Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-08-25
COUNTRY HOMES.
Fondness or Our Presidents
for Rural Residences.
The Places Owned by the Various Presi.
dents Since Washington's Time.

Almost every President that this coun.
try has had has passed a part of his
career in the delights of country home.
Washington, as everybody knows, owned
q large estate at Mount Vernon, where
he retired after his two terms in the
Presidency. His death, it will be re.
mcmbcred, was caused from exposure
incident to his duties on the plantation,
which he delighted to manage in per-
son. John Adams, his successor, retired
after his term in the Presidency had
expired to n country seat Quincy"
near Boston, and engaged in agricul-
tural pursuits. Jefferson, after his re-
tircmcnt from public life, established
himself at his home, Monticello, Va,
where he entertained his friends, man.
aged his estate, and died regretted by
large number Of servants and domcs-
tics, which he had with Mm to the last.
Madison, after his term of office expired,
retired to Montpelier, Va, where he
became rector of the University of
Virginia and engaged in agricultural
pursuits. Monroe, after the c,osc of
his public life, took up his residence
at Oak Hill, Va, where he entertained
his friends royalty, SO much 50, in fact,
that he soon found the bottom of his
purse, and was finally obliged to give
up his princcly estate and take up his
residence with relatives in New York,
where he was still making his home
at the time of his death.
John Quincy Adams, after his term of
office had expired, retired to the old
family estate "Quincy," in Massachu-
sctts, but responded to his country's call
again, and died at his post of duty in
Washington, where he had been sent as
member of Congress. Jackson, as
everybody knows, retired to the "Hcr-
mitage,' " Nashville, where he died. Van
Buren, after his term in office expired,
retired to Undertook, N. Y, and there
ended his days. Harrison, who died
during his term in the presidency, was
buried at his home in North Bend, Ohio,
ard there his remains still lie. Tyler
was accustomed to country life, and de-
lighted in it, as it brought him rccollcc-
tions Of early days when his father was
one of the largest land owners in Vir-
ginia. Polk, whose early days were
spent in the country as the son of 4
farmer, looked forward to comfortable
life of retirement, just beside Nashville,
after his term Of service in the pref
dcncy, but had been only three months
away from here when death called him.
Taylor, who had worked on plantation
during his early Life, had look d for
ward with pleasure to quiet life on his
estate at Baton Rouge, La, after rctir-
ing from his war service. H. had
scarcely begun this, however, when he
was called to the Presidency, and before
his term lad fairly begun his life ended.
Fillmore was the son of farmer, and
spent his early life among rural delights.
Pierce ever remembered with affection
the place where his boyhood days were
spent, and where he taught country
school when he arrived at the early years
Of manhood.
Buchanan, after his Presidential
labors were ended retired to country
place, "WheatIand," inP,msy vania,
where he died. Lincoln, as everybody
knows, was reared amid the most primi.
tive Of country life, and retained a great
affection for the homely things of life to
the day of his sad death. The same may
be said Of his successor, Johnson, who
was in this respect not unlike his more
illustrious prcdeccs ors. Grant, who was
a farmer in his earlier days, ended his
days in the country, heartily wishing,no
doubt, that he had followed the cx-
ample of his pre- leCe 's)r,, an | retired to
the country rather than have entered
the whirlpool of NV York business
life. Mr. Hayes, as everybody knows, is
in retirement upon farm in Ohio, de-
voting his attention to the duties of
rural life, and ente tanning the many
friends who seek him out in his com.
parativc sccusioa President Garfield
went from his country home at Mentor,
Ohio to the White II use, where he was
stricken down by the assOssins bullet,
and his sorrowng wife an flmjly, aft er
a couple years in city life, have just de-
termincd to sell their city home and re.
turn to their country residence. President
Arthur, after year OF city life, at the
close Of his term, now seeks the country
as his only hope of rcgaining the health
lost in his service in the White House.
And President Cleveland, following the
example o! this long line
of presidential predecessors is
preparing country home for himself,
only varying the order by beginning his
country life during his actual term of
service. -LOuiSrWe Post.
Family Discipline.
"Well, Johnny, | suppose you fire.