The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-08-25
PRESIDENTIAL PLAY.
Sports and Amusements Of the
Nations Rulers.
FamonS Game Preserve Near the
National Capitol


that he goes on his more important
shooting or fishing expeditions. He
usually does his cunning on the
shores of the Potomac river and Ches-
apeake Bay. He likes duck shooting.
His trips sometimes last week, and
during part of that time he may be
! inaccessible by mail or telegraph.
His hunting ground is substantially
the same that Benjamin Harrison used,
and constitutes what may be termed
the great presidential game preserve.
1t lies south of Washington and takes
in the Potomac river and Chesapeake
bay TO the sea. The game includes
wild ducks (among which are canvas
backs, quail, pheasants and snipe, and
occasionally wild turkeys. If a presi-
dent is n true fisherman and will fish
with only the rod and reel, he
may go upon the outskirts of the
presidential preserve and find streams
where trout are tolerably numerous.
From the beginning of the govern
-ment presidents have used these
grounds for their exploits with rod and
gun. General Washington, living at
Mount Vernon, knew every inch of
the land for miles up and down the
river. In his younger days he was n
thorough sportsman, but after no be-
came president there is no record of
his shooting or fishing.
President Harrison was good shot.
He could undergo unusual fatigue and.
hardship, and even shot ducks from
sink box, which, as every sportsman
knows, is very uncomfortable thing
to do. He never rode horseback, and
for field sports he had no taste what
ever.
When President Cleveland goes TO
the scashore he does not indulge in
swimming, although some OF his pre-
decessors have been very tolerable
swimmers John Quincy Adams, next
to Benjamin Franklin, was the great-
est of swimmers among public men.
In winter, when he was President, he
used to take long, solitary walks up
| Pennsylvania avenue and around by
the Capitol every morning before day
light, returning to the White House
just as the day was dawning. In sum
mer his walk was in the opposite di-
rection. Going up above George
town, he would there undress and
plunge into the Potomac for n swim
President Arthur was about the last
president who took complete vaca-
ton. One summer he and General
Phil Sheridan went out TO the Yellow
stone region. They camped out,
hunted and fisted, and were often
hundred miles from civilization. This
was his only prolonged vacation. He
was, however very fond Of taking
short fishing trips He handled his
rod well and loved angling for bass
and trout Among fishing presidents
he ranks first. When he was on one
Of his official trips in the South, a
fishing club at Louisville presented
him with beautiful rod with a German
silver reel, on which were engraved
liza Walton's famous words about his
love for all good fishermen IA gentle,
kindly race of men. IL is doubtful
whether he ever received q gift that
pleased him more than this. His pre-
decessor, Garfield, could shoot toier-
ably, but never fshed. General Gar
field was boy in his love for other
sports. For some years the old Ma
tional Baseball Club boasted OF him
as one Of its honorary members. He
was a constant attendant at the games,
and knew the players personally, and
he used 10 play himself sometimes
when he was on the farm at Mentor
He was n billiard player also, and
when be came into the White Honse
the billiard room in the basement,
which bad fallen into neglect and had
not been used for several administra-
tions, was renovated and a new table
was put ia. Here he used 10 play
searly every afternoon He was an
tcellent horseman.
All the earlier presidents were
horseback riders. Horseback riding
.forGed an easier way Of travelling
han a stage coach, for the roads were