Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-12
A DAY WITH TILDEN.
The Sage Of Hfeyst4me ~ He Appeared
to . Chicago MAN.


and feebler than he really is. Finding him here,
one would think the stories We used to hear
about election time. and those we shall hear
again when the next campaign begins to warm
up-fOr Mr.. Tilden, whatever his wishes may be.
will never cease to be regarded by his opponents,
as a dangerous candidate-are pretty nearly
true. On his feet however he is another man.
and moves about as easily and quickly as many
man of 10. He excused himself from showing
me about the farm, as he had promised. on the
ground that he had taken about as much out
door exercise in the cold raw air as he cared
for IN one day, but he showed me about the
house, taking me from room to room, exhibit
ing the rare books which everywhere abound,
and explaining new ideas he had introduced,
especially in ventilation. The house is GER
forget the allurements Of public life
and wish to remain in it forever. Its
smallest rooms are as large as
the grand salons of many stately residence.
and every window looks out upon a scene which
might well command the attention Of an artist.
Near the south window of the southwest ROOM
on the main floor, is the governors own easy
chair and reading desk; and here when alone
he spends much of his time. The window COM
mands a view of the river to Staten Island. and
though Mr.. Nlden's attention while here is gen.
orally engaged with something else. The ele-
CANT bookcase In this room contains some OF
the rarest books to be found on either CONT
nent. copy of Milton and set Of Scott's
works seem to be the old mans special pride,
and well they may be, for doubt whether they
could be duplicated. except at great cost Of
time and money. Everything that the pencil
has done to embellish or adOrn either may be
found between their lids, the illustrations hay
ing been collected separately and bound with
the finest editions to be obtained. In every
room similarly elegant books made. to my mind.
their chief attraction. There is no library in
the house, and yet it is full of books. Every
stock of books. one of the largest and compile
test private collections IN the country is at the
Gramercy park residence.
Since MIR. Tilden wrote his famous letter to the
New York delegation in the Cincinnati conven-
ton, he has insisted that he has permanently
years of life shall be devoted to farming and
breeding Jersey cattle. was unable to COM
pliment him on his selection of a farm. He
owns about 100 acres at Greystone, and when
told him I thought he would have hard time
to make living on the place, he smiled blandly
and said that, while it probably wasn't as pro-
ductive as the soil of the Illinois prairies it
looked more promising later in the season. AS
for the Jersey CATTLE he certainly has some
very fine specimens, and he also has a goodly
variety of chickens and turkeys, to which he
has devoted good deal of attention. But, to
my mind, he takes more pride in his dogs than
In any Of them. The two huge st. Bernards
which found summing themselves lazily on the
grand porch as drove up, are his special pets;
and a monstrous mastif, too savage
and strong to fellow with these milder-
hammered brutes, is the family's firm reliance
against tramps and unwelcOme intruders of all
Sorts These splendid animals evidently know
their master, for they invariably take final
appeal to him if ordered out of the house or
denied any other temporary privilege to which
their exhibition to visitors may seem to entitle
them. A pair of half-grown St. Bernards, the
present property of Miss Pelton, afford the old
gentleman especial amusement. When admit
ted to the grand hall. running through from the
main entrance to the bay window on the river
front. these two rolicking CANNES feel that the
occasion for a grand romp has arrived. and they
proceed to take advantage of 1t, regardless OF
the havOck they may play with the arrangement
OF the rugs and other floor adornments and hall
furniture, and their gambols are not in the
least discouraged by the, presence of the
Whether among the books, admiring the
grand views from the, numerous windows of
greystone, watching the .ganibols of the dogs,
admiring the Jerseys, or alone with the Gov
ernor in his study, did not forget to suggest
some topic occasionally about which I wished
to know his views but he invaribly parted the
inquiry with ready skill. or passed it by with a
remark that If repeated, would not go far
toward making up an interesting interview.