magazine
One of those to whom IL s a fascination to listen
has recently given us a book full Of memories which
he calls Old Times in Tennessee But greater treat
than reading it is to hear the author tell how he saw
General Jackson scare and put to flight twenty
thousand men," 1t was on Clover-bottom race
course. The narrator. then q small boy. was sta
toned on cedar fence. The betting was very fierce.
Horses and negroes as well as money were put up, a
large pound being filled with the e-stock. Muir
murs arose that 1t was to be jockey race that
"Grey hound" one of the famous racers, had been
seen the night before in wheat-eld. and his rider
was TO receive $500 to throw him OFT. In the height
of the excitement General jackson appeared, riding
gray horse and carrying long pistol IN each hand.
l think they were as long as my arm, with muzzles
that ground squirrel could enter. he sworc by the
eternal lie would shoot tho first man who brought
his horse on the track-that the peoples money
should not be stolen in this manner He talked in
cessantly, while the Spite rolled from his mouth
and lire flashed from his eyes. l have seen bears
and wolves at bay, but he was the most ieroclous
looking animal have ever seen. HIS appearance
aud manner struck terror into the hearts OF twenty
thousand people If they all felt as did. every one
expected to be slam"
The end of il WIS that there great rush to
the pound to get back the money staked, and the
boy on the fence was overturned and nearly trampled
TO death But he still lives, possibly the only sur
viyor of that great crowd. He gives the most vivid
idea of " Old Hlckory's" personality. When Laiay-
cite visited Nashville in 1924 and jackson greeted
him in the public square. approaching the carriage
with peacock stride" the eyes OF all were attracted
to their hero rather tnan to their distinguished
guest. 4 hundred voices exclaimed Just look at
old JacksOn!" There something IN his face, bis
martial presence, that unclaimed tho public gaze
whenever he appeared.
or course amid 80 much talk of General Jackson
the lady to whom he gave the protection OF hs name
and honor in for her share, Many Sly little
anecdOte about her has been preserved. On" lady
tells that the last time her mother saw Mrs jackson
the latter remarked. by way Of accounting for a
cold under which she suffered, The gneral kicked
the kver of las. night"
One of her negro-women came to her IN GOOD
deal of trouble because she had just been told that
the world was round and she had always thought II
fat Never mind, aunty," said kind Mis- Rachel :"
don't you be disturbed. think 1t is flat myself,
and honey $50 she often called the GeueTal-
Honey thinks 80 too"
But her veriest detractors find nothing to say
against her looks or character. "She was beastly
ignorant" SAID one fine old gentleman, and Jack
son married her not from love, but from an impulse
Of chiudry TO fling his protection around her. but
she was perfectly beautiful, and as fine and good a
woman ever lived"
But he did love her. They tell that the Hermitage,
which stands rather oddly Just back OF an elevation
of the ground instead of on its brow, placed
because Mrs. jackson, walking one afternoon with
he General stopped just there and SAID u would DO
the right place for the house, as II was only a
short distance from the spring where they went for
water The General struck the ground with his
staff and said there should the foundations be LAID.
And there they LAID. in spite Of e1postulation