The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-13
"THE SAGE OF GREYST0NE.'
4 VISIT TO GOVERNOR TILDEN BY
HENRY wATTERsON.
An Interesting Account OF the Mcetlng-Thc
Old statesman's Splendid Condition Dilated
Upon-No Power on Earth Could Induce
Him 20 Accept the Presidency.
fBy telegraph TO the Dlspatch.l

NEW YORK. June 12.-Hon. Henry Wat
terson. who has been spending some days
with Mr.. Tilden. has written the following
account OF his visit:
have been spending a few days at
Greystone with Governor Tilden, and not
merely because his old friends in the West
and South have an ever present personal
interest i'm him, but because his name at the
moment Is upon the lips OF politicians OF
every class all over the country. propose
10 g1ye the readers OF the COurier-J Journal
some particular account OF him. When
| parted from him year ago ] did
never expect to see him again. Indeed
| was so skepticll OF the stories concerning
his restoration to health rs TO feel delicacy
about intruding upon his privacy. He was
good enough to send for me, and j went
over TO Gramercy Park in a somewhat sor-
rowful, sympathetic state OF mind. My
surprise almost exceeded my qualification.
The old house is undergoing recon>truc-
ton and enlargement on n magnificent
scale; but the old library is still the same,
being held from the hand OF despoiing
splendor for the last, take il. rs atributeOf
atiectionate remembrance OF old times, old
friends, and old books. There | found the
Governor. lian apparition had stood before
me could not have been more astonished.
The days OF 1875, '76 and ~ seemed to
have come back. His low voice was found
again. His eyes were bright and bis
checks rosy; his intellect rs sincwy and
clear and his wit as incisive as they were
when he made nothing OF riding Black
stone to Harlem and back or driving the
Kentucky bays from Gramercy Park to
GrcystOnc. He took me all over the new
house. pointing out the various changes.
explaining his general design. and dis
cussing the architecture and architects with
characteristic intelligence. He quite tired
me out-a favorite and malcvOlent way
he has OF Furnishing his friends
climbing the lawn stairs, meanderng
through the labyrnths Of decorative art,
and threading the tapestried and irescoed
mazes OF corridor and chamber. On cur
rent affairs he talked with his usual pun
gency and candor. When endurance had
ceased TO be a virtue / said, Governor
don't you think we have had enough Of
this? He smiled, and in his dry. half
plying, half-sarcastic way, replied: "If
YOU are tired we will 90 down stairs"
At Greystone his life is OF the simplest
and busiest. lie has farm hard by. and
no end OF pigs, poultry, and blooded stock.
OF course | had to be dragged over this
farm. and the devices which the old GER
tleman put slyly forth to trap me into some
Umguarded treason TO the butter and eggs
OF my bluegrass country were many and
ingenious. stood my ground like 4 hero.
but It must be owned that the Governors
farming is like everything he undertakes,
thoroughly well done. | asked him Whe-
ther be tried to make any money out
OF it. "Oh, no." he said. il i
easier made some other way" While
at Greystonc not so much as a shadow or a
ghost Of a politician crossed the threshold
orappeared upon the grounds. Surround
ed by his nieccs and his books. the old
statesman and philosopher was as unre-
served i'm his conversation as he was and
always is simple and cordial in his hospi-
tality. One OF the young ladies told ne
that the little household had got through
over 300 volumes last winter. The Gov
ernor is voracl0us and versatile reader
10 less than an attentive and wise OBJ
server Of affairs, and we talked OF every
thing from Thomas a kcmpiS TO Thomas
4. Hendricks. lie playiully observed
that the chief objection he had heard TO
the election of Mr.. Carlisle 10 the speaker
ship was that i'm some recent volumes pub
lshed by one Mr.. Froude there was q
suspicion that he had mistreated his wife.
Here must stop. | know that the public
| Is most curious to learn what are Mr.. Til
den's views Of political affairs, current and
prospective. | have little doubt that il |
! had a right to speak ! could by faithfully
reporting him make myself at once enter
tanning and instructive, but the opinions
OF every man are his own, and his house Is
sacred. | never knew n man more entirely
frank in his intercourse with his friends
than this sage OF Greystone; but am not
his mouthpiece, and it is not Tor me to
come all the way from Kentucky to New
York to do that which he is so much better
able to do for himself. | can say, however,
for myself, that nothing passed which leads
me to modify the opinion ! have so often
expressed that no power on earth could
induce him to accept the presidency.
[Signedl H. W.