The Washington herald., 1908-02-13
WORK OF EX-PRESIDENTS
By FREDERIC j. HASKIN.
By FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

to be President. were called to public
duty and served together in the Virginia
constitutional convention OF 1929
Not long ago there died near Char
lottesville a citizen who told OF meeting
Messrs. jefferson, Madison, and Monroe
coming together down the street Mr..
Jefferson, always the most loquacious,
suggested to others that II their friend
were also an ex-President they would
certainly have a quorum, and on the
strength Of IL they might go and take
toddy The friend OF the illustrious trio.
who ehanced 20 be president Of the
"OpOssum Club" of Charlottesville. at
once moved that they repair to the club
room. where they could quaff q health.
anyhow. and so they did The three
great ViTginians contributed immensely.
by pen, influence, and words. 20 the cause
OF education, their writings remaining
among the most inspiring products OF
American leadership.
John Quincy Adams was President
while his father was living, and at the
end Of his term, although sixty-two years
old, returned 10 public life and served
eighteen years as a member OF the House
of Representatives in Washington. dying
''in the harness" Andrew Jackson was
seventy at the close OF his second term.
He retired 70 resume farming at the
Hermitage, near Nashville. and there
came thousands OF visitors who enjoyed
a rare degree OF the Old-time hospital
ity. IN his old age he joined the Pres
byterian Church. and would Immediately
have been made an elder. but he de-
clined, quoting the Bible: BE not hasty
in the laying on Of hands. The Her
mitage was purchased by the State 0f
Tennessee In 1856. ard has been main
tained by an association of patriotic
women. A BILL in accordance with rec
ommendation Of President Roosevelt. is
pending I'm Congress for an adequate APP
preparation 20 properly care for and
keep the toni and horne Of Jackson.
Martin Van Burcn, successor Of Jack
son. lived through the administrations Of
William Henry Harrison. Tyler. Polk,
Taylor. Fillmore, Pierce and Buchanan.
and into Lincoln's. retired but useful
! life John Tyler bought country estate
on the James River, near Richmond His
/ last public service was In the interest of
| peace between the North and South in
! 1861. when ne was president Of an unavai-
/ ing peace commission which came %
Washington from twenty-one States.
Franklin Pierce became a reCluse after
/ his retirement rs did his successor.
James Buchanan. They were ardent
/ Democrats deeply regretting the strife
with their party brethren Of the South.
/ but stanchly loyal 10 the Union John
| Tyler was member Of the Virginia con
vention which voted for the ordinance
OF secession and died soon thereafter.
! Andrew JoG.sOn was the second Presi-
dent 70 return to politics after his retire
ment from the White House. He was
defeated ASA candidate for Congress. and
in 1872 was elected 70 the Senate from
/ Tennessee. but served only IN an extra
! session term. Soon after this he died
/ from a stroke ~ paralysis. Gen. Grant.
when he left the White House. immed-
ately went on a tour around the world
| and was received everywhere with ex-
| tra0rdinsTy ovatioDs. On his return, after
a short stay al his old home al Galena
/ IL, he went 20 New York and engaged
/ in the banking business with persons who
swindled him and his son out Of most OF
I their possessions Then. In order 10 re-
/ coup his shattered fortune. he spent the
rest Of his life writing bis remarkably
interesting and valuable personal me
moirs.
/ President Hayes was another who re-
tired 10 the farm, making a speciality Of
poultry raising Like nearly all Of the
/ Presidents he gave much attention 20
/ educational and philanthropic work. and
al the time OF his death was member Of
/ the Peabody education board. President
Arthur died very soon after his retire
ment President Harrison returned 10
/ an active an0 lucrative practice of law.
/ after a few months Of Iecturing at Le-
/ land Stanford University. California. He
/ represented the government iu several
eases Of international concern. being coun-
/ sci in the Venezuela boundary dispute
and as a member Of The Hague confer
! ence. Gen. Harrison did some literary
work after his retirement. as had all Of
/ the Presidents who survived their public
! services any considerable time. He wrote
! This Country of ours and Views Of an
! ieX-PTesideut
And what VIII ex-President Roosevelt
/ do?
To-morrow-Sincc the Maine Went
Down.