The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-26
HOME OF "OLD HICKORY.
"rhe Hermitage"-The Tomb of jack
son-Van Buren's snuff Box.

son-Van Buren's snuff Box.
From the Commercial Advertiser.
NASHVILLE, TENN. Oct. 2L-To visit
Nashville without making pilgrimage to
the home Of Andrew jackson is like going
to Rome without seeing the vatican.
Although there is little to see after making
the journey, still it is pleasant 10 tread
upon the ground made historic by the man
who lived up to his motto, VICTORY or
DEATH" and who, PRISON Brownlow was
wont t. say, ran rougnshod over the
world, the flesh and the Democratic party
THE HISTORIC FARM.
A quarter Of a mile off the old Lebanon
turnpike, twelve miles from Nashville,
stands the "Old Hermitage" farm OF 500
acres, surrounded by fe ce, which tradi-
ton saith ''Old Hickory" himself had
hand in building. drive down the lane,
leading from the turnpike, enables you to
catch glimpse OF the pagod s-shape tomb 81
| Andrew Jackson and his second wife, Rachel
Donnelson. On past the garden, in which
still bloom the roses planted by the hands
that erected the fence, stand the big front
gate,n inside of which is a circular carriage
drive, lined on both sides by cedar trees,
also planted by "the master" A two-story
white house, whose dilapidated roof is SUD-
ported by large round pillars that rise up
| from the stone porch, sits back alb out 4OO
| yards frohI ths gate
| You first enter broad ball, the walls of
which are covered with old-fashioned
papering, whe eupon impossible Grecian
maidens, in scant attire, pirouette a out
affairs dedicated to Ceres this, perhaps.
| being the nearest approach to dtUsrttsSe-
| nlent which the old war horse allowed him
| self in his latter years. The paper in several
places has been torn of by relic hunters.
In the stand. behind the door, is the gen
erals umbrella, handle gone another evil
dence of vandalism, and standing bolt
upright against the wall is an old, high
back, leather-covered sofa, on which "de
ginn," as "Old Lige' calls him, was wont to
take his afternoon maps. "Old Iige," by
the way, was the generals body servant
from boyhood. He is now 80 years old,
and it is pathetic to see with what affection
ate interest the aged servant exhibits the
home and belongings Of his old master.
THE PARLoR.
To the left of the hail is the parlor, hung
with the portraits OF jackson, Mrs. Jack
son, and the artist who painted them.
Spindle-legged furniture stands stiff1y
against the walls, while pretentious brass
tire-dogs keep watch upon the hearth. An
oval mirror hangs between the windows,
and silver candlesticks, which were won't
no let their light shine on many festive
gathering in that room, stand like mute
sentinels upon the mantelpiece. A cabinet
of bric-a-brac, containing souvenirs
from many noted people, occupies one
corner of the room, over which "Old Lige"
stands guard, and punctuates his descrip
tions of the different articles in the cabinet
by bit of personal history after this wise
81 wuz de gin'l's body servant in eberyting.
l wuZ wild him wen he whipped de red
coats in New Orleans. an wen he wuz de
president in Washington, and..e sence he
wuz boy, and he wuz a mischie vous chile.
l was bawn on dis hyar place an Use gwine
ter die right hyar." Then he goes on with
his catalogue of curiosities: "Dis is Mr..
Van Buren's snuff box. dis is Mrs. Jack sons
ring. Mrs. jackson, you know, wuz de wife
NV de gln1; dis is de gln'ls quill pen and
inkstand, dis is de gin'ls cup and saucer, and
dis" said he, with evident pride aud a snap
in his faded old eyes, sis one NV dem New
Orleans bul ets." When interrupted in his
remarks, he would commence all over again
with dds is Mr.. Van Buren's snuff box"
etc. 1t was pathetic to see the historic old
man, who had told the same thing over
thousands of times, thrown off the track by
a simple question. He and his aged wife
live IL the yard, back of the "big house." in
the cabin which jackson first built for him
self.
The Hermitage is now occupied by Col.
jackson (the adopted son of Andrew Jack
SOM, whose wife died a few months ago,
AMI was buried near the gray tomb of the
general, around which are many graves of
relatives.
Speaking Of his grave recalls an incident
in the last illness of Jackson, in which "the
ruling spirit was strong in DEATH" A clergy
man by the name of Edwards called upon
him, and tried to draw him out In regard to
his religious views. Fearing that the gen.
eral was very weak in that quarter. aud
hoping that there might be some repent
ance for past sins in his heart, he asked:
well, general, what act of your life do
you regret mostm He felt assured that
jackson would say the duel that he fought
with Dickinson. Although very feeble,
the old man raised up in led, leaued on his
elbow, and, raising his long, bony hand,
cried. by the eternal, my greatest regret
| is not hanging that traitor, John c. Cal
| houn." A deadly hatred existed between
the two men which even the presence Of
death could not conquer
A move is now being made by the Frank
Cheatem Bivouac of Nashville, to secure
the Hermitage for Mexican, confederate.
| and federal soldiers home A bill for this
| purpose will be introduced by the next leg
| stature. The legislature of this state bought
| the Hermitage from Gen. jackson in 1856,
Ior Wnlcn the state Issued bonds that are
still outsta ding, they being part of the
bonds which the legislature refused to scale
in 1882, at the time of the state debt settle
| ment, when the stlte refused to pay the
principal. but agreed to pay SO cents on the
| dollar at per cent. interest. The legis-
lature bought the farm for the
state from Gen. jackson, from the
fact thatsshe was in debt, and it would have
been sold bad he not been relieved of the
embarrassment After the purchase of this
property, the state of Tennessee, through
Andrew johnson, rendered it to the general
government. for the purpose Of establishing
| a branch school of West Point Military
Academy. The government declined tue
PROPOSITION, and in 1884 a bill was intro
duced in the state legislature, proposing the
erection of an orphan asylum upon the
property. Col. E. w. Cole, of this city.
promised the state that he would endow an
institution of learning upon the premises. il
it would donate the property. The bill
failed.
If the Frank Cheatem Bivouac secures
the place. fifty acres Immediately about the
house and tomb will be reserved by the
state, IN order that they may be preserved.
The Hermitage Club" is tie swell CLUB OF
Nashville. 1t gives an annual ball in com.
memoration of Jackson's victory at New
Orleans This ball is always looked forward
to with great pleasure by the elite of the
city. The Hermitage" Is to Nashville what
the Union League Club is to New York. II
has membership of 200, composed of the