Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-02

Park and the immediate neighborhood
make one OF those quiet ports away from
the surging sea of city bustle, one OF those
quiet, secluded and arist0cratic squares
on which Thackeray loved TO dwell in HIS
life-like fiction. lie IS on such scene as
this that the statesman who believes that
ten wears ago he was elected President OF
the United States, Looks out when he 10 in
town. Much OF his time Is now passed,
however, both In winter and summer, at
Grey stone, his line mansion, two miles
from Nonkers, on the Hudson. Among
those who call most frequently upon him
are William E. Dodge, John Bigelow and
Assembly man Beardsley. Ex-ComptrOl-
Ter Andrew II. Green stays with him
While he Is at Greystone. His mansion
and various possessions there, by the
way, are valued at $l,5O0,000. His for
tune amounts to $I,OOO,00O or So, ZOO, 900.
On MS Greystone estate he raises Jersey
cattle, blcoded horses. dogs and fowls he
| comes nom English stock and is in some
respects English in his tastes. His eX-
tenslVe grounds receive the most careful
attention. His sister, Mrs, PeltOn, pre-
sides over his household, assisted by
mum Der OF nleces, who are much attached
10 the ola statesman. He likes to be sur
rounded by young people, especially
young ladies. He has the elaborate gal.
lautry of gentleman of The Old school.
Among bis neighhOrs are Nj. and Mrs.
HarriOtt Clara Morris J, and sometimes
he drives out with the gifted actress, who
has been for years, like himself, an inva-
lid. lie was formerly an exceptionally
GOOD hotsemau, but now, weighed down
by years and intirmities, he taxes his air
Ing In carriage, and in summer he makes
short trips on the Hudson in his yacht.
Some years ago he mad a light stroke Of
paralysis, buthis principal trouble is
nervous affection known to physicians as
arthrits; the paraytic stroke, however,
affected the lid OF his left eve, which is
contracted and drawn down, while his
mouth aud tongue are also slightly affect
ed. Both hands are inclined 10 keep up
perpetual shaking, the left hand
Is most affected. This trouble
set in as palsy about eight years ago; It
is now curon C and beyond a cure; iodine
frequently applied to the left hand, al d
M conversation he often uses his right
hand TO stop the shaking of the other.
When he sleeps both hands are prefectly
quiet. He usually retires at 9:30 and rises
az 1870. He Is cheerful and usually
passes cOmparatlvelypl pleasant day. His
mind remains triumphant over the ills of
MS poor, wOrn-Out body; be is "A marvel
ous phhcation of the fact that the
human soul may win glorious victory
over all the ills of the flesh. This de-
crepit man OF y reads. or has others read
to him, engages in witty and intellectual
conversation, and keeps up large cor
respOndence with various prominent
members OF the Democratic party. He
has private secretary and an
amanuensis, both of whom he keeps busy.
lie has an exceptionally fine library: ne
IS especially fond OF rare books, more
particularly OF interviewed copies OF old
works, like those, for example, OF lzaak
w alton. His memory Is marvellous; with
out referring TO his power OF retaining
historical facts and figures II is curious
to notice the tenacity OF his memory for
mere words emb0dying nice shades OF dir
tinctlOn; mis- discrimination in the use OF
synonyms is as delicate as that OF the
most uncOmpromlsiDg purist. He selects
word which expresses his exact mean
ing and he never varies from 10 even
though he may dictate the same matter TO
one of his secretaries or to the reporters
dozen times. Is sides being master OF
English he Is good classical scholar,
His voice has not been heard I'm public
since 1880, when he spos e at the Academy
OF Music, lndOrsing the nomination OF
Gen. Hancock Tor President. MIR. Tilden
now speaks altogether IN whisper, az d
! I Is necessary to get quite close 20 him 10
hear what ne says. His sense of humOr is
exquisite; his wit often has a tinge of
satire. sometimes quiet and delicate ms
the play OF light on a dauaskeeued blade,
sometimes slightly sardOnic and sugges-
tive OF Machiayelli in gay and harmless
mood. the lmpresslVeness Of his con-
versation is heightened by the fact that
IL is from necessity spoken in a whisper.
And so the old statesman, with the pene-
tratiOn of a Metternich, the cunning, II
not the courage, of a kichelieu, is pass
ing slowly along sequestered vale OF Life
TO take his place among the Notable
figures in American history.
OSCAR WILLOUGHRY RIGGS