The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-03-30
PRESIDENTIAL POVERTY.
THE WHITE HOUSE NOT THE PLACE
FOR MONEY MAKING.

Jefferson Died in Debt-1ne OF the wash
ington Family PeddIinE TrinEets-The
Adamses as Money Savers--Andrew Jack
son--Buchanan-FnIm
Most Of the presidents have died poor, and
few of them have made much out Of Office
holding. Just before jefferson died he was
50 much in debt that lottery scheme was
gotten mp % sell his property and relieve his
necessities. He left practically nothing to
his 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 il all
went 10 his second wife. one Of his sons,
Gen. John Tyler, who drove a four-in-hand
while his father was in the White House, and
who was then called the handsonest man in
Washington, lives Off position in the treas
ury department, and one of TyIeT's most &c
compIisLed daughters, lady who presided
ever the executive mansion after her mothers
death and until her father married Julia
Gardner. is a 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, pcddles trinl,ets in a little booth in
the pension building. Dolly Madison the
presidents wife, was, during a part Of her
last days, furnished food by a coIored man
who had been in President Nadison'5 service.
She got, however, a large sum Of money from
congress for MadisOn's papers, and it was this
that eased her declining years.
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 $l5OOOO, including Polk
,la ut IL,
lives. 1t is a valuable block Of groundin
the 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
10 do. One estimate puts his estate at $780,
600 and he made money in real estate as
we'll as in the law Both of the Adamses
were money savers, if not money makers.
The letters Of John Adams, the second Presi- !
dent 70 his wife, Abigail, repeatedly urge
her 70 cut down the household expenses and |
20 practice economy He lunched himself |
on oat cake and lemonade, and he walked |
far oftener than he rode.
John Quincy Adams received nearly $780, |
600 from tho 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 l was /
told at Kansas City that Charles Francis !
AualllS mas more J0du El,OUO,OUJ lnNeSJel III
real estate there. He has railroad stocks
and bonds ia addition, and he makes his
money breed like Australian rabbits
ANDREW JACKsoN's EXPENSES.
Andrew Jackson spent more than his sal
airy while no was in the White House, and he
had 10 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, 900 dur
ing his White House career. He died, l am
told, worth about 100000, and the most of
this came from economy. 1t was a pretty
good estate for a tailor to leave. James Blu
chanan was making about 81, 900 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, a rich man when he died,
and his estate of Wheatlands was sold 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 $50 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
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 AS first wife died.
President Cleveland is supposed to be worth
about 100000, and he owns, am told, real
astate in Buffalo which is rapidly advancing
in value. President Arthur left much less
than he was supposed to be worth. Garfield
shortly before his death owed $50, 000 to Gen.
Swain, and Grant did /. add to his fortune
by his White House c--,eer. Hayes made
money out of the pre- dency, and is rich
through Inheritance and economy. The pres
ents, as a rule, have not saved money dur
ng their presidency, but the same abilities
which made them presidents would, if they
had been used in She field OF money making
and money saving, have given them fort
nnes.-Frank &. Carpenter in New York !
World.