The Delawarean., 1900-05-19
RAILWAY TOTHEHERMITAGE
General Jackson's Tomb to BE Con-
nected With Outside by Stenm.

General Jackson's Tomb to BE Con-
| nected With Outside by Steam.
The thousands of pilgrims who an
nually make their way from Nashville
to The Hermitage, where Andrew Jack
son and his wife sleep will soon have
railroad accommodations for their ben
eft, says the Chicago Record The
number of visitors to The Hermitage
| has increased to such proportions that
| a spur railroad has become a necessity.
The livery stables OF Nashville derive
more revenue from visitors TO The Her
mitage than from any other source.
The Ladies' Hermitage association,
which has been striving to secure a
spur road for many years past. has at
last succeeded in inducing the Tennes-
see and Pacific railroad to build it.
Despite the fact that thousands of
Americans from every part of the ma
ton visit The IIermitage, until few
years ago the historic place had almost
gone to rack. 1t was owned by the
state, but was badly mismanaged until
some patriotic ladies banded together
as the Ladies' Hermitage association
to preserve the home and tomb of An
drew Jackson. a curator now has
charge of the entire place and spends
his time in keeping the buildings and
fences repaired and in trimming the
weeds and grass that spring up. The
curator's wife receives all visitors in
the old residence and shows them the
relics.
The only person now living who was
at The Hermitage with Andrew Jack
son during his last years is old Uncle
Alfred, who was the body servant of
the great Tcnnesseean. The old cabin
where he was born is still his resi-
dence, but it has recently been re-
chinkcd and daubcd. He owns in his
cabin many of the Jackson relics The
bed he sleeps on was one of the fine
mahogany pieces bought when the
house was rcfurnished after the fire in
1886. He has a large china urn which |
was bought in New orleans. Ii is very
quaint, and when asked what it was
he replied: dat ar's water cooler.
Gin'ral jackson bought dat in New Or |
leans. Dent you see de name?" point
ing to tie game of the maker Gin
'ral Jacisson was de only man l eber
seed whut looked like de Almighty |
hcsef, am ounces the old slave to
those who lilgcr long enough with him
tc bring out "reminiscences. The old |
man is 9G years old. and his mother
was General Iackson's cook. His mind
is stored with interesting anecdotes,
and he is very vain about the fact that /
he actually belonged to Andrew Jack I
son.
The new cuttings of the willows that
Andrew Jackson planted over the grave
of his wife are rcligiously q ~lded by
Uncle Alfred. The last one O1 the orig
inal trees was blown down few years
ago in a storm. but Uncle Alfred had
watched the beginning of their decay
and set out new cuttings, which are
young and vigorous now.
The tomb has been fenced in by a
handsome iron railing. and outside of
this railing are the tombs of Andrew
Jackson, Jr., and his family. Every
year the Ladies' Hermitage associa-
tion gives grand ball in one of the
great cities of America ON Jan s, the I
proceeds of which go to the care of The /
Hermitage grounds. The relics at The
Hermitage are religiously and sacredly
cared for in separate rooms. Among
them are life size portraits. furniture.
effects and many things used
by General jackson while president