The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01

anu 1kOOacNGAk QlQ magazine WOEk. E1No
travelled extensively abroad-Yan Buren,,
Fillmore, Pierce, Grant and Roosevelt.
Grants tour around the world was a
historic episode.
Two ex-Prssidents occupied seats In
Congress-Andrew Johnson and John
Quincy Adams. The former led the
simple life at Knoxville for half a dozen
years and was then sent back to Wash
ington as a Senator. He died less than
a year later. Adams was nearly sixty
years old when his term was up, and he
would have liked TO have gone back to
Quincy and his books. as his father did.
but the folks Of his home district want
ed him 10 be their Representative, and
he consented to serve. For nineteen
years he led his party In the House and
in the Chamber Of that legislative body,
at the Capitol. he died. The place occu-
pied by his desk is shown to this day
by guides. marked by brass star set in
the marble floor.
Ten ex-Presidents died rich men Mr..
Cleveland was probably worth $50, 600.
He had nothing when he entered the
White House. but his investments In real
estate proved very profitable, and he
bought some mighty good stocks, such
as Chicago Gas, when they were cheap.
under the advice of his millionaire friend,
E. c. Benedict. Benjamin Harrison
saved money hard while he was Presi-
dent. and went out Of office with not less
than $4,000. When he died. eight years
luater. he left $4,000. the bulk OF it
made out OF the law.
Polk and Van Buren, were both wealthy.
The latter did not take the trouble 10
draw his salary until the end Of his
term, paying all expenses out of his pri-
vate purse. Then he took the 10000 due
him in one lump. He was the richest of
the Presidents except Washington Sur
viving until 1852 he saw the civil war
begin. Meanwhile. making his home at
Undertook, on the Hudson, he continued
to take a keen interest in politics, and,
accepting a nomination from the Free
Soil party, caused the defeat Of the
Democratic nominee, Lewis Casa per
Torrance which finally eliminated him
self from national affairs.
Washington Richest Man.
Pierce and Fillmore were well OF. The
latter kept on with politics, and. becom-
ing the nominee Of the Know Nothing
party. was beaten. Then he retired to
spend a green old age at his home in
Buffalo. John Adams was rich, but by
no means so wealthy as his son, John
Quincy. who owned much real estate in
Washington (as well as in Boston,. in
GLIDING houses and stores in PennsyI-
ping section. Madison left a considerable
fortune. but IT was dissipated by a
worthless son. Congress paid his widow
$4,000 for her husbands papers (Which
to-day are among the greatest treasures
preserved in the Library OF Congress),
and this was nearly all she had TO live
on during the last few years Of her life.
George Washington was the richest
man. in the United States at the time
of his death. being worth about three
quarters Of q million dollars. Hayes
was comfortably OF. So likewise was
Arthur, who left 5000. 900 to be divided
between his son Allan and his daugh-
ter Nellie. None OF this, however. was
saved in the White House, where he
entertained his friends lavishly and lived
up TO his salary. His dinners, given
usually to a coterie Of intimates. are
remembered to this day for their mag
niacence.
Four ex-Presidents died poor. Jefrer-
sons profuse entertaining at Monticello
greatly augmented his financial troubles.
and he was at length obliged TO ask
Congress to buy his library and histori-
cal papers. This was done. S2s, 900 being
paid for the books and documents But
the money tided him over for a while
only. Monroe left the White House in
debt Andrew Jackson was nearly
ruined by assuming and paying the
debts OF his son. Nevertheless, he man
aged to leave one slave TO each MEM
Der of his family. including his infant
grandchildren.
Grant Accepts Loan.
Grant, up to the time Of the civil
war. had always been a failure in ev-
erything he undertook. He had shown
himself so incompetent in business mat
tiers that nobody cared to enter into any
business relations with him. Neverthe-
less las often happens in such casesl,
business had strong attractions for him.
and, leaving the White House with
about 100000 saved from his salary, he
was drawn into partnership by an I'M
scrupulous person named Ward, in New
York. The firm Of Grant & Ward soon
busted" and the hero of AppomattoN
was glad to accept from his friend Will
lam H. Vanderbilt. loan of 100000 on
his collection of medals and other tro-
phies, largely consisting of gifts re-
ceived from royalties and municipalities
while making his tour Of the world. All
he had to leave his family when he died
at Mount McGregor was his scarcely
completed book.
Five Presidents died in Iofice-WiIIiam
Henry Harrison, Taylor, Lincoln, Gar
field. and Mckinley. The last three of
these were murdered Five former oc-
in January. 1S62-Van Buren,, Tyler, FIJI
more. Pierce. and Buchanan. Three died
on the Fourth of July-John Adams.
Jefferson, and Monroe. Adams and JEFF
ferson, oddly enough, died on the same
day-the tiftieth anniversary Of the sign
ing of the Declaration Of Independence,
in the framing OF which they had col
laborated
Causes of Death.
Three Presidents died Of general de-
bility due to old age-John Adams, at
rinety-One; Madison. at eighty-ive, and
Monroe at seventy-three. Three died Of
paralysis-J. Q. Adams, Fillmore. and
Johnson. Polk died of Asiatic cholera,
Taught during a trip through the South,
md Taylor sucCumbsr to cholera morbus,
attributed to a mixture of cherries ice
water, and milk, in large quantities on
/ hot day. Pierce died of inflammation
IF the stomach, and Tyler from a bilious
attack. The assigned cause Of death in
case was acute Iaryngitis,
but wholesale bleeding by the doctors
he ignorant medical method of those
tays-was largely responsible. Van Buren,
lied of catarrh Of the throat and lungs,
Ind Jackson was mOrtally stricken bv
Buchanan died of rheu-
natism, Grant of a throat cancer, HAYES
II paralysis Of the heart, and Arthur OF
lpoplexy.
William H. Taft and Grover Cleveland
loid the record as the only fat men who
,ver occupied the Presidential chair Rut
IleVeiand became comparatively thin
'efore he died-so much so, indeed, that
Davenport, the cartoonist, on seeing him
or the first time at a dinner half a
iOZen wears ago said 70 the ,,-ri+a- &,