Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-26

over his administration. MIR. Fillmore's
pasrimes Me9s walking along Pennsylvania
OF the city. especially out to Georgetown,
where the elite ofrthe city then lived.
Within the larger circle of fashion was
smaller one of intfmates who had constant
access to the ;parloEs of the Executive Man.
sion, and 1t is stated that while Mrs. Polk
was entertaining her friends the President
was with congeniaT friends in another part
OF the house engaging in good-fellowship
and something's in games of cards. His
recreatfons oifsidet after the fashion of the
tlmes, were Walking and horseback riding.
PRESIDENT TYLER affected the simplicity of
ms own plantation while President, and So
ciaI intercourse was almost informal In its
simplicity, and the hospitality of the Presi-
dent and his family was that of the south
e err gentleman onb his ancestral domain.
The Tylers were attended at the White
House by their own slaves. President
Iyier carried the same simplicity into his
outward life. His recreations were walk
through the White House grounds or TO
the capitol, and game of poker at night
with his friends for very small stakes.
During President William Henry Harri-
son pref occupancy of the White house
his chief outside recreation was going to
market every morning before breakfast. 1t
is said that on a rainy morning he added
to the cold caught on Inauguration day,
which brought on the fatal attack of pneu-
monia.
The chief diversions of President Van Blu
rem appear to have been riding and walk
ing and playing checkers, game of which
he was master.
If we are to believe a contemporary ac-
count, the chief solace of Andrew Jackson
while President was smoking a corncob
pipe He declared that no other manner
OF smoking was so sweet and delightful.
His favorite sport was cockfghting. He
owned a breed of birds invincble in his
home state, and it is said that he brought
a pair of them to Washington only to see
them badly defeated.
Tnbn n,,S,
exercise. He was pedestrian and swim
mer of some note. He walked about much
while President, and, except in the very
coolest weather of winter, went to the Po-
tomac river each morning and immersed
himself in its waters. He took vigorous
swim when the water was not too cold.
James Monroe rode horseback a great
deal, and one of the traditions coming down
to us regarding him is that he invariably
wore white-topped riding boots. Little else
is known regarding his recreations.
Thomas Jefferson sought relaxation from
the cares of office in music or some form of
light reading. He was fair fiddler,
painted a little and was handy with the
pencil.
President Madison seems to have had
few recreations. He was nothing of
sport, but took great interest in society
John Adams did not seek recreation to
large extent out of doors. The political
troubles of his administration had the eff
feet of souring his disposition somewhat, so
that he took almost no interest in any
pastmes except his books.
Gen. Washington in his prime was an
active man and loved hunting. He kept a
pack of hounds and INDUCED in fox hunt
ing when occasion allowed. He became
President after he was well advanced in
years. and in 1895 he sent a note to Vir-
ginia dame who had invited him and Mrs.
Washington to a party at the City Tavern
in Alexandra saying that their dancing
days were over. Such was not the case,
however, during the winters spent in An
napolis before the revolution, when Wash
ington and his handsome wife were the
leaders in the stately minuet. While Pres
ident Washington was not well settled in
mind about what should be the conduct of
the chief executive, and the result was that
he yielded to thez lethargy of advancing
years, drank his two glasses of Madeira
at dinner, and retired every evening al
o'clock. Gen. Washington continued to
ride horsebaeS when at his home in Mount
Vernon. 1t was on one of these long rides
into Maryland that he caught the cold
from which ne died