Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-09-08
the second quarter Of the nineteenth

"Old Hickory" whose character for
honesty was no less great and no less
renowned than Washington's had the
same warm friendship for his foreign
guest and felt that 'aThe Hermitage"
was honored by the presence of the
great Frenchman.
For that reason, everything associa-
ted with the Lafayette and his visit
were carefully preserved and jeal-
ously guarded. In the present house
shown, just as it was when he was
staying there.
Southern society flocked to 'The
Hermitage" and many a romance was
woven around the walls, but none
created a fraction of the furore that
was raised, when, during the gener-
ais presidency, he entertained lovely
Peg O'Neal and her husband in his
home.
Peg O'Neal or Eaton-has made
record for herself that has passed into
history. She it was who as cabinet
breaker threw society of the country
into commissions, and caused parti-
sanship even in the country's poll
tics.
General Jackson was at the bottom
of it, for his truly chivalrous nature
revolted at the idea of a helpless wom-
ans character being openly assailed,
not only by jealous women, but by
men as well.
He brought about beautiful Mrs.
Eaton's social triumph, and through it
he and John Calhoun became the bit
terest of enemies.
He made her young husband his
| secretary of war-and never regretted
| it, for his good little secretary" to
show his gratitude to the nations
chief executive for his defense of the
beautiful, pure-hearted Peggy, was
ever stanch and strong supporter
of Jackson.
| Van Buren,, the future president of
the United States, was also particl-
pator in Peggy ONeal's social sue
cesses and for that "Old Hickory" de-
clared he would some day see Van
Buren, in his own position.
Just as Andrew Jackson was COM
pleting the second term of his wonder
full career as president, .The Hermit
| age" met with a sad fate. 1t was burn
ed to the ground, and not a vestige OF
| it remained except the foundation.
The next year, when Jackson return,
| ed to Tennessee to take up his life as
a private gentleman, after eight years
of stirring political life, he rebuilt the
| house on the former Site, and as ii
it stands today
The architectural style Of "The Her
mitage" was that of the colonial per-
iod, with large verandas both front and
back The hallway was quite wide
| with double rooms on either side, with
wings supplementing these The; rooms
were large and spacious, being eleven
4 in number.
i Upon entering the commodious hall
| ones attention would at once be at
| tracted to the pictorial wall paper
1 ordered by Gen. Jackson from Paris
j when the house was built, in 1886, and
which was brought by the way OF New
1 Orleans, up the Mississippi and Cum
berland rivers.
From top to bottom "The Hermit
age'' is filled with the old generals be
longings and treasures. One of the
most curious is an old stage coach us
i ed by Jackson when he lived at the
White House, on state, ceremonial ant
social occasions, and for several years
/ he made many trips to 'The Hermit
age" from Washington, which tool
several days.
i There is also skeleton of a phaeton
j all that is left of the beautiful vehicle
presented to General Jackson by the
| democratic-republic citizens OF Phil
4 adelphia. The phaeton was made from
Il timber taken out of the old frigate Con
stitution, but it was burned at fire
where Col. Jackson had his relics stor
ed.
i Jacksens room is almost as COM
i plete as the day when he died. The
same furniture he used-the bed h,
Il died upon, the chair he sat in--is al
n there. 1t consists of bedstead, bu-
n reau wardrobe, washstand with ST,
1 china pieces, table, chairs, sofa, carpet
curtains, iron and fender, mirror, brass
j, candlestick and pictures on the wall.
i In the garden stands the simple mar
{ BILE tomb that guards the remains o
General Jackson and his wife, and ont
of the first cares of the new owners
i. was to have it restored to it's origina
!, beauty.
i A curious ceremony still takes place
in the old jackson home or the 9Th o
| each January, and consists in the burn
ing of candle for only few minutes
/ This is one of a box of candles fount
in the tent of Lord CORVALLIS whel
!. he surrendered at Yorktown, an,
which were distributed among the OF
ficers in the continental army as sow
i enirs. One of these candles were sen
to General Jackson with the reques
, that he light it on the Sth of each Jan
uary. This he did as long as he lived
: and now those who have made it thei
; work to preserve his memory will car
ry on the custom until the old candl
!, is burned away.
Strikes at Their Root.
, Many dangerous diseases begin ir
! impure blood. Electric Bitters purifies
the blood, and cures, or no pay. Only
4 Eno u n CLARK