The Washington herald., 1909-02-21

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pIlshment acquired by practicing three
hours a day for twelve years.
John Quincy Adams was another sports
man. He not only was fond Of horse
races. but actually ran one OF his own
horses IN the name OF his private sec
retary. The horse was beaten by St0e-
tons LanEfo-d. much 10 the discomfit-
IRE OF the Presidents friends. who had
backed his entry heavily. So sure we're
the Presidents friends Of success that,
pending his return from the races a pan
eI bearing the name Of his entry was
framed with flowers and hung on the
White House wall
Adams an Expert Swimmer.
Arboriculture was another fad Of Mr..
Adams and he planted many trees in the
White House grounds. President Adams
also was an expert swimmer and often
repaired 10 the Potomac 10 indulge in
that exercise. On one occasion, having
gone into the river some distance from
washington. the boat in which he had
deposited his clothes fcsted away and
The President or The CnIJed states had
10 wait on the bank for three hours IN a
state Of nature unadorned while a serv-
ant went 10 the White House for cloth
ing vherewith his excenency might re-
turn TO civilization
Andrew jackson was a dead game
sport and was I'm for anything from a
duel 20 a cock fight. He bred game cocks
and fought them with as much zest IS
the Cubans or Mexicans. He once wag-
cred $50 acres OF land on one Of his game
cock-snd won Ben: Fe-ley PO0-e n his
"reminiscences tells the story OF Jackson's
bringing some Of his fowls from the
Hermitage in Tennessee 10 night with
some Washington chickens
On the day appointed Jackson and his
friends rode cut the BladenSburg road
To the place agreed upon. but when the
Hermitage cocks we're put IN the pit they
refused 70 fight The long journey by
stage from Tennessee and the confine-
ment in boxes had taken all the fight out
Of them. Jackson also was a horse
racer and breeder. and Il was he who
brought 10 Tennessee the famous TrUx-
tor. whose strain still lives in that State.
Mr.. Lincoln at play, To be sure. The
great man was not above playing witt
Tad and the White House goats" On
warm, bright days the father and son
would rcmp with these pets in the yard
for an hour al q time. and from his cor
respondence Il would appear that the
goats occupied a considerable place in
Nr. Lincoln's affections
Grant Loved Horses.
I Gen. Grant was a superb horsema1. al
( though in later years he preferred driv-
I ing 70 riding While at Milan in ISIS. on
his tour around the world, Gen Grant
was invited 10 review the flying Bersag-
( iieri. the flower and pride of the Italian
army Gen. Grant was conducted TO a
horse that was making frantic efforts 10
shake himself free from three stslwart
I srOoms- An American army officer who
F was present describes what followed:
: Eore restless. wicked appearing horse 7 have
seldom seen was in mortal fear that our general
would be speedily thrown and crushed 20 death hy
7 the Crrfl hoofs- From the siv wiuks and nudgcs
that passed between these Gandyish Young officers
], looked u ne TCTy much If they had assigned
u the general q set purpose a young untsmable
horse that bad never been ridden. Ny fears tor
him we're somewhat removed when I saw Gen
Grants syeS tighten up With admiration he Ezzed
upon the hoTse. Whether IL VAS that the zencrsI
vas not vel was merely assuming q sort q
helulessncss. hsrC never been able fully to de
teminc. but N mounting ne accented the assist
snce cI tWo olcelN itle l0TSc fiiiif ccClfacG the
attention cf the three sr0ous. and from an aTDsr-
ent stiffness had Sone difficulty IN getting his right
I lcg oger The saddle 80 soon re tClc6cd the
seat however. he gTsSDed the cin his foEm straight
cuCd and the change in bis appearance 80 IN
pressed those around With his thorough horsensn-
ship that spontaneously shout Ct applause went no
from the crowd TIE horse after few futile
plungss. discovered that he had his master. and
started Of in a gentle trot. From thai tine On
/ horse and rideT enc heiuz Tie BcTsaEiseri
s-e the rTag foot troCps q Itav. and perform al
/ their naneuvers at rsn- For two hours most o.
tEe tine With his h0rse ~ a gzllOn- Gen Grant
! ksrt both mounted and foot Troops On tiFC move.
on his rrtuTn tc the hotel ] could hcaT mUTmurs
3 q wonder and admiration from bis escort. They
themselves looked much fsti0ied bst the general
apeared a. calm and unrlf6ed if 10 had been
seated n q rocking chair
+ After all. Presidents are very human.
ard the republic has come TO expect. II
not actually demand. that its President
shall be a sportsman although It would
/ hardly stand for cock fighting at this day
and ase. Nor would . sood drink Of
f hard CIDER before breakfast be regarded
as proper "mornin's mornin for a
/ modern President. although John Adams
! was not unsteadied by it.