The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-16
PASTIMEs OF PRESIDENTS.
CBoston GIobe.)

(Boston Globe.)
Before his trip to Panama President
Roosevelt quested long and diligently
for shot at one OF virginia's wild tur-
keys, and not until after hunt Of four
days in the vicinity Of Pine Knot did he
succeed in getting a fair view Of one
over his gun sights. 1t had beer
match of hunting skill against turkey
cunning and at the end of the hunt the
president won.
Those interested in the brush shoot
ing and big game hunting trips OF the
president, his gallops across country
and other athletic exercises need only
TO examine the records Of former Occu-
pants of the White House to learn that
he is not the first chief executive to
turn to the open fields for sport and
recreation.
Duck hunting and upland bird shoot
ing appealed TO Washington before ne
became a general in the revolutionary
army, and the same waters which pro-
vided such excellent wild fowling for
him have since been shot over success
fully by Presidents Harrison cd Cleve-
land.
When a boy Washington and Lord
Fairfax, who had settled in Virginia,
became fast friends, and mis- skillful
riding and love of sports greatly inter-
esteG the old nobleman. They hunted
the fox together.
Later. Washington's active life was
largely out of doors, so, too. were his
pleasures. He loved the fresh open air
existence of the woods and fields, and
there he found his one great amuse-
ment. He shot and fiSned, but did not
| care much for these pursuits. for his
hobby was hunting. which gratified at
/ I, s- for
and his love for the strong excitement
| of the chase when dashed with just
/ enough danger to make it really fas-
/ cinating. Upon his horse he would fol-
low his hounds over the toughest coun-
| try, often ending the hunt alone, the
timid riders having withdrawn from
/ the dangerous chase. He owned many
valuable horses. including the high
! bred hunters Chinkling, Valiant, Ajax
and Blueskin.
No more enthusiastic angler and
duck hunter could be imagined than
President Cleveland He is a keen, per-
sistent Dreak-O'-day wild fowler, and
not even that grand but departed old
/ angler of pleasant memory, Joseph
jefferson, could impart more delicacy
| to a long cast for the wary trout. He
is quick with the gun and a sure wing
! shot, and hunted every foot of the
| Chesapeake bay country. OF quail
| shooting ne was particularly fond, but
as he advanced in years and took less
readily to following the settlers and
| pointers the salt sea air and the whirr
Of duck wings enticed him almost Who'll
ly from the uplands. and so enamored
did he become of wild fowling that he
even gunned duck in 'sneakboX."
Neither horseback riding nor ath-
letics appealed to President Harrison,
ana as fond as he was of the water he
cared nothing for swimming. In this
respect he was not unlike President
Cleveland.
From what has come down through
the years, ia written and spoken speech,
il seems that John Quincy Adams was
the swimmer president, having learned
the art in some fdvorite swimming hole
in Town River bay, or somewhere near
the place ON the Fore river where bat
tleships are now constructed. In his
day there was but one man in Wash
ingtOn who could Guido Kim as a ma
Il tator. and that was Benjamin Frank
| lin. President Adams had a favorite
pOOl in the Potomac near Georgetown,
where ne used TO swim. and being fond
of walking he would arise before dawn.
walk to Georgetown and enjoy swim,
returning TO the White House in time
fer an early breakfast.
Another of the hunter executives was
President Arthur, and he was also a
skilled angler, usually nighttime man
amCng the sportsmen who went to the
salmon rivers of the Quebec and New
Brunswick provinces for their sport.
Before perpetual close time was put on
the game In Yellowstone park Presi-
dent Arthur spent I1any happy hunting
days there with mis- friend, General Phil
Sheridan.
All kinds of outdoor and indoor sports
caught the fancy of President Garfield.
Hunting was his favorite diversion but
i If business. or a close season on game,
precluded a quest of the big game jun
giles or the bobwhite covers he could
find q full measure of pleasure in the
grand stand at a baseball game, con-
templating the rural scenes from the
back Of a good horse, or playing bill
] lizards with a partner who would not
let him win Just because he was presi-
dent Jefferson. Munroe and Jackson
were superb hoTsemen, and riding was
their chief outdoor enjoyment.
II