The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1884-07-31
The Presidents Cottage.

The President has gone out to the
Soldiers Home. The cottage, which
has stood tenantless since b s return
from that sylvan retreat in the early
autumn of last wear, has been putin
order and will be occupied during t Q
most of the summer By the PRESIDENT
and his son and daughter. For twenty
years or more this has been favorite
resort for Presidents of the United
States. ] he PRESIDENTS Cottage" as
it is termed, is not Presidents cot
tage. 1t is simply part of the Soldiers
Home. and is only occupied by the
President on invitation of the Governor
of that institution. 4 he Soldiers Home
In Washington Is not of the same class
as the homes scattered throughout the
country. It was establ shed originally
from a ''pillage fund.- levied by Cen
eral Scott upon the inhabitants of the
City Of Mexico because they stoned the
American troops from the roofs of the
houses when they entered the city. 1t
was intended solely for vete ans of the
Mexican war Later, though, the
scope of the institution was en-
laTged, and it was made to take
in the disabled ana worn-out
veterans of the regular army Its large
farm, hundreds of acres in extern, nti-
merous costly buildings for a arters for
the retired soldiers, hospital and O IL
GERS homes. make it an object of great
attention among those interested in
matters of this character, while its
drives, winding through the wooded
hills which surround the home like o
huge park, make it the most attractive
spot in the District of Columbia at this
season of the year. The grounds sur
rounding the home contain many hum
bred acres o wild wooded hills, etc.
ravines and well kept roads, which
wind i'm most picturesque and bewilder-
ing fashion through them, are always
busy in spring and summer. There, in
the cool of the afternoon and evening,
you may see on any and all occasions
dignified statesmen, and army and
navy officers in uniform. and wealthy
and retired citi ems of the Tn ted states,
who have come TO make w Washington
their home, accompanied by their fami-
lies, luxuriating in the cool shade and
the comfortable drives of this fash 'ona-
BILE noon resort. 1t is fashionable at
| all times while the leaves are upon the
trees, but especially so after the 'lresi.
| dents cottage is occupied. 1t has
| been popular with President and peo-
| pie for quarter of a century Frank-
| lin ierce, it is sa d, was the first tc
make this his summer home. His ex
ample was followed by Buchanan and
! Lincoln, and so on down. President
/ Grant was the only one who did moi
| take kindly to this sylvan retreat. He
sp ears to have always had a liking foi
the so nd of the sea, and turned his at
| tention to Long Branch rather than K
the leafy quiet of the 20 diers' Home.
The Presidents cottage is only a
''co ta9e' in name. 1t is, IN fact, q
sold, substantial, stone structure, two
and a half stores high, large as an or
binary gent.emau's residence, and 10y
no means entitled to the term of cot
tage, 1t was built some fife IN OF
twenty years ago, TO be used for the
residence of the Governor or some
other officer of the Home. After it.
completion the elegance of the building
and its Surroundings suggested the
propriety of inviting the then Pres dent
TO spend the summer in it the prOprety
of the President. spending the summer
away from Washington having not yet
dawned upon the minds of the states
men of that day. The example thus
set has been followed almost every
summer since, until now the cottage is
set apart as sacred to the r esident,
whatever his nan g. 1t stands tenant
less between the close of the season in
autumn and the return of the hot
weather IN spring or summer. The
drive from the White House TO the cot
tage is a charm ng one. From the
front of the White House, Sixteenth
street, one of the broadcast and mcst
beautiful in the city, stretches directly
north to Boundary. whence finely mac
a HsaHf
through the thick shades of the wel-kep
forests, and fifteen minutes drive take!
you to the door of the cottage. From al
open space few steps from the cottage
youIook down upon Washington, lying
in the valley below-a charming picture
with the Potomac as n ba, koround ant
framed by the Virginia hills, where sleeI
the deaf at Airing ton.- Washington
Cor. Savannah Nes0s.