West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-08-05
Continued from last well

the various departments were very
attentive and polite and proud of
their positions, so that it still
seemed like ante bellum days, long
gone by.
We had the pleasure Of seeing
many finely bred horses, some of
them worth thousands OF dollars,
and with records that are known
the world over. Several of the stall
lions cannot be bought at all, and
Gen. Jackson has been offered and
refused $50, 600 for one and 800,
900 for another. 1t costs 81, 800 to
get colt from one OF them. We
passed on to the deer park, a large
range Of several hundred acres, en-.
closed with high fence and con
tanning six hundred deer. The
darkeys rounded them up for us,
and it was beautiful sight and
one long to be remembered.
We arrived at the COW stables at
milking time and found several
hundred of the finest Jersey cows
in the world, every one Of them
worth hundred dollars. The
darkeys were milking and feeling
and taking good care Of them. The
milk supplies a good part of Nash
VILE and amounts to a big sum in
a years time. The wheat crop from
the farm sold for So, 600, and the
average income of Belle Meade is
100000 per year. We left this
grand old place with many fond re.
grets. specially after hearing that
the General had no unmarried
daughters.
The next day we had a delightful
drive out to the "Old Hermitage >"
President Jacksou's old home. 1t
is situated twelve miles out from
Nashville on the Lebanon pike, the
finest road we ever drove over.
There were eighteen in our party
in big four-in-hand coach, and
we passed through some of the
finest farming country the sun ever
shone upon and gladdened the
heart of the hay maker. The Her
mitage is grand old place and a
hallowed shrine for the genuine old
fashioned Democracy. 1t was Jack
sons home from lSl9till his death,
except while President from 1929
to 1887. Here he died in the arms
Of his faithful old colored servant.
who still lives there and delights TO
tell Of his old master. LIE calls
himself "Uncle Alfred Jackson, 3"
and ls 81 years of age, having been
born ia 1903. lie is yet vigorous
and has a good memory, and is u
very entertaining talker aud spends
bis time in showing visitors through
the house and explaining about the
different rooms and furniture.
Nearly everybody gives him some
thing, and he probably makes a
good living in this way. The place
IS under the control Of the Ladies
Of Tennessee, like Mt. Vernon, and
they have regular Board of Mana
gers, who keep the place in good
repair and have reliable parties
there in charge all the time. The
small fee OF ten cents is charged all
visitors, and souvenirs are sold also
10 defray current expenses. The
old log cabin that cold Hickory"
lived in from 1904 till 1919. and
which stood a short distance i'm the
rear Of the present building, was
torn down few years since and the
material worked up into canes and
various fancy things for sale to
visitors.
President Jackson and various
members Of his family are buried
M the old fashioned garden adjoin.
ing the yard around the Hermitage
Reluctantly we clme away from
this historic place and returned to
Nashville, leaving that afternoon
for The Mammoth Caye.
We arrived at the quaint old
time hotel on the grounds Of the
Cave property in time for q good
supper. a colorod minstrel troupe
were playing lively airs ON banios.
guitars, viol.ns, bones, otc., and
with the other visitors there, The
place was quite lively, and 80 cool
and pleasant, situated right in the
woods, with 900 feet Of veranda
ruhning around the hotel above
and below, aud hammocks here and
there, o good bar, postomice and
everything complete right in the
hotel, making 10 one OF The most
delightful resorts 20 spend q few
days In We ever visited. After SUP.
per our whole party, over FORTY.
wont into the Gaze and spent til'
midnight exploring tbe beauties Of
This wonder land underground. AZ
we visited it once before several
years age and wrote o foil dcscr.p-
ton Tor TIE ARGUS, We will not
attempt 10 describe 10 again for our