Omaha daily bee., 1898-04-03
HOME LIFE OF CLEVELAND
Inttrss:ing Gl'mrss Of the Ex-frcsident
and His Family a, Princeton.
Grows sTcUTsR IN SPITE or EXERCISE


sight familiar to residents OF the little
college town Of Princeton hs that of a pleas
ant. mdtronly woman walking briskly along
the streets followed at a distance of three
steps by heavilybuit man. who seems to
have difficulty in keeping up with her. The
couple exchange friendly greetings with the
people whom they meet as they walk along;
they seem to be known to everybody in the
village, and IL the inquiring 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 Successes. The ease with which a
tnan may step from even the highest official
place Ia this country back TO the ranks OF
ordinary citizenship has often been COM
mented on as one Of the unique features Of
our Americen sc1eme Of government. In
no case has 1t ever been more strikingly
exemplified than in that OF the portly gentle
man who may be seen any day on the streets
OF Princeton. Fourteen months ago he was
steering the ship OF state IN it's more or lese
troubled course, while his wife had equal
prominence as the first lady Of the land.
Now they have become as absolutely absorbed
into the life Of the quiet college town as
though Mr.. Grover Cleveland had never been
anything more than one OF its well do,
easy-gOiug citizens. And he suffers no more
from the curious interest of the American
public than II 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 noth-
ing more serious to bother his head than
the comfort OF his family aud his own en-
toyment When he went out OF office there
were many rumors as to his future course,
IA on IN 10 dnuv To $6,a
life Of a country gentleman thereby follow
ing the example of Washington and most OF
the early presidents. Indeed, II 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 Adams went back
to congress and died there. Buchanan, Gran.
and Van Buren wrote books after their presi-
dential experience Benjamin Harrison has
practiced law, as Arthur did before him. But
most ex-presidents have found no occupation
that seemed suitable after leaving the White
House and have been content to live out the
remainder Of their lives in peaceful retire
ment. This Mr.. Cleveland evidently finds to
be the most congerial
QUIET ROUND OF DAILY LIFE.
Mr. cleveland usually, rises between and
3 O'Clock each morning After breakfast he
reads the newspapers and the mail which Is
brought to him, or II he feels so inclined
he strols down the village street to the post
office and calls for his letters in person.
After this matter Is attended to he may
spend an hour or two in chatting with his
wife or with his children, of whom he is
very proud. II any improvements are being
made within his spacious grounds he super
Intends them In person and so passes the
time until luncheon. In the afternoon the
morning. letters are answered, and then the
ex-president usually goes for a drive, either
with his wife or alone. He Is fond of fine
horses, and takes pride in having a hand
some pair in his own stable, a characteristic
that was noted during his stay in Washing
ton. But he never cares to handle the rei1s
himself, and let's his coachman 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 them and
strolls up and down the platform while wait
ing for the train to arrive. After dinner,
which Is always a formal affair with the
Clevelands, there Is an hour or two OF con-
versation on whatever topics are uppermost
In interest, game Of billiards and then by
IL o'clock or thereabouts the lights in the
Cleveland mansion go out.
FOND OF RABBIT HUNTING.
This Is the ordinary round Of the express
ident's daily life, but he often varies it by
appearing directly after breakfast in hunt
ing boots and broad hat, with a
gun across his shoulder. Then he will tramp
away across the fields and hills, returning
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