Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1871-11-22
THE WIVES OF THEPREsrDENTs.
BY LAURA C. HOLLOWAY.

The custom of the Republic, which re-
turn to private life those who have
served it, and the genius of democratic
institutions which condemn, as assumed
emblems of nobility, the prefxing of
titles to the names of American women,
have acted as an insurmountable barrier
to the acquaintance of the general pub
lie with the ladies who have occupied
the first social position in the land.
Mrs. Washington, to whom fell the
honor first, occupied the envied place Of
power eight years, and her history is
perhaps better known than any of her
descendants. BiOgraphers and histori-
ans, stimulated with desire to secure
her memory from the dust of years, have
been indefatigable in their labors, and
she is perhaps more highly eXtOlled and
more truly venerated than any of the
many women who have succeeded her.
To Mrs. Adams properly belongs the
highest place of honor in the American
heart because her position was more diff
ficult; her duties more arduous, and be-
cause she was stronger mentally, and
more thoroughly disciplined than any
who have succeeded her. She became
the occupant of place held to be almost
sacred because of its newness and the
exalted character of both Washington
aud his wife. To succeed the former
was difficult task for her husband and
to perform; to occupy Mrs. Washington's
place was an impossibility. But Mrs.
Adams was gifted with strength and
courage; with rare powers of mind and
heart, and was the best representative of
the best type of American women of
that day whose life history has been
handed down to US.
Mrs. Jefferson had been dead nineteen
years when her husband became Presi-
dent of the United States and but for the
occasional visits of his two married
daughters, and the frequent presence of
Mrs. Madison, the White HouseZduring
the eight years of Thomas Jefferson's
stay would have been entirely without
a social history.
James Madison's wife was the most
popular woman of her day, and had it
not been for the unfortunate war Of 1872,
and the disturbed condition of the coun-
| try both before and after this unfortun-
ate event, her administration of lady of
the White House would have been the
most brilliant of any recorded in thean-
nails Of the social history of the country.
Mrs. Monroe was a tinnid, delecate wo-
man untitled by nature and habit for the
place she held, and at the expiration of
her husbands term Of office gladly re-
tired with him to her Virginia home,
where, in 1880, she died.
Mrs. John Quincy Adams was Mary
land woman who had been educated in
England, and who filled her semi official
position with dignity and honor.
Mrs. Jackson died of broken heart,
before her husband succeeded to the
Presidency.
Mrs. Van Buren, had been dead sew
eral years when her husband, was elect
ed Chief Magistrate; and her daughter
in-law, lady of great refinement, was
mistress of the White House during the
term.
Mrs. Harrison was preparing to leave
her Western home when news of her
husbands death reached her.
Mr.. Tyler, who filed the unexpired
term lost his wife during his stay in the
White House, and subsequently, married
Miss Gardner, of n. York, eight months
before thesclose of his administration.
Mrs. James K. Polk, of Tennessee was
the second Southern lady who, as the
wife of the President, lived in the Exc
cutive mansion during the full term.
Mrs. Taylor heartily disliked the for
mality of Washington society, and re-
tired to her Louisiana home immediate,
: Iy after her husbands sudden death.