Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-02
FAMOUS MEN OF THEPAST.
DESCRIPTION OF THEIR HOMES
AND DOMESTIC HABITS,

The Old Lion of Tammany-His
House on Fifth Avenue-Ex-Presi
dent Arthur and His Family he
House in Which He Ines IlI-Mr.
TDden's Home on Gramercy Park
The Private Life of the Sage of
Greystone.
NEW YORK, April 30.--The old lion of
Tammany, once all powerful in New York
politics but now driven to his lair by in
creasing years and infirmities, may be
seen behind a twlnkllng-footed span TAX
ing an airing in Central Park on mild
days in the early morning. Most of the
time, however, John Kelly remains quietly
at his home in SiXty-ninth street, near
Fourth avenue. He sees very few callers.
Among the few with whom he converses
are ex-Lieut-Gov. Dorsheimer, Judge
William p. Muller, of the Court of Claims
at Albany and the law partner of Gov.
Hill, and the well-known district leader,
Richard Croker. Several of the Roman
Catholic clergy also see him quite fire.
quently, His physicians enjoin the ut
most quietude and entire freedom from
the excItements incident to political lite
His cultivated wife is niece of the late
Cardinal McCloskey, and she and her
sister, Miss McCloskey, by their wom-
aDly ministrations do much to reliVe the
tedium of the famous Invalid's present
life as we'll as to promote his com fort.
His brownstone house 10 not snowy, ana
in the main it is plainly furnished. In
| the rather narrow parlOr is a large picture
OF the late Cardinal McCloskey, aud it is
noticeable that the scarlet cope gives the
| prevailing color to the room; the up
| hOstery is scarlet, like the globes in the
| fine chandeliers. When MIR. Kelly at
! tends religious services it is usually al
| the splendid st, Patrick's Cathedral, on
| Fifth avenue nearly opposite he palatial
| home Of the late William II. Nandel bilt,
! but by reason OF his itl-health he is not
| 80 regular Ia his attendance as torme ly.
| He is a devout churChman, however, OF
! the Roman Catholic faith, though with
out bigotry. His lectures ia different
| parts of the country have brought $50 600
to Catholic intitutOns. Few men have
been more persistently maIgned. He is
not Chesterfield in manner, but there
/ is a surprising degree of polish and re-
tinement when the humbleness of his
origin is considered. His innate chival-
rOusness is not always directed by sound
| judgment. lie made night in behalf of a
mere nobody in the political world, Coun-
/ ty Clerk GumbletOn, which resulted IN
! the political extinction OF Gov. Ro inson :
! he has taken up the Weil-knOWn Richard
| Croker, believing BIN to be a MARTYR, the
object OF the muFderOus hatred or gang
| that first tried to Kill him in liquor
/ saloon and then tried to have him murd-
cred judicially. Mr.. Kelly has probably
been imposed upon, but once having
| espOused the cause OF Mr.. Croker, h.
! sticks to him as close as a brother, with
all of his well-knOwh dogged determine
! tiOn, and now Richard Croker, who il his
enemies had been successful would have
| gone to the gallOws, has one Of the upper-
most seats in the synagogue of Tammany
/ Hall. On the other hand, while Mr.. Kelly
/ has taken up obscure politicians, often
| little deserving of his attention, and stood
/ by them with generous fidelity, he has
/ quarreled with most Of the more promi-
nent leaders OF the Democratic party in
the State Of New York. Politically h.
stabbed Gov. Robinson under the firth rib,
and only his political ghost
walks the earth to-day He
/ quarreled with Mr.. Tilden, with
| Mr.. Cleveland and with all the
| Mayors, such as Wickhap, Edison and
| Grace, wnom he ever elected. Yet
/ despite his faults, he is a man who in
| spires both affection and respect. The
| devils bore witness to Christ, and VIII
! liam NJ. Tweed bore witness TO the stern
integrity of honest John Kelly. He is
| suffering now from nervous prostratoD
aggravated by disease of the kidneys.