Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1886-12-04

twelve miles to get home, and Madison
was such a poor rider and made their
trip SO slow that he had his nose frost
bitten.
John Quincy Adams was no horse
man at all. He preferred to walk for
his exercise. 1t is told Of him that he,
in the early part of his term, would
rise before breakfast and walk up and
around the capitol square and back to
the white house daily. He was very
fond of walking down back of the
white house grounds.
Jackson was an inveterate horseman
and enjoyed his daily excursion out,
and north of the city. Old Mr.. Hunter
OF the state department, the oldest off,
cial now in the government service,
says he can remember old Hickory's
riding straight up through where La
fayette square now stands, through the
fashionable district of Connecticut ave-
nue. and Sixteenth street. 1t was then
commons, and he rode across lots.
Since Jackson's time the white house
has never had a very thorough-going
horseman until Grants accession.
JohE Tyler loved a good horse, and
kept a number in Washington. He usu-
ally drove out in a low Partisan car
riagc and kept colored footmen dressed
in black. His son., John Tyler. Jr.,
was his private secretary, and he used
to walk to the capitol with his fathers
messages.
Polk always went about in a car
rage. but kept a very plain establish
ment.
President Hayes was no hoI sonn~~,
and managed to get around in n street
car, and Mrs. Hayes took her rides be-
hind the government team.
Garfield had no horses, but Presi-
dent Arthur Brought "A team of his own
from New York. His son Allen kept
a fine horse in the stable, and Nellie
had a very pretty pony there. Arthur's
team is now doing service about town
on a hack.
Old Zach Taylor was fond of walk
ing. He was often seen walking about
the Streets plainly dressed old gen
tleman; hat stuck on the back OF his
head, spectacles IS often us not showed
up on his forehead, and his white, fluffy
hair Struggling about in all directions.
In the winter he wore "A blue-topped
coat and would draw a pair of large
wooden socks up over his boots. He
had a stoop in his gait and usually ear
ried "a cane.
General Grant, while at the white
house, showed the same love for fine
horses that he always displayed. He
was a frequent attendant at the races
at Ivy City, and during the summer
season could be seen almost any even
ing driving out Mrs. Grant and some
Of the family in an unusually high dog
cart.
C1eveland's seal-browns are probab-
ly as fine horses as the white house es-
tablishment has ever seen. They are
large and handsome, but not particu-
larry spirited or fast. Undoubtedly
they give Mr.. Cleveland IA great deal
of satisfaction, for he rides behind
them every day just before dinner.
usually in company with his secretary,
Colonel Lamont, or with whatever
guest he may have for the day. He
keeps Alfred Hankins. the same old
%coachman who has been in the stables
since early in Grants first term. Al
fred is a shiny. ebony-faced African,
who is retained largely as a matter Of
precedent. Although he knows a good
deal about horses, his habits are such
that the president does not enjoy rid
ing when he has hold Of the reins. Mr..
Cleveland's driver on nearly all occa-
sions is a big, tall, raw-boned Ken
tuckian, named John Wells.