The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-10-25

LaQte6 aermitAge Associat1on Of Naeh- vile that The Hermitage" has been re- stored to the condition in which 1t was at the time of the Generals death. The beautiful grounds, with their velvet lawns and big old trees, the wide driveway along which the old-fashioned coaches rolled to the door of the mansion-aiways thrown open with Southern hospitality all are unchanged from the early nine- teenth century. when 1t was the home of the President of the United States.
 For nearly fifty years the State of Ten nessee has held the house, but the people seemed contend to let the matter remain there until lately, when they saw a great treasure trove of General Jackson's pos- sessions slipping through their fingers unless they bestirred themselves
 Their first object in buying the house from Andrew Jackson. Jr., the adopted son of "oId Hickory" was to offer 1t to the United States Government for a branch of the West Point Academy. Then the civil war broke out before the plans could be consummated, and the peo- pie of Tennessee were well satisfied that they had held on to the old house and the 500-acre farm, which many years later was conveyed to the Ladies Hermitage Association ''to preserve, beautify, and adorn throughout all coming years, in a manner most befitting the me: Sory of that great man, and commensurate with tho attitude of his countrymen."
 Col Andrew Jackson, the son of Andrew Jackson. Jr., contrary to his grandfath- er's famous doctrines, gave the South his aid in fighting for its freedom. After serving as colonel of artillery in the Con- federate Army, he went back to The Her mitage and lived with his mother until her death, By her will he inherited the household furniture, mementoes. and rel- les of his famous grandsire, and guarded them faithfully until the time when they should become the States trust.
 Now. the fair Tennesseeans. who found no exertion too great if through 1t they might buy the precious relics that would make the Jackson home again the home of former days. have. for the consider ation of $25,0O0. gained their end. and the big memorial of Gen. Andrew Jackson Is safe.
 The incentive to the Jackson revival was the rumor which got afioat recently to the effect that Colonel Jackson was about to sell his heritage to a New Eng lander. Not only the city of Nashville, but the entire Southern States were up in arms in an instant. Sell to stranger these relics to be carried away up into the North, thousands of miles away from their rightful resting place? Were they to permit a Northerner to show them how to appreciate, when it was too late, these precious reminders of their fellow-citi- gen? Never!
 Once thoroughly awakened to their duty, the Tennesseeans, headed by the Ladies. Hermitage Association. bent their best efforts to the cause, with the result that they soon accomplished their pur- pose.
 The original Hermitage" was built in iso4 and was made of logs. A portion of Burr made his famous visit to the Her mitage" in 1895, and was entertained in this same log house. General Jackson lived in the Jog nouse s, at the time % when in 1915. returning to this humble home 'conquering hero and the idol of the nation.
 Then the old log house grew too small for General Jackson and his family, and four years later a stately mansion graced the beautiful grounds of the Tennessee ans home. built of bricks made on the
 The General refused to have the low house torn down. It was like an o.4 friend to him, and there were precious memories associated with 1t that he could not bear to have dispelled. It saw his cesses acknowledged by his country7nen.
 The Jacksons had no children of their own, so they adopted the infant son of Mrs. Jacksons brother. and, as Andrew
 
 of The Hermitage" and it's possessions.
 The new home was spaciously built in the Colonial style, and when 1t was fiu- ished many distinguished persons of the land went in and out the wide doorway, and found delight in the beauty of the weli-shaded lawns and the big farm lands.
 Marquis de Lafayette found a warm vel come there and tasted to the full the sweetness of Southern hospitality, He vas an old man when he visited Andrew jackson in 1895. and he was not too old 10 become a favorite and find himself made much of by the charming Southern women, who also shared his hosts en- tertainments. None of his eighteenth cen tury courtliness, his wonderful fascination St Sa manner ana his gentle frankness, that nad made Washington his friend had left the Lafayette of the second quarter of the nineteenth century" VI
 "Old Hickory" whose character for honesty was no less great and no less re- nowned than Washington's, had the same warm friendship for his foreign guest and felt that The Hermitage was hon. cred by the presence of the great French man. For that reason everything asso- ciated with Lafayette and his visit was carefully preserved and tealously guard ed. In the present house the furniture or his room is proudly shown, just as 1t was when he was staying there.
 Southern society Hooked to The Hermit age and many a romance was woven around the walls. but none created frac- ton of the furor that was raised when, during the Generals Presidency, he en- tartained lovely Peg ONeal and her hus- band in his home. Peg O'Neal-or Eaton has made a record for herself that has passed into history. She 1t was who as 6 Cabinet breaker" threw the society of the country into convulsions and caused Tnor orft tao G1at iFH fha tics. General Jackson was at the bottom of 1t, for his truly chivalrous nature re volted at the idea of a helpless woman S character being openly assailed. not only by jealous women, but by men as we'll.
 He brought ab?ut beautiful Mrs. Eat on's social triumph, and through it he and John c. Calhoun became the bitter. est of enemies. He made her young hus- hand hIs Secretary of War. and never re. gretted 1t, 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 a stauch supporter of Jackson.
 Van Buren, the future President of the United States, was also a participator in Peggy O'Nears social successes and for that "OId Hickory declared he would one day see Van Buren in his own posi- ton
 Just as Andrew Jackson was complet- ing the second term of his wonderful ca- reer as President The Hermitage met a sad fate. It was burned to the ground and not a vestige O: 1t remained except the foundation, The next year. when Jackson returned to Tennessee to take ur his life as a private gentleman, after eight years oi political strife. he rebuilt inc house on the former site. and as it was erected almost seventy years ago 1t stands fndaV