Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-11-25
Al PRESIDENTS WIDOW.


iNoiDhNih OF AlNisif Io Mhs' foLh'
On one of tho cosy, shady streets Of
Nashville, the Boston of the South, in
an old-fashioncd mansion of red brick,
with wide, deep windows, and q nam
moth-pillared piazza jutting out like
the bold forehead of the famous man
that once lived there, is the house Of
Mrs. James Knox Polk, widow of the
tenth President Of the United States
one of the Mothers of the Nation, A
slender graceful old lady, with snow
white necherchicf and folds of curls
that lie fiat on each side of her brow.
She is 76 years old, but her figure is
as straight, her step as quick, and her
eyes as bright as the eyes Of girl I;
active in every benevolent scheme,
generous to an extreme, hospitable ac-
cording to the traditions of Kentucky's
hospitality. and as courtly as q queen.
In Nashville, few days ago, the house
was pointed out to me, and a descrip-
ton Of the old lady given, with the re-
mark that she liked to receive stfang-
ers. SO | thought ] would pay my
respects TO the widow of President,
and about noon-day entered the gate
of 'the Polk Place" and went up the
long gravel walk that leads TO the
house. The yard is laid out in the old
fashioned style, with flower beds in
different designs, borders of box, and
shrubs different sorts placed at mathe-
matical intervals. An old fashioned
brass knocller, like the handle of a cof,
fin, FURNISHED as bright as n mirror,
asked entrance for me, and n bent,
iickety old negro woman answered the
summons, lal
'Is Mrs. Polk at home 2p
"Yes sah will you stop in, sab ?
Missus Polk is at home, sab, but was
just gwine out, sab, and she boun' TO
go out dis time Take chair, sab. "
She led me into an old fashioned
parlor, with shells of all sorts on the
mantle, and chintz curtains with large
fowery figures hung before the win
dows. On the wall were portraits of
men in wigs and military uniforms of
the old regime, and women with high
av,;o,,e nrints and half FADED land
snonas The f,rniture xyas heavv ms.
hoganv and exonisitelv carved and
the carpet half covered with canvass,
was a relic of ancient elegance. was
able only to glance al things for n mo-
men, a3.r no servant lef, Mrs Poll,
on,ered and evtanding ber hand cor
ALL, so;d
81 sa" ,,or ore n s,ronoor cir. Inn, I
@ sss , ~ ~ ",s soo ,'a,' poro,.,h ~ olaes
In, pas,P naPpy au % ono,, a. 80 soa ,,a said
- .oPis is''.h,', s wv ,.o @ sao 1 ho,, NO. ro
sn Esas ,has Sl;,ad ;n ,ho Wh;,o Uonsa
nnoa NO., = and I voIuo the attention verv
L;abl,,S
,Iani,od hor aud o,,omo,od % a.
,,a;a anJ analoa;xa Cor ny ;,,,ms;on
En-, sha tapned hor hand smnatiently
III, hor ,arrasol ond sold.
,.Tha anolory Il ON mv NOR, sir for
! mrs, asL Won 10 ovcpss me. have
an anno;n,ment ~ th;s bon, il is onito
;andrat;vo I sbould meet or sbonld
he h nieased 70 entertain Won. / nrav
Won will excuse me- and make your.
self as much AZ home in NV bouse and
on nv gronnds as If / were here NV
servants will show Won what peopie
GENERALLY wish 10 see. They are nc.
cpstomed 10 seeing strangers sir. ba
ha ou;te accustomed TO Il. | assure
Won u -l .'.
IL was something | had read about
this graceful. old fashioned courtesy,
but never saw before a real illustration
of the manner of the Republican court.
and "a escorted the nimble old lady
10 her carriage she ebatted away as
cordially rs If She was nv grandmotb.
re and insisted ON NV calling apain.
Her riding dress was ofthe shiny sillxen
material that one sees at old folks con.
oerts black, and cut long wasted, with
A plain belt of corded ribbon. At her
neck was white linen kerchief folded
with artistic precision. and fastened
with a large brooch. which contained
n picture of her husband Her shawl
was of black lace, folded in, the old
fashioned wav. and ON her hands were