The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1885-10-02
LIFE IN THE OLD MAN YET.
The Sage of Greystone Not Strong, but
Mentally Very Active.

has beer heard from the silent sage of
Greystone, but Chairman Hensel, OF the
PcnnSy lyanla Democratic state Commit
tee, spent sunday with Mr.. Tilden, and
his pilgrimage to the Mecca of all good
Democrats was of Immediate significance
10 both the State and city campaigns. 1T
was said that Mr.. Tiiden had wished TO
know more in detail of the methods used
in reorganizing the federal offices in Penn
sylvania, and that he had given words of
wcighty counsel which would have their
visible effect III several new departures in
the campaign of Candidate Day. A re-
porter for the Philadelphia Press found
Mr. Hensel at the Democratic headquar-
tcrs and questioned him as TO his visit to
GrcyStOne.
''Yes, he acknowledged cit is true that
spent Sunday at Greystone. In common
with all Democrats, | had a strong desire
70 see Mr. Tilden, whom | had never met
and ! gladly accepted an invitation which
came to me to visit him. 1t was all new
10 ne, and enjoyed the trip exceedingly "
How did you find Mr.. Tilden?
81 found him somewhat enfeebled III
body, it is true, but with more vital force
than had been led to expect from the re
ports | had read and heard. He speaks in
u whisper and with some difficulty, but his
and he is the same omnivorous reader that
he has always been"
Are the reports, then, Of Mr.. Illden $
fccbieneSS, eXaggerated!'
perhaps not Intentionally, but they
have led to an incorrect Impression. Many
accounts of his feebeness arise from the
fact that he is extremely careful of him
self Mr.. Tilden, it should be remember
ed, has led an exceedingly laborious life.
During his working years, he scarcely ever
took a vacation of any length. AS law
yer, as q politician, as an executive, he
surrendered himself to duty with unre-
mitting toll. Now that he has felt the re
suits of his devotion to public and private
duty, he husbands his vital forces with
great care. His exposure, his Diet his
exercise are all regulated with the utmost
scrupulOusneSs in order to ensure the best
physical results. He was reported as an
enfeebled man in 1876, again in 1880, and
III 1881 yet he has outlived many of his
contemporaries, and | see no reason why
he is not good for many more happy and
useful years. "
''ioW does he spend his tlme!"
"As said, he continues to be an ON
nivOrous reader. Few new works of sub
stantial value escape him, and he either
reads or has read to him nearly all the
-
the bulk of his library is III his Gramercy
Park house, one of the most noticeable
things at Greystone is the quantity of
books to be seen on every side. The Selec
ton cover q wide range, embracing not
only politics and general literature, but
many special subjects. 1t is one of Mr..
1ilden'S traits that whenever he takes up
a subject he masters it thoroughly. and ;
as Il result, accumulates small library on
that subject. For example, | saw in one
corner a large collection of books on hor
ticulture and gardening, in another a col
lection treating Of holses and live stock,
and on several other special subjects there
were similar arrays of information.
''Mr. Tilden'S companions are not books
alone?'
NO, indeed. His house seems almost
constantly a place of entertainment for
relatives and friends. The household is
presided over by Mrs PeltOn, who was the
dignitied mistress of the executive man
sion at Albany, while Mr.. Tilden was Gov
crnor. Ex-controller Andrew H. Green,
the confidential friend of Mr. TiIden for
many years, also lives at Greystone, and
besides there are Mr. Tilden's secretary
and other assistants. Altogether, it is a
delightful household.
And now, Mr.. llensel, will you disclose
w ildl MI lititH HIS 10 Sty ABOUT pOllllcS!
Il can say that he takes an active in
tcrcst in politics, which he shows by per-
tinent inquiries and by close attention TO
that topic, in reading and in conversation.
While was at Greytone he enquired what
! had heard Of the campaign in Ohio.
Then he asked with smile:
''What will be the Republican majority
i'll Pennsylvania -
I'VE propose to have IA Democratic ma
jority i'll Pennsylvania, | answered. He
was greatly pleased at the prospect"
'What did he say of the Democratic
ticket in New York y
Il can only answer that Mr.. Tilden
showed himself heartily and earnestly in
terested in its success. Yes, he expressed
himself as in warm sympathy with the
Ohio, and he was especially delighted by
the information that Pennsylvania may go
Democratic
''ls he pleased with the recent publca-
| ton of his works q
Yes, he seemed greatly gratitied with
! the way in which Mr.. Bigelow had accom-
| plished his task, and he takes no little in
| teret, also, in the forthcoming history of
the Electoral Commission, to be entitled
a Political Crime, by A NJ. Gibson But
Mr. Tilden shows his active nature by the
| Keen interest he displays In the beauty of
Greystone. Nature has done much for
the place in site and in the nature of the
ground, through which great boulders
| protrude here and there, forming pic
turesque contrast to the cultivated sward.
| Nothing that the art of landscape garden
| ing could do to decorate and enhance the
natural effects has been omitted, but no
| where has violence been done or artific-
ally obstructive. Mr.. Tilden, by the way,
is just erecting what will probably be the
| finest range OF greenhouser in the country.
They are expected to excel even JAY
Gould's conservatories at Irvington. Mr.
! Tiden has planned himself all the details
of these Greenhouses, and expects to en-
| Joy from them grapes and peaches in every
month of the year.
''Then it is pleasure to see Mr. Tilden s
farm" continued Mr.. Hensel, with the
enthusiasm of a Lancastrian. His chicken
house contain many varieties, but the far
mer thinks they have bred together too
much and says that he intends to change
them all His garden is very rich and
Mr.. Tilden shares the regret of his gar
| dener that he didn't send and eggplant,
weighing eleven and three quarter pounds,
down to seedmen's prize competition in
| New York. His gardener has been on the
| place for twenty years. Turkeys don't
seem to have done well at Greystone this
/ year. He has a herd of beautiful Jersey
cattle, with two or three fine bulls Every
/ where Mr. Tilden shows his love of ami