The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-03-16
PRESIDENTIAL POVERTY.
HE WHITE HOUSE NOT THE PLACE
FOR MONEY MAKING.

Jefferson Died in Debt of the Wash
ington Family PeddIing Trinkets-The
Adamses as Money Savers-Andrew Jack
-FiiImOre-GarffeId.
Most of the presidents have died poor, and
few of them have made much out of office
holding Just before jefferson died he was
81 much in debt that lottery scheme was
gotten up TO sell his property and relieve his
necessities. He left practically nothing to
bis children, and they received some two
sums of $4,000 each from the legislatures of
two of the southern states
John Tyler left some property, but it all
went TO his second wife. One of his sons,
Cen John Tyler, who drove a fOur-in-hand
while his father in the White House, and
who was then called the handsomest man in
Washington, lives off position in the treas
ury department, and one of TylerS most ac-
complished daughters, a lady who presided
ever the executive mansion after her mothers
death and until her father married Julia
Gardner, is guest of COrcOran's Old Ladies'
Home here. A man who claims to be one Of
the Washington family, and who, by the
way, has a face strikingly like that of the
president, peddles trinkets in little booth in
the pension building Dolly Madison, the
presidents wife, was, during a part of her
last days, furnished food by a colored man
who had been in President Madisons service.
She got, however, a large suIS of money from
congress for Madison's papers, and it was this
that, eased her declining years.
x PRESIDENT MONROE's POVERTY.
Monroe was so poor that his latter days
were spent with his son-in-law, Samuel L.
Gouverneur, in New York, and there he
died. Harrison left nothing to speak Of
Polk left about Sl50, 600, including Polk
place at Nashville, where his widow now
lives 10 is valuable block of ground in
tho center Of the town, which has risen
largely in value since the presidents death.
Martin Van Buren, made money out of
politics. He started life poor and died well
to do. One estimate puts his estate at $780,,
600, and he made money in real estate as
well in the law Both of the Adamses
wers money savers, if not money makers.
The letters of John Adams, the second presi-
dent, TO his wife, Abigail, repeatedly urge
Der to cut down the household expenses and
to practice economy He lunched himself
on OFT cake and lemonade, and he walked
far oftener than he rode.
JOIN Quincy Adams received nearly $780,,
600 from the government in salaries during
his lifetime, and he possessed the Yankee
thrift. The Adams family at present is one
OF the richest in New England, and I was
told at Kansas City that Charles Francis
real estate there. He has railroad stocks
and bonds in addition, and he makes his
money breed like Australian rabbits.
ANDREW JACKsoN's EXPENSES.
Andrew Jackson spent more than his sal
airy while he was in the White House, and he
had to borrow money to keep up with his ex-
penSes. Thomas Jefferson borrowed the
money that carried him out of Washington
when he left the presidency, and Andy john
son, though he entertained considerably, is
supposed to have saved at least $50,000 dur
ing his White House career. He died, l am
told, worth about 100000, and the most of
this came from economy 1t was pretty
good estate for tailor to leave. James Bu-
chanan was making about $1,000 year at
the law when he entered congress, and he
spent during his presidency what was left
from his living expenses in charity. He
was: not, however, u rich man when ne died,
and his estate of Wheatlands was sold a year
or two ago
President Fillmore began his life as a wool
carder. During the three years he was en-
gagged to his sweetheart he had not enough
money to pay the expenses of the 80 miles
which lay between her home in Saratoga
county, n. Y, and where he had begun to
practice law. During the first years of their
marriage his wife did the homework and
taught school, and still he died one of the
richest of the presidents. The greater part
Of his fortune, however, came from his sec
ond marriage to a rich woman of Buffalo,
whom he cOurted after Us first wife died
President Cleveland is supposed to be worth
about S1O0, 900, and he owns, am told, real
estate in Buffalo which is rapidly advancing
i'll value. President Arthur left much less
than he was supposed to be worth. Garfield
shortly before his death owed $50 600 to Gen.
Swain, and Grant did I. t add to his fortune
by his White House c--'eer. Hayes made
money out of the pre- iency, and is rich
through inheritance and economy. The pres
idents, as rule have not saved money dur
ing their presidency, but the same abilities
which made them presidents would, if they
had been used in the field of money making
and money saving, have given them fort
unes.-Frank q. Carpenter in Ne" Ork
World.
Dispensing of Prescriptions.