The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-02-04
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son had green ones. The composite color
/ is a dark gray blue.
The average President, therefore, had
retreating; heavy chin, plenty OF dark
hair sprinkled with gray slight traces Of
mustache and whiskeIs, a mere suggestion
Of beard, and blue gray eye
! Most of the Presidents have been simple
/ lvers, though nearly all felt compelled to
| be eNtravagant in their official entertain
ments. jefferson set the fashion of French
cookery. Tyler followed the English style.
Buchanan bad negro cook. w. H. Har-
rison went to market himsslf, while Cleve-
land left everything to his butler. Arthur
had only two meals day. Madison never
/ had pastry on his table. Hayes and W.
II. Harrison were the heaviest eaters OF all.
Jackson served lemonade and punch and
cheese to the niohs that attended his public
receptions. Van Buren, used to keep open
house for nearly anyone who chose to come.
Until recently the White House has
never been well supplied with silver or
china Van Buren, was defeated for rs-
election because he used gold-lined silver
spoons. Jackson, who followed him. used
plain steel. Hayes spent S., 900 for new
china. Mckinley now has an excellent
outfit OF silver, gold and fine china.
The early Presidents drank heavy wines,
being especially fond of Madeira Jackson
preferred whiskey, as did Pierce and Grant.
Arthur put one third OF the cost of his state
dinners into the WINS. Hayes was a tee
totaller and served no wines on his table.
Madison limited himself to one glass of
wine at dinner. Cleveland did not have
wine unless there were guests present, and
Mckinley has followed his example.
In the matter OF dress our Presidents
with few exceptions have be n decidedly
simple. Jefferson received foreign Minis
tiers in a soiled shirt and rundown slippers
Jackson cared little or nothing for dress
Washington and the two Adamses wore the
stately old costumes of their times. Grant
tried hard to dress well, but his clothes
looked old after two or three days wear.
Lincoln was never more than gaunt frame
on which clothes hung loosely. Arthur at
one time owned 80 pairs Of trousers
Cleveland despi ed dress and dressy men,
but Mrs. Cleveland saw to it that he was
always well dressed in public.
Taylor wrote the worst hand of any Of
our Presidents. 1t was schoolboy hand,
cramped and awkward, while Jackson's
scrawl bespoke a nervousness and timidity
that were anything but characteristic Of the
man. Cleveland's writing is small and
delicate, while Jefferson's is as easily read
as print. Monroes writing was even more
feminine than Cleveland's, and Lincolns
was smooth and polished.
Fifteen Presidents have been college
graduates, three attending William and
Mary, two Harvard, and one Princeton.
The rest were scattered among the smaller
colleges, none having attended Yale.
Mckinley is the third Methodist to oc-
cupy the White House, Grant being the
first. Washington and seven others attend
ed the Episcopal Church, while Jackson
and five others were Presby terians. The
two Adamses were Unitarians and Jeffsr.
son was free thinker.
Most Of the early Presidents rode on
horseback, the condition Of the roads and
streets making carriage driving more OF
less difficult operation. Hayes and McKin-
ley both preferred this, in any case, and
were often seen riding about Washington.
Grant had a preference for a light carriage,
though he was also fond Of horseback rid
ing. He was once stopped on Pennsylvania
avenue by an officer who wished to arrest
him for fast driving. Arthur gloried in
horses and used often to be seen dashing
about Washington behind a four-in-hand.
Harrison abandoned the practice Of being
drawn to his Inauguration by four horses,
a custom that had grown up in late years,
and which was revived by Cleveland at his
second Inauguration. Every one knows the
story OF Jefferson riding to his Inauguration
and tying his horse to the fence outside the
Capitol.
Little is known Of the personal walks OF
the earlier Presidents, but it is believed
that they came and went freely about the
city. Grant and Pierce used to drop in to
see their friends whenever they chose and
were familiar figures on the street. Cleve,
land was never seen outside OF the White
House except in a carriage. Mckinley
often rides into the country with party
Of friends. None Of the Presidents has as
yet appeared in public mounted on boy-
Gle or in motor cab but it is probably
only question Of time until they do go.
In the matter Of appointments to office,
Jackson first adopted the plan Of making
them for personal or political reasons. Pre-
yious Presidents based them altogether on