Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-08-01
TIE. LATE MRS. MADISON.

The death of Mrs. Dolly PAYNE Madi-
son. which took place Thursday night in
" aShnCton. is an event that seems TO
require something more than mere
passing notice by the press. An init
mate association with public characters
and public affairs for half century. has
made her almost as well known a char.
acter TO the American people as any of
our statesmen OF the same period At the
same time her noble qualities of mind
and heart have made her not less con
spicuous III the relations of domestic and
social litr.
Mrs NadiSon's name was Dolly PAYNE
her birth took place in North Carolina
during a visit Of her parents to that State
short time after her birth. her parents
joined the Society Of Friends. and manu-
hitting their slaves. rem owed to Pennsvl-
vania. and their daughter Dolly received
her education in this city. Vt an early
age she was married to Mr. Todd, a
young lawyer of Philadelphia. who died
shortly afterwards. leaving her an infant
The young and beautiful widow was not
long without suitors, and among the num-
Der, James Madison. then member OF
Congress from Virginia, was the favored
one, TO whom she was welded in 1904
Throughout his long and cventful career.
she sustained the character OF a devoted
wife. and was Of no small service to her
disting uished husband in the MANY scenes
of his life.
During his administration as President
OF the United States. she presided over
the white house with dignity and grace
seldom cqnallcd. and commanded the adj
m!raton of Americans as we'll as foreign.
ers. Upon the approach of the British
army TO " ashington in 1914 rare heroic
qualities were developed in her character
To the last moment that her friends
would permit, she remained in the white
house. securing cabinet papers. plate and
other valuablcs. and absolutely refusing
to leave until the portrait of the Father of
his country. by Stuart. was taken down
and secured from the impending vandal-
ism Of the invaders. Her flight from the
the White House, and her escape in dis
guisc, form an interesting and romantic
incident of the history Of that period. 1t
was Il irving time for the wife Of an Amer
lean President. and there are few women
who would under the circumstances, have
displayed an equal strength of mind, an
equal degree of patriotism. and an equal
amount of conjugal devotion.
4 After Mr.. Madison's retirement she re-
manned with him at his seat at Montpelier
Va, smoothing the downward path of an
aged mother-in-law. and performing. in
an exemplary manner. her duties 20 her
husband. until his death, in 1886. During
i the greater part Of the subsequent period
she has resided in Washington, the cen
ire Of a refined and cultivated circle: cour-
ted and caressed by Americans. and hon
ored by the attentions of people of all
| ranks and all nations. Her devotion to
her husbands memory lasted till her
death. and through her efforts at the last
session Of Congress. an appropriation was
made for the publication Of bis papers.
Mrs. Madison was very aged-consid-
erably over eighty, we believe. To the
last. however. she retained a degree OF
health and activity unusual in one of her
years. and her mental faculties were also
singularly unimpaired. Her queenly car
riaae. her atiable demeanor and her many
amiable qualities have endeared her to
Washington and to all its visitors, and
her loss will be deeply felt by all in that
metropolis.
President Madison, as is we'll known,
had no children Mr.. Todd. Mrs. Madi-
sons son by her first marriage. is. we be
lieve. still living. and resides in Virgin
! ia PhiIa. Bulletin.