The National tribune., 1900-11-08

Andrew Jackson was our sixth Presl-
dent. He was born in North Carolina,
March 10, 1867. He was the son of a
Scotch h-Irishman who came to this coun-
try in 1865 and died before Andrew was
born, in 1867. The mother was left poor,
and the wiry, active, frccllle-faced, red
headed son of the linen-weaYer got his
education in the log school-houSes of the
Waxhaws" in the Carolina pine woods.
Mrs Jackson was determined, whatever
else prevailed, that this son should be edu-
Gated. 1t is said that she spun flax to
earn money to pay his school bills. At all
events. Andrew, in his copperas-co -colored,
homespun clothes at length graduated from
the log School-hOuSe into Ike log
building, where DR.. Humphreys had ln-
ytituted an academy, when, 1t Is recorded,
ae distinguished himself-not unlike many
,f the college graduates of to-day-as an
athlete He had no peer as wrestler,
runner and high-jumper.
Many an old resident around Queen S
College. at Charlotte, where young Jack
ION studied for a time, used to relate with
merriment how the President in embryo
passed their homes on his way to school
with trousers so tattered and torn that his
lnder-garment went flying in the wind.
Mr. Parton, who spent some time IN the
CaroIinas gathering all that could be re-
membered of President Jacksons early
DAYS, leaves this account: He learned to
read TO write, and cast accOuntS-llttle
more: he was never well-infOrmedi he was
never addicted to books; he never learned
to write English correctly, although ne
wrote it eloquently and conylnclngly; ne
never learned to spell correctly, though he
was better speIler than Frederick IL,
Marlborough. Napoleon or Washington.
jackson was nine years old when the
war of the Revolution broke out, and 10
when he fought Tarlton's Dragons, with
two brothers and many other Carolina
boys. it is said, charging the British cav
airy on the grass ponies they them
selves had reared and broken.
There is little doubt that when Jackson
arrived at manhood the memory of his
childhood. the days of priyation, almost
want, the rough-and-tumbie years IN The
Waxhaws," his mothers devotion TO her
fatherlesS children, made deep impress
sion upOn him. and formulated his chlval-
rous treatment of women and Droadeheu
his tender sympathies toward all children.
He removed to Charleston, STUDIED law,
and graduated before he was 20. lie emil
grated to Tennessee, and made a success
full lawyer. In 1876 he was elected to
Congress. and the following year was sent
to the Senate, which he left to become a
Judge of the Supreme Court of Tennessee.
He subsequently entered the Army. bis
victory at New Orleans, on Jan. 3, 1919,
crowned his mllltary lame, anu OpeAeu tAe
way to the Presidency.
One writer has said: "No one of the pre-
yious Presidents had known an unkempt,
ragamufIfn boyhood. Even the son of the
small Massachusetts, farmer, John Adams,
was a Harvard graduate. Washington
had grown up with the descendants of no
blemen. Jefferson, Madison and Monroe
had been literally and faStidiOusly edu-
cated, consorting with scholars. John
Quincy Adams had spent his youth in the
best society of Europe. Politics, affairs,
books, had been their common food"
The clamor against Jackson's back
woods manners" uncivilized character and
military spirit caused his defeat when
John Quincy Adams was elected by the
House of Representatives. But the as
cendancy he had gained in the hearts of
the people by his military achievements
made him invincible in the Presidential
election of 1928, and he was inaugurated
President March i, 1929.
THE INAUGURATION.
The first Inauguration of Gen. Jackson
was environed by many peculiar circum-
stances. Much bitter feeling had been en-
rendered, and the friends of John Quincy
Adams took no part in the Inaugural cere-
monies. and the only uniformed company
,f light infantry in the District of Colum-
pia declined to be an escort to the Presi-
lent-elect. A company Of Revolutionary
officers and soldiers had organized, and
rendered their services as an escort to the
bid hero of New Orleans. The city was
crowded to oYerfowing; almost every city