Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-14

great carved door opens, and you enter the vast old style hall, long and broad enough for a modern ballroom. Its walls are adorned with paper of gorgeous coloring, which represents scenes and incidents in the life of Telemachus. This paper was bought by General Jackson in France in 1887 and is yet in an excellent state of preservation. The pictures still hang as Jackson left them. There are two fine portraits of Mrs. Jackson by Earle and most interesting portrait of the general himself, taken by order of the French gov crnmCnt five days before his death. A quaint winding stairway leads to the up per rooms. Huge old fashioned claw foot ed mahogany sofas, chairs and tables fur nish the halls, giving it hospitablc air. The drawing room, with. its antique, yell low keyed, spindle legged piano, its faded velvet hangincs, its inlaid and ormolu ta bles, its bronzo and gilt candelabra, its quaint mirrors, its pictures and busts of tho general, is delightful with its stately old time air of dress parade. Indeed the whole house is packed with the mahogany and rosewood, the mother of pearl, the dam ask and silver of those good old days and is calculated to drive COnnoisSeur quite | h0pClcSSly wild
 Dining Room, Library and Bedroom. The dining room shows a curious man. | tel, decorated with tall silver CandClabra, over which hangs a tino portrait of Jack son. Here, too, you may see magnificent silver service, presented by Lafayette and | beautiful piece of silver, the gift of De. Catur
 l In the library is n wilderness of curiOs, | medals, coins. pipes, swords and snuff | boxes aS well as the generals books, col. lection numbering many hundreds, most | of which contain his autograph. There l is letter from Thomas Jefferson and an 1 exquisite porcelain miniature of Mrs. Dc | Witt Clinton, presented by herself and 1 accompanied by n letter couChed in the romantic compliment and high flung per sitla2c of that day. There is a small pane from the floor of Napoleon room at Long wood. St. Helena. A candle found in Corn ! wallis tent at the surrender of Yorktown | and sent to Jackson with the request that | ho light il upon every recurring Sth o l January, the anniversary of the battle o | New Orleans, is an interesting souvenir There is penLoldcr made from a portion of the tree under which Washington frs | unshCathCd his sword in defense of Amer iCan liberty. Thcro is Washington's Oflici chair, and another chair presented by thu wife of Chief Justice Fancy.
 Perhaps the most interesting room il the house is the generals bcdchambcr, il which he died. It is preserved just as h. left il. The curious high posted bcdstead tho easy chair and footstoOl, the dressing table, all partnkc of association with on of the most picturesque characters O American history. In this room Is anothe of those quaint hickory mantels whicl are found throughout the house, scdat and stately in shape and execution as ol' time manners. Hero is preserved a Quan tity Cf General JaCksons personal effects jcwClry, clothing, his watch, seal, cornclial ring, topaz hrcastpin, gold pen and pencil tobacco box, walking stick, slippers, dress ing gown and a marvellous bead rcgali presented by sam Houston of Texas.
 Interesting Relics.
 In large empty room on the groun floor is the generals carriage. made iron a portion of the old ship Constitution The sword presented to Jackson by tn citizens of New Orleans is another sou vCnir of interest. In CuphoartS and closet are stored away mahy rarC old hits of fad Cd 1incry. There is the full set of pearl and topaz presented by New Orleans won on to Mrs. Jackson There is beautiful pink brocade worn by Jacksons wife niece, beautiful Emily Donelson, at tn court of Berlin. This lovely girl was
 grOat iavOritC of the general and was mi: troSs of tho White House during he unCle's administration. She is said t havo strongly resembled Mary, queen C Scots, and to have possessed much of tn fascination of the White Rose of Scotland The gown which shU wore at the first ir auguratiOn ball is a precious and coquet tish relic. It is of amber satin brocade with violcts and garniShcd with lace an pearls It was a present from Jackson and even at that day was described q great length in every newspaper in tn country. The wedding dress of Mrs. Sara Jackson, tho wife of tho generals adopte son, is also preserved. This lady was
 Philadelphia belle and beauty and went { the altar in an exquisite robe of white sil and tullo This costume has been worn c Q wedding gown by brides of three succe, ! sivc generations.
 Tho mansion and grounds are under th care and control of the Ladies Hermitae , association of Nashville. The propert was purchased some years ago by the stat from the adopted son of General JacksoI with the proviso that his wife remai
 there during her life. When she died, th general assembly of the state assigned tn } house and tomb and 25 surrounding acrt to the Hermitage association to improy and preserve in lasting memory of the her of New Orleans. When these patriotic an energetic southern gcntlewomen wh formed the association took possession ( tho property, they found ruin and deca everywhere prevalent upon the noble q
 tate. The old log cabin where the gener; . lived for 8 years before The Hermitage
 was built was a total wreck