The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-25
OLD HICKORY.
His Hat Too Large for Modern Visitors to the
Hermitage.

Nashville American.
The steamer /. T. Rhea carried up nearly
500 people to the Hermitage yesterday.
while about 100 went by train. Members
of the Ladies' Hermitage Association
were present To receive the guests,
aud entertained them in q manner which
they themselves declared was delightfui.
Zach party of visitors, as they arrived,
was taken first to the parlOrs, where, so
many objects of interest are placed, then
TO General Jackson's bedroom, then to the
dining-roOm, where the carriage made from
the. timbers of the old ship Constitution
and the hickory Jan. 8" mantel.
piece a1e situated, then to the tomb Of
IN where Aaron Burr paid his visit IN 1875
can be viewed satisfactorily. and then al
lowed to go all over again. More curious
persons not content with this distant view,
walked over to take a nearer survey OF the
cabin and to visit the spring-house.
The Ignorance of visitors continued o
show mp all through the day. Many per-
sons would ask if Jackson was born in the
old cabin. One of the young ladies who
was selling the photographs told h the qaesS
doubtless believed it. Then the question
was frequently asked, "What made them
make the mantei upon the sth of JanuaryW
The piece of candle taken from Lord Corn
wallls's tent is interesting connected with
Jan. s, and is asked for by visitors
The yonng ladies of the Hermitage neigh
borhood rendered efficient aid in the dining
room and in selling the photographs that
had been prepared for the occasion. These
met with a ready SALE and the association
will realize very handsomely from them.
The crowd was so large that 1T took
long time to transfer them, and the boat
was later than usual in returning. but the
ride down the river was the most pleasant
were treated to the sight of another pass
ing boat, which was hailed, followed
by cheers. One of the gentlemen on
the boat. upon investigation, discovered
that there were representatives In the
crowd from twenty-five States and Terri
tories. Each of the visitors who desired it
brought away from the Hermitage besides
the photographs which nearly every one
bought. sprigs of shrubbery. A tree of
great interest to visiters is shittim-
wood tree to the right of the building one
of the few in this country. 1t was trans
planted there.
Old Alfred, as usual, was always sur
rounded, and whenever he got off nything
peculiarly original the crowd would laugh
aud applaud. Looking at General jack
sons hat (which, by the way. bears a strik-
ing resemblance to the old Generall one of
the gentlemen tried to get him to put it on.
but his reverence for the hat and his old
master was too great, and he said: Il
doesn't car to hab de honor to war de hat.
I'd ruther see some of the gentlemen try it
on" Several attempted it, and on only one
in ten was it tit. On the others it dropped
down over the ears. The hat is tall, stiff
hat with brim, heavy band of Grape ex-
tending around it. There was up to a few
years ago white one similar in appear
ance, but it was used masquerading, and
lost, much to the regret of the Ladies' Asso-
citation. The box is still there.
Looking through an old cedar chest, Col.
Jackson found recently beaded vest and
regalia, all carefully done up in linen,
where the hand of his mother had probably
placed it years ago, which was presented to
General Jackson by Governor Sam Hous-
ton his old friend