The Osceola times., 1883-02-24
6ARFlELD'S OLD HOME.
A visit to Mentor-Tbc Hospitality of
Mrs. GarfieId's Father.

A visit to Mentor-Tbc Hospitality of
Mrs. Garfeid's Father.
Cincinnati Gazette.
II was blustery day when your CORES
pondent arrived at Mentor, after sleigh
ride Of six miles from Painesville over q
level road bordered by farm houses thick
enough TO almost form village. No one
was at home but Mr.. Rudolph, father OF
Mrs. Garfield, and two grandsons, bright
little fellows Of FIVE and seven. Mrs.
Garfield lives in Cleveland, but the Men
tor homestead still remains about as it
was, inside and out, and is occupied by
her father and mothers family. In the
hall stands "grapdfather's clock" the
only ancient piece of furniture | saw
about the house. While our party sat
around the hall base-burner, Mr.. Rudolph
the father Of the Presidents wife, slipped
off to the shed and split some wood and
kindling and made fire on the andirons
in the reception room. Was the like
ever known but in republic? With
what contempt would a Britisher view
such proceeding on the part of one Of
the royal household! When the fire
was kindled he sat and chatted of va
rious matters in very quiet, intelligent
and modest way, not at all alluding to
his connection with the late most dis
tinguished citizen Of the Republic, nor
in the slightest degree showing a con-
scious sense ofthe elevation Of his family
or desire to make an exhibit of any
thing about the premises. Here was q
fair type of republican simplicity.
Looking at us from the wall was
striking portrait General Garfield, paint
ed by New York artist. To me il
seemed an excellent likeness, yet there
were points about it that did not satisfy
the friends. They said it was painted
however, in a marvelously short time,
the artist, beginning at once with the
brush without previously sketching or
measuring. just over the upright piano
hung q painting of Mothers Bible"
with her spectacles upon it. In the hall
is portrait of Washington and at the
head of the stairs one of Lincoln. Near
Lncoln's is steel portrait of Bismarck,
with the gruf old Germans autograph
attached; also picture of the signing of
the proclamation Of emancipation, pre-
sented by Carpenter.
Next is sketch Of the Electoral Com
mission being addressed by Evarts. 1t
gives very good portraits Of all the lead
ing politicians of that time, including
the wives of many, who sat in the audi
ence. Books are in almost every room,
on low, open shelves of the modern
style. There was good ysriety-yet
few volumes outside the novelists could
be called light reading. | noticed a
beautiful copy of Horace that had evi-
IDENTIFY heen favorite and one of Shakes
peare with WORKOUT binding | was
taken into the Generals little study and
shown the desk that had been his in
Congress, by the side of which he had
won his fame, and at which. when trans
ferred to his home, he wrote his speeches
and important documents. After lengthy
mental labor he loved TO call his family
into his study and recreate himself with
anecdotes and cheerful conversation.
The brightest ami most ornamental
room in the house was the dining room
1t was easy to determine the style Of
man who had been the owner of these
premises by the clear evidences Of liber-
ality. culture, artistic taste, domestic af-
fiction and patriotic and religious senti-
ment. What model for the Presidency
of q republic!