The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-30

at one time she surprised Washington by
dashing around the ring and over the hurdles
and bitches Of the steeplechase course, Mrs
Cleveland has not yet been seen on he rseback
about Washington, but the country In which
Oak View is located is one of magnificent
drives. The last Democratic mistress of the
White House dearly loved horseback riding,
and the unwri ten social annals of Washington
are full OF her daring exploits in this direction.
Harriet Lane used to go dashing about the
country on Buchanan's spirited steed and
Secretary Bayard's sister and other ladies of
the then fashionable Washington went with
her.
l don't think the president would look
very well on horseback. He is too fat
and heavy to sit horse well. President
Arthur, during the latter part of his term,
took horseback rides almost daily, and the
presidents of the past have nearly all been
fond Of equestrian exercise. George Wash.
ington once fogged stable boy because he
did not rub his horse down when he brought
him in wet with the exercise of hard gallop
Jefferson was fond of horses, and he rode on
a saddle to his Inauguration. John Quincy
Adams was residing near here when jackson
was inaugurated, and he used to walk out to
the race course near Washington to see thu
running. A tip which man once gavB
Andrew Jackson on the race course saved
that mans life when Andrew jackson b.
came president, and Harrison pranced up 10
his Inauguration at the Capitol on a milk
white steed, because he thought in this he
uua i111itofinor fba
rode along the Appian way. John Tyler had
good horses, though he did ride in second
hand carriage, and Zach Taylor looked his
best when he was on horseback. Frank
Pierce used to gallop about Washington at
midnight on a spirited steed which was to-
tally blind, and James Buchanan had set of
harness which cost him $500. Lincoln liked
horses, and he rode them, wearing at the time
q tall silk hat, and no one thinks Of Grant
without associating him with his horses.
dropped into the supreme court room yes
terday and sat while watching the stout old
judges in their black gowns. They are COM
Portable set of men, and they have all grown
fat, with the single exception of Judge Brad
ley, on their $4,000 year. Bradley is little
more than skin, bone and BRAINS and he
seems to grow dryer and thinner as time goes
ON. Not one of the other eight would weigh
less than 200 pounds, and venture that Har-
Ian, Miller and Gray will each pull the beam
at more than $50. Stanley Matthews begins
to grow portly, and he has very comforta-
BILE stomach under his waistcoat Chief JUS
tice Waite has entirely recovered from his
last years sickness, and Justice Field
looks as though he might yet live
to be 100 Judge Harlan is happy in
the new house which he is building
on Columbia Heights, and Justice Miller
looks decidedly picturesque in new black
velvet cap, which he has begun to wear while
upon the bench This cap fits close around
his big head. 1t is of silk velvet and it has
a tassel in the center of its crown. As saw
him to-day it was pulled down close to his
eyebrows, and he looked the pictuls of happy
contentment as he leaned his chin upon his
hand and calmly listened to the young law
yer who was addressing the court. Justice
Miller is now 70 years of age, and he was old
enough to retire on April 5 last He likes his
work, however, and he does not seem in
clined to become a nonentity He is wealthy,
and is said to be worth S25O,0OO He is fond
Of good living, and back ot his sober face
here is a soul which enjoyse good joke, and
/ tongue not averse now anu then to telling
me. At one time, speaking to a leading Re-
publican, he said: "My dear sir, like you
md think you are one of the very few poll
icians who will be saved. But the good
world won't be crowded with them," he
.dded, grimly, lit won't be crowded"