The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-12-08

ideal of manly beauty, even in his
latter days, and when Stuart under
took to paint his portrait the artist
was so overcome by the majesty of
his patron that at first he was un-
able to go on with his task. John
Adams lacked Washington's noble
stature and grandeur of mein, but
he was man of much dignity.
Jefferson was Of imposing appear
ance. Madison had an unassum-
ing but highly respectable look, and
being always dressed in black, pre-
sented much the appearance of q
clergyman.
REVOLUTIONARY PRESIDENTS.
Monroe and Washington were the
only Presidents that served in the
field during the Revolution. They
were together at Trenton, where
Monroe was Lieutenant, and re-
lceiyed = ball whfch he carried
tlI1oiI6 lle. He vas tho last of
tho revolutionary Presidents, and
wors the cooked hat and continen-
tai uniform, which became him to
a remarkable degree. John Quincy
Adams, like his father, was stout,
thick set, and deficient in point of
stature. Jackson was tall and
gaunt, With bristling hair, high
cheek bones, and a nervous but de-
fiant countenance. Van Buren,
lacked personal dignity in every
point, and, indeed, was the most
deficient of all our Presidents in
physique. General Harrison was
man of much personal dignity. Ty-
ler was a spare-faced man, with a
broad. thin nose, which gave him
rather a comical appearance. Polk
was, as has been said, a small man,
with a cold, repulsive countenance,
and a hard, staring pair of eyes
that were singularly free from any
thing like a kindly genial look.
Taylor was heavy-built man, with
a rough visage, as might have been
expected of one whose life was
spent on the frontier. He was bred
a soldier and loved the service. His
face had plasant smile at times,
but was often impressed with the
stern character of military life.
Fillmore had Emphatic counte-
nance-dull, except when lit up by
business or pleasure. Lincoln's
countenance was suggestive of deep
thought, and an expression of mel
ancholy gave it an air of refinement,
but it had none Of the artificial
polish Of modern society. It was
rich in native grace, for. as has been
we'll remarked, "Mr. Lincoln had
all the instincts of a gentleman"
Johnson and Polk were the worst
looking Of the entire Presidential
coterie. Grants countenance is too
familiar to need comment, and the
same remark applies to all his sue
cessors.
SUBSEQUENT EMPLOYMENT.
Washington survived his retire
ment a little less than three years,
which were spent at Mount Vernon.
He attended to his plantation, car
ried on a large correspondence and
received many visitors, and yet this
was the only leisure his busy life
afforded. John Adams survived
his office twenty-six years, which
were spent at Quincy, his native
place, in close retirement. He i'm
proved the leisure to publish his
political letters, and in his eighty
sixth year sat in the Massachusetts
Constitutional Convention. Thomas
Jefferson on the close of his Presi-
Dental career retired to his resi-
dence at Monticello, where he lived
eighteen years, and eventually be-
came very poor. He was visited
by many distinguished men, the
chief of whom was Lafayette. His
residence is still an object of great
interest to the tourist, and is re-
markable for it's grand prospects.
AS is we'll known, he and John
Adams died on the same day, the
Fourth of July, 1926. Madison
was almost poor when he left the
Presidential office. Monroe retired
poor, and resumed his residence at
Oak Hill, Va, where he became
Justice of the Peace, and afterward
moved to New York city to live
with his son-in-law, at whose house
he died in 1881.
THE OLD MAN ELOQUENT.
John Quincy Adams was the most
active of all the retired Presidents.
He. was returned to Congress in
1881, two years after leaving the
Presidency, and this experience he
continued until his death, seven
teen years afterward. His services
to the cause of liberty at this time
were of the most valuable and even
sublime character, and he died at
his post in the Capitol, being then
in his eighty-first year. Jackson
survived his retirement from the
Presidency nine years, which were
peacefully passed at the Hermitage.