Evening star., 1898-04-02
LIFE IN PRINCETON
How Ex-President and Mrs. Cleveland
Spend Their Days.
POPULAR WITH TEE UNIVERSITY SET
Enter Hearth, Into the Spirit Of
the Old Town.
THEIR ATTRACTIVE
HOME

Written for The Evening Star
A sight familiar to residents of the little
college town of Princeton is that of pleas
ant, matronly woman walking briskly along
the streets. followed at a distance of two
or three steps by a heavily-bult man, who
seems to have difficulty in keeping up with
her The couple exchange friendly greet
ings with the people whom they meet as
they walk alongS they seem to be known to
everybody in the village, and if the inquir-
ing stranger fails to recognize them any
citizen can tell him that they are Grover
Cleveland and his wife, who, little more
than year ago. moved out of the White
House TO make way for their successors.
The ease with which man may step from
even the highest official place in this coun-
try back TO the ranks of ordinary citizen
ship has often been commented on as one
of the unique features of our American
scheme of government. In no case has it
ever been more strikingly exempll!ed than
In that of the portly gentleman who may be
seen any day on the streets of Princeton
Fourteen months ago he steering the
snip or state in its more less troubled
course, while his wife had equal promi-
nenee as the first lady of the land. Now
they have become absolutely absorbed
into the life of the quiet college town as
though Mr.. Grover Cleveland had never
been anything more than one of its we'll
to-do, easy-going citizens. And he suffers
no more from the curious interest of the
American public than if that public had
never thought of bestowing on him the
highest gift within its power
A very quiet sort of life it is that Squire
cleveland leads in Princeton. He has no
business cares and there is apparently
nothing more serious to bother his head
than the comfort of his family and his own
enjoyment When he went out of office
there were many rumors as to his future
course, but he seems content to settle down
10 the life of country gentleman thereby
1oiIoWlng the example of Washington and
most or the early presidents. Indeed it
seems that satisfactory occupation for
eX-presidents has yet to be discovered A
few, like Grant, made essays in business.
but without much success. John Quincy
auams tS went back to Congress and died
wrote books after their presidential ex-
perience- Benjamin Harrison has prac-
tlced law, as Arthur did before him. But
most eX-Presidents have found no occupa-
ton that seemed suitable after leaving the
White House ana have been content to live
out the remainder of their lives in peaceful
retirement. This Mr. Cleveland evidently
nhdS 10 be the most congenal
Quiet Round of Daily Life,
Mr. Cleveland usually rises between Z
and each morning. After breakfast he
reads the newspapers and the mail which
ne strolls down the village street to the
post office and calls for his letters in per-
son. After this matter is attended to ne
may spend an hour or two in chatting with
his wife or with his children of whom he
Is very proud. If any improvements are
being made within his spacious grounds he
superfntends them in person and so passes
the time until luncheon In the afternoon
Inc morning letters are answered, and then
the ex-President usually goes for drive
either with his wife or alone. He Is fond
OF nae horses and takes pride in having a
handsome pair in his own sta BILE a char
acterlstlc that was noted during his stay
In Washington But he never cares 20
handle the reins himself. and lets his coach
man attend to all the driving
very often one of the ex-President's New
York friends comes out to take dinner with
him. On such occasions Mr. Cleveland usu-
ally drives to the station to meet him and
strolls up and down the platform while
waiting for the train to arrive. After din
ner. which is always a formal affair with
the Clevelands, there Is an hour or two of
conversation on whatever topics are upper
most In interest, a game of billiards. and
then, by IL O'clock thereabouts the
lights in the Cleveland mansion go out
Fond of Rabbit Hunting.
This Is the ordinary round of the ex-
Presidents daily llfe but he often varies
1t by appearing directly after breakfast in
hunting boots and broad-brimmed hat, with
a gun across his shoulder. Then he will
tramp away across the fields and hills, re-
turning at night with perhaps three or four
rabbits as the days spoil. Mr. Cleveland
was always an ardent sportsman and his
propensity In this direction is even more
marked now that he has more leisure 10
indulge It. The section of New Jersey in
which he lives is not particularly fertile IN
this direction, the only game being II few
rabbits, squirrels and partridges. but Mr.
Cleveland is not easily discouraged He has
Tamped all over the central part of the
state and will walk patiently all day long
Tor the sake of a shot or two, stopping now
and then to chat with some hard banded oid
farmer whom he runs ross. All the la tteI
gentry for miles around know the EXPIRES.
tdent- Though they are inveterate enemies
or the city sportsmen who occasionally
overrun their fields, they are all delighted
at chance to exchange few words with
their distinguished neighbor, and are hugel,
honored IL he will consent to pass an opin
son ON their home-brewed applejack or hard
cider
Mr.. Cleveland has an occasional oppor-
tunity to indulge his fondness for fishing.
Near Princeton there Is little strea M
called Mill brook, In which there are few
bass and pike. Some time ago the ex-
President noticed 1t while out driving and
through a mutual friend 1t was soon fnti.
mated to one of the residents of the village
who owns two or three little skiffs in the
stream. that Mr.. Cleveland would like to
try his luck there. The owner Of the boats
though something of fisherman. was ap-
palled at the prospect OF plotting the gen.
erous bulk Of his famous townsman down
the swift stream in one of the little craft
He placed his boats at the disposal of Mr.
Cleveland. but excused himself from going
u ha fIxy