New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-06-13
WATTERSON VISITS TILDEN.
FROM GRAMERCY PARK TO GREYsToNE.

ANCNi phANbhOi Il ANN ~ Nh'NND~ -'~~'
THE EX-GOVERNOR IN EXCELLENT HEALTH-HE
TALKS ABOUT POLITICS, BUT THE EDITOR RE-
FUSES TO DISCLOSE WHAT WAS SAID.
Henry Watterson, the Editor of The Louisville
Courier-Jonndl has written for his paper the fol-
lowing account of his recent visit to ex-Governor or
Tilden:
have been spending few days at Greystone
with Governor Tilden, and not merely because his
old friends in the West and South have on ever
present personal interest in him, but because his
name Is at the moment upon the lips OF politicians
of every class all over the country propose to give
the readers OF The Courier-JourTal some particular
account of him. When parted from him a year
ago did meyer expect to see him again. Indeed.
sceptical of the stories his restora
ton to health as to feel a delicacy
about intruding upon his privacy. He
was good enough to send for me, and went
over to Grsmercy Park in somewhat sorrowful,
sympathetic state of mind. My surprise almost ex-
ceeded my qualification. The old house Is under
going reconstruction and enlargement on a magnii-
cent SCALE But the old library is still the same
being held from the hand of despoilIng spendor for
the last take Ii as o tribute of atfectonate re-
membrance Of old times, old friends and old books
There | found the Governor. If an apparition had
stood before me could not have been more aston
ished. The days OF 1875-'76j77 seemed to have
como back. His low voice was found again. His
eyes were bright and his checks rosy his intellect
as snewy and clear and his wit as incsive as they
were when he made nothing Of riding Blackstone
to Harlem and back or driving the Kentucky bays
from Gramcrcy Park to Greystone. He took
mo all over the new house, pointing out
the various changes explaining his gen.
eral design aud discussing architecture aud
architects with characteristic intelligence. He
quite tired me out; a favorite and maIevOlent way
ho has of furnishing his friends climbing long stairs
meandcrng through labynnths of decorative art
and threading the tapestried and fescOed maZes of
corridor and chamber. On current affairs he talked
with his usual pungency and candor. When en-
durance had ceased to be virtue, l said: - Gov
ernor don't you think we have had enough of thisf'
He smiled and in his dry half-ptying. haIf-sarcas
tic way replied If you tired we will go down
stairs
At Greystone his life Is of the simplest and bus-
est Ho has a farm hard by and no end Of pigs
and poultry and blooded stock. ofcourse, | had TO
be dragged ali over this farm and the devices the old
gentleman put slyly forth to trap me into some un
guarded treason TO the butter and eggs of my blue
grass country. were many and ingenious. stood
my ground like hero. but 1t must DO owned that the
Governors farming is, like everything he under
takes. thoroughly well done. / asked him whether
he tired to make any money out of it. "Oh no."
he said, 1T is castor made some other way"
While / was at Greystone not so much as the
shadow or the ghost OF politician or ssed the
threshold or appeared upon the grog ds Sur
rounded by his meces and his book tho old
statesman and philosopher unre' Jrved In his
conversation as he was, aud always u,
simple and cordial in hi, hospitality.
One OF the young ladies told me that the little
household had got through over two lnndred VOL
umes the last winter. The Governor is voracious
and versatile reader no less than an attentive and
wise observer of affairs. and We talked of every
thing from Thomas a Kcmpis to Thomas A. Hen
bricks lie playfuy observed that the chef objection
he had heard 10 the election of Mr. Carlisle 10 the
Speakcrship was that in some recent volumes pub
lishcd By Mr.. Froudc there was suspicion that he
had mistTeatcd his wifcl
Here must stop. know that the public Is most
curious To learn what are Mr.. Tildeu's views
of political affairs, current and prospective. l
have little doubt that II had the right TO speak.
| could, by faithfully reporting him, make myself
at once entertaining and instructive. But the
IN sacred I never knew man more entirely frank
in his intercourse with his friends than this OF
Greystone; but am not his mOuthpiece and 10 Is
not for 10 come all tho way from Kentucky 10
New-iOrk TO do that which he Is so much better
able 10 do for himself. i say, however, Tor
myself that nothing passed which lends me 70
modify the opinion have often eX eXpressed-that {
no power on earth could induce him TO accept the
Presidency.