The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-31

IT, WENTY OF the Presidents OF this
republic were fathers before
a they went 10 live in the White
House. ono OF theu, Grover Cleve~
land. became u parent during tac four
year interval be .Nyctn his iirst ana see
ond terms in tne presidency, .Anothcr
of our Chief Magistrates. james Buch-
anan, WAS cslibatc. Washington,
Madison, Jackson and POLK never en-
1ericnced tl,e JOY OK bore the r.sponsi-
Dility OF fSthcrhood, although the
great N.4n.Hu Who heads the lSt
proved himself 10 bc model step
father.
When Mrs. Martha CAta young,
fascinating ana wealthy IN her own
right. became mistress of Mount Ner-
non. she started out by intrus;ing the
mana " ment of hsr affairs TO the capa-
bio man VINO had Won her. From
letters which are still in existence il
Is plain that she delegated TO her new
husband not only the responsibility OF
looking after her estate, but ALSO the
supervision OF her two small children.
John and Martha Farke Gus; It's. WASH
.ngtun accepted the trust and was as
successful In maintaining cordial re-
Iauons with his stepchildrcn as he
was IN guarding and investing their
patr!mony. Toward all young people,
ana especially toward these step
children and the ncphows and nieccs
whom he adopted. he WAS most gra-
cious and gentle.
Ono OF wusAington's adopted sons
wnE George Washington Pari<c GUSTS.
his wtfe's grandson, who married Mary
Leo Fitzhugh and went to live at the
famous Arlington. now a national
cemetery. He was n literary man as
well as landed, proprietor, ana his
'Tsecollect!cns OF Washington" reveals
the warm pntcrnal Instinct of the man
who was tho Father OF EIi3 Country,
but of no child to bear his name.
Even in the stormy times In which
he lived and among the iiery spirits
with whom he was associated, Andrew
Jackson was conspicuous for his ca
pacity to inspire enmity. but he WAS
master OF peculiar power of making
himself attractive to children. lie
never made u secret of the fact that
his supreme disappointment In life
wsF that he had no son TO bear his
name. In one of Aaron Burr's letters
containing an account of q visit to The
hermitage the archconsp!rators wrote:
AS jackson sat In the chimney cor
ner. tall, pale. thin man, kindly and
patient with all humble, helpless
things with weak women and little
children. yet with relentless will AMI
him. he told me that had no been the
father OF children Of his own 1t would
have made a different man of him"
John Adams Mum Of Domestic Tastes,
During the half dozen years witch
preceded the Revolution, John Adams
was, according to his own account,
~tho happiest man in New England.
His success in his profession proved
that he had made no mistake in cX-
changing theology for the law. lie was
mani OF pronounced domestic tastes
and his family relations were Of an
efpccially harmonious character. Four
children. three hoys and girl had
come 20 "vitalizc" his home. Every
thing was serene, unclouded. even
ideal.
The emptying OF the famous tea
chests in Boston harbor by his in
censed friends and neighhors marked
The close Of This NIL too brief period of
domestic felicity. From the time he
was chosen as one of the iivt. dele
gates from his native state to the first
Continental Congress. held at Philadcl-
pAia In lITi. 10 the close OF his term
as President, John adams was but IAN
iiinerant IN tho service of his roun-
Try II was while he was doing his
part In thnt memorable old colonial
gathering which numbered George
Washington and Patrick Horny among
Its company that the homesicll YAM
kee lawyer wrote 10 his wife: MY