Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-08-10
Mr.. Cleveland at Gray Gables.
From Harper's Weekly.

From Harper's Weekly.
Mr. Cleveland's life at Buzzard's Bay,
so far as | could see or learn, is about
as simple as modern civilization will
permit. He is beginning to have some
visitors who come from a distance, or
from near at band. The other day two
men came from Alaska, while another
came from the neighboring city of Prov
idence. The neighbors, in their quiet
New England dignity, treat him with
great respect, and, without any distinc-
ton of party prejudices, are frankly
proud of having him as a fellow-towns
man. They showed that spirit of
friendliness for him which the New
Highlander instinctively feels for a
neighbor, and that due regard for one
who has occupied the highest Office in
the country. There is no enthusiasm,
there is no familiarity. There is an al
most absolute refusal on the part of
those who come in contact with him to
be anything but solemn. There is
good deal of cdmGrdderie about Mr..
Cleveland, and he enjoys friendliness.
Therefore the solemn, dignified, self
guardedness of these excellent sailors
and fishermen, maintaining always a
wall between themselves and the ex-
President, used at first to make life as
gray as his gables. 1t is even said that
he once threatened to discharge skip
per because he could not prevail upon
him to laugh, in consequence of which
he would frequently return from sue
cessful day of fishing as blue as his
catch.
Occasionally people drive up to the
porch and stare at the house and it's
inmates with the unconsciousness of
those whose ethical code is that they
have a right to everything that comes
their way. When such a man, or bis
wife, finds that he can look into the
domestic life of an eX and a possible
future President by simply staring,
Z there is no rule of dccency. that will
prevent the staring. But annoyances
at Buzzard's Bay are the exception. 1t
isan out OF the way place, and the I'M
mediate neighbors are not that kind of
people.
Mr. Cleveland spends His day in talk
ing with the people who happen to be
about, in reading kilograms and letters,
in walking about the place, in sailing
in his able cat boat or fishing with the
JefferSOn's or some one else, or if he
wants to fish and there is no other one
to go with him, he fishes with his skip
per.
The house is on a joint of land, the
water of the bay coming we'll around
the back, makinga landlocked harbor,
The Monument River comes into the
bay here, and ON the other side of the
water are the wooded hill of Outset,
dotted with more pretentious houses
than are to be found Oh Mr.. Cleveland's
shore. 70 the southwestward the wa
tiers of the bay broaden out, and are
broken by outrageous islands. Mr..
Cleveland says that he has everything
that he likes there. He has sea-fishing,
bathing, sailing, trout streams, black
bass, shooting, and absolutely pure air
and water.
Late at night, after the rest are asleep.
Mr.. Cleveland goes into his gun-room
and writes. He has not yet got over his
White House habit of writing letters
from ten O'Clock in the evening until
two in the morning. 1t seems to be a
bad habit, but Mr.. Cleveland thrives
under it, and as he sits on his piazza,
or walks about lis place, in old clothes.
flannel shirt, and soft hat, he looks like
the sturdy out-of-door man and strong
character that he is.