The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1893-01-14

type reached perfection in Andrew Jack
son.
"Old Hickory!" Superb sobriquct!
Though years have drifted over his grave
the principles Of the statesman live and
the memory of the soldier is green. And
every patriot loves him for what he said
at Washington and for what he did at
New Orleans.
Though a Democrat of the old school
Andrew Jackson belonged neither to
party nor section The nation claims
him as one of its great men and famous
warriors. There is now golden oppor-
tr1nity for the nation to show in what
reverence his memory is held and to
raise its hand against the vandalism OF
greed which would sweep away most
precious landmark Of llistory-The Her
mitage-Jackson's old home near Nash
vile.
The general assembly of the state OF
Tennessee has assigned to the care Of the
Ladies Hermitage association, of Nash
vile, the house and tomb of General
jackson and twenty-five surrounding
acres to improve and preserve in last
J
This property was purchased years ago
by the state from the adopted son of
General jackson, with the proviso that
his wife remain there during her life
Mrs. jackson died three years ago, when
the state handed over the historic man
sion to The Hermitage association.
When the energetic and patriotic
southern gentlewomen who formed this
association took possession Of the noble
mansion they found ruin and decay
everywhere prevalent upon the estate.
The little log cabin where "Old Hickory"
lived for fifteen years was Il complete
wreck. Its chimney was falling down
and its roof was caving in." Up at the
brave old mansion affairs were not mach
better The roof leaked, the plaster had
fallen i'll all the rooms, and the wall
paper was discoiorcd and pceling. Out
buildings were totteriny, fences tllm-
bling down, and the melancholy of ruin
was fast settling over the entire place.
The mansion has been roofed plaster
ing and paper have been repaired, fences.
drives and outbuildings put in shape
and the log cabin fully restored even
to the kitchen fireplace, before which
"Uncle Alf," the ancient negro body
servant OF the general, still sits, and gag
ing in its ruddy flames lives over the
eventful past.
The Hermitage is a magnificent speci-
men of colonial architecture. The ap-
proach through Il long avenue bordeGed
by grand old trees is indescribably pic
turesque. Across it's antique porticoes
and massive pillars brush low, dropping
boughs, and the warm sunshine touches
the old house with loving fingers. The
great carved door, with its resounding
knocker, stands open. Enter the old
fashioned hall, long and broad enough
for a modern ballroom. It is papered
with highly colored scenes and incidents
in the life Of Telelnachus.
This paper was bought by General
Jackson in France in 1887 and is i'll
an excellent state of preservation The
pictures hang on the walls just as Jack
son left them. There are two very fine
portraits of Mrs. jackson, by Earle, and
any number Of portraits of the general,
the most interesting perhaps being that
taken by order of the French gov
ernment five days before his death.
Quaint claw footed mahogany sofas and
chairs are scattered about. A superb
winding stairway leads to the rooms
above, while on either side stretch apart
ments whose hospitable dimensions
speak volumes of dead and gone cheer.
In the drawing room the antique piano.
with it's yellow keys, the bronze and gilt
candelabra, the or1nolu tables, the velvet
hangings, the rare bric-;-brac, which
would send connoisseur wild with de-
light, possess the fascination of the past.
In the generals bed chamber stands the
four post bed on which he died.