The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-11-27

years, during which Mrs. Madison was the
centre Of a brilliant circle of society In
Washington. The gossips Of Che day were
OF the opinion that her influence over her
husband was greater than IL should have
been. and that il was sometimes her voice
which decided appointments and influenced
measures.
In 1909. Mr.. Madison became the Presi-
dent Of tbe United States. and HE vivacious
and beautiful wife enjoyed, for the next
eight years splendid theatre for the ex.
hibi,ion of her charms.
Itwa. during her husbands second term
that the interesting event Of her life occur
red. In August. 1914, the news came to
Washington that British army had landed
on the coast within hundred miles Ut the
Capital. A few days later. the President
and bis cabinet were flying towards vir.
ghh. while Mr,. Madison sat at window
of the Presidential mansion, listening to the
distant thunder OF cannon on the disastrous
field Of Bladensbnrg. She held a Telescope
in-her hands, With when she looked anx
ionsy down the road by which her husband
was expected to return hut sbe con,d see
nothing hut squads Of militia wandering
about without purpose or command. At
the door Of the house q carriage stood, filed,
with plate and papers. ready TO leave at an
insIanl's warning. fhe Mayor of Washing.
ton visited her in the course of that terrible
afternoon, and advised her to leave the
city; but she calmly refused, and said she
would not leave her abode without the
Presidents orders. A messenger from him
at lehgth arrived, bearing a note written
hdrr'Sdly with a lead pencil, telling her
to fly.
Among the precious articl-s in the White
House was the fine portrait of Washington
taken by Stewart from life. She seized q
carving knife from the table, cut the picture
out of~its frame, rolled it up, hurried with
II into the carriage, and drove away. At
Georgetown, two miles from the city, she
met the President and the cabinet, who
were assembled on tho hanks Of the Poto-
mac, about to cross. There was hut one
Rtile boat on the shore. Ia which only three
p"rsons at time could trust them. Gives
The President assigned TO Mrs. Madison
nine eavslrymon, and directed her TO meet
hin, on the following day at n certain tav-
ern, sixteen miles from Georgetown. In
the dusk Of the evening she began her
march accompanied Gy tw, or three ladies'
while the rretid"nt AMI his companions
were rowed acfnss the river.
When the British officers entered the
Presidents house that evening, they found
the di"ner table spread sor forty guests, the
President hating intfted large dinner
party fof that day. The wine was cooling
on the side board; the plates were warm
ing by the fire; the knives. forks and spoons
were arranged upon The snowy table cloth.
In the kitchen, joints Of meat were roasting
on spits before the fire; saucepans full OF
vegetables were sten'ning upon the range.
AMI everything was in a state Gf forward.
ness for substantial banquet. The officers
sat down to the islle. devoured the dinner,
and concluded the entertainment 10y setting
fire to the house. 1t terrible night
The capitol was burned, the treasury
building, the Presiients house, all the
principal public buildings, and the Navy
Yard.
1t was not until the evening of the f1l.
lowing day that Mrs. Madison. IL the midst
Of q violent storm Of thunder, wind and
RAIN approached the tavern to which the
President had directed her. Ife had not
yet arrived. and the landl.dy, terrified by
the events around her. had barred the doors.
and refused to atlnrit the drenched and ex
haustei mdies. The troopers were Obliged
to force an entrance. Two hours later. the
President of The United States reached the
house, wet hungry and fatisus6. The
landl.dy could provide them with nothing
but some bread and cold meat after par.
taking Of which th'ey retired to miserable
bed, not without Tears that the next morn
ing would find them prisoners of the British
general. Il happened. however. that the
English troops retired even more rapidly
than they had advanced. and In few days
the President and his wife returned 10
Washington, which was still sninking from
the recent conttagrntion. They found the |
best lodgings they could. and the govern.
meht Was soon performing its accustomed |
duties.
We have pleasing glimpse Of Mrs. Mad.
i.on, in an old number OF the National In
telligeaeer, in which the e,litor describes
the seene at the Presidents house on the
evening when the news Of peace arrived,
in February 1915.
Late in the afternoon" he wrote.
came laundering down Pennsylvania Av-
enne coach and four foaHing steeds, In
which was the bearer OF the good news -
Cheers followed she carriage as It sped its
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