Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1853-07-21


stated, the residence of her family there was
a very brief one-between three and foul
months only. She took leave of the new seal
of government without regret, and joyfully re-
paired to the peaceful retirement of Qulncey,
in Massachusetts,, where with her venerable
husband, she passed the evening of her life,
and died in 1913.
Mr.. Jefferson took possession of the Presi-
dental mansion in March, 1901, on the re-
tlrement of his predecessor The edifce
erected for the Presidents accommodation
House, but its walls of light grey freestone,
which were not painted white until 1916, pre-
sented even an imposing appearance, although
the infant metropolis was comparative will
derness. The Presidents House stood unen-
closed, on piece Of waste and barren ground,
separated from the capital by an almost i'm
passable marsh.
When Mr. Jefferson came into the presiden-
cy, he had been about nineteen years a wild
over, his wife having died in 1882. She was
Mrs. Martha Shelton, widow of twenty
three years of age when she married Mr.. JEFF
ferson, in l772, and was the daughter of John
Wayles, an eminent lawyer of Virginia, who
left considerable fortune. By that lady,
Mr.. Jefferson had three daughters, one of
whom died young; one married John w.
| Eppes, for some time member of Congress,
and the other married Thomas M. Randolph,
afterwards Governor of the State of Virginia.
Mrs. Eppes died in 1904, while Mr.. Jefferson
was President; Mrs. Randolph survived him.
AS Mr.. Jefferson disliked form and parade.
levees were dispensed with, and he steadily
refused to conform to the etiquette and Gus
toms which had prevailed during the presi-
denotes of his predecessors His own posi-
ton as wldower, IN his ffty-eighth year
the plain and unpretending manners Of his
daughters, and the condition of society, then
In state of formation at Washington, were
circumstances which concurred in seconding
his views. But although fixed days for le-
wees or drawing-roOms were dispensed with,
we have understood from the late Mrs Madi-
son herself that parties and other social enter
tainments were frequent at the Presidents
house during Mr.. Jefferson's administration.
That mansion was the seat of hospitality in
the absence of Mr.. Jefferson's daughters
Mrs Madison, whose husband was then Sec
retary of State, presided when female guests
were present. Mr. Madison's colleagues in
the cabinet were Gallatin, Dearborn and Rob-
ert Smith, who were with their fami-
lies and those Of their political friends who
came to fill the various places under govern
ment, made up the principal portion Of society
at the new metropolis. The circle Of society
at that time was, Of course, very limited in
its extent, and very simple in its habits.-
The most friendly and social intercourse pre-
vailed through all its parts, unshackled by ct
iquette and ceremony The President and
cabinet were united in feeling, and like one
family in general sympathy and familiar in
tercourse. One who knew Mr. Jefferson at
this time, has informed us that in his study,
the President appeared careless and slovenly
in his dress, but when present at dinners or
evening parties, his costume and whole ap-
pearance were such as became dignifed
gentleman and President of the United States
After the Presidents, the house of the Secre-
tary of State, (Mr. MadisOn) was the resort of
company. The frank and cordial manners of
its mistress gave a peculiar charm to the fire.
quent parties there assembled.
Mrs. Madison may be considered the found
er of the presidential levees at the White
House, the customs and formalities introduced
by Mrs Washington and Mrs. Adams, at New
York and Philadelphia, having been done
away with, as already mentioned, by Mr.. JEFF
ferson Mrs. Madison was about twenty
years younger than her husband, whom she
married in 1894, when he was in his forty
third year. She was then the widow of
lawyer of Pennsylvania, named Todd, who
died in less than three years after marriage.
Her maiden name was Dolly Paine, and her
father, who belonged to the society of Friends,
had removed from Virginia to Pennsylvania
She was always admired for her agreeable
manners, her fine, tall and graceful person,
and her talents in conversation With an
amiable disposition, a mild and dignifed de-
pertinent, few Anne rican ladies have been
more distinguished than Mrs Madison, in the
various high stations she was called upon to
occupy and adorn through long life
After several years. residence at the hos
pitable mansion of Mr. Madison, his lady ac-
companied him to Washington, where they
took up their residence in April, 1901. We
have noticed the influence, which she, as
wife of the Secretary of State, acquired in the
social circles Of the new city. The dullness
which might have prevailed there, in the pc
cullar state Of society, was dissipated by the
cheerfulness and innocent gayety which she
infused and encouraged by her example. The
kindly feelings cultivated by Mrs. Madison,
triumphed over the animosity of party spirit,
and won popularity for her husband which
his lofty reserve and cold manners would have
failed in effecting
In Washington, the day of Mr. Madison's
Inauguration as President, March A, 1909.
was day of Jubilee. Gladness and kind
ness seemed the universal feeling. Every
face beamed with smiles of graduation, and
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