The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-11-19
pRE~9,Exr E,oLA's WIDOW.
the NaGiOn-'R'cR ne~sec's Homage
40 Her Famous SOIss.

10 AAes sAEfAOEE@ FSSAzs~
Nashville Letter TO Chicago Inter-Ocean.l
On one Of the cosy, shady streets of
Nashville, the Boston Of the South, in
an old-fashioned mansion of red brick
with wide, deep windows, and a nam
moth -pillared plaza iutting 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. y slender,
graceful old lady, with snow-white
| neckerchief and folds Of curls that lie pat
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 the
eyes Of girl; active in every benevolent
scheme, generous to an extreme, hOspita-
/ bic according to the traditions Of Ken
lucky hospitality, and as courtly as Il
| queen In Nashville, a few days ago,
/ the house was pointed out to me, and
description of the old lady given, with the
remark that she liked to receive stran-
gers. So thought would pay my re-
spects to
THE WIDOW OF A PRESIDENT.
And about MONDAY / entered the gate Of
'sthe Polk place." and went up the long
gravel walk that leads to the house. The
ward is laid out in the oId-fashioned style,
with flower beds in the different designs,
borders of box and shrubs Of different
sorts placed at mathematical intervals.
An old-fashioned brass knocker. like the
handle of coffin. FURNISHED as bright IS
a mirror, asked entrance for me, and a
bent, rickety old negro woman answered
/ the sun mons.
els Mrs. Polk at homer
Eyes, sab; will YOU step in ssh; Alissus
Polk is at home, sab, but was just gwine
out, sab, and she's boun' to go bout this
time fake chair, sab"
/ She led me into nm old-tashioned parlor,
with shells OF all sorts on the mantel and
chintz curtains with large flowcry figures
/ hung before the windows On the walls
were portraits of men in wig and military
uniforms of the old regime, aud women
with high powdered hair and rufilaS, with
a few antique prints and half-fadcd land
scapes. The furniture was heavy mahoe-
any and exquisitely carved, and the carpet
/ half covered with canvas, was relic Of
ancient elegance | was able only to
glance at things for n moment after the
servant left. Mrs Polk entered and
extending her hand cordially, said
81 see YOU are a stranger, sir; but am
happy to see YOU nevertheless. Peopl" call
every day to see me, said she, laughjrg,
ito see how woman lives that lived in
the White House once, and | value the
attention very highly"
thanked her, and attempted to explain
and apologized for my intrusion, but she
tapped her hand patiently with her parasol
and s4id:
The apology is on my part, sir, for |
must beg YOU to excuse me. l have an
appointment at this hour it is quite imper-
aivc | should meet, or would be pleased
to entertain you. [ pray you will excuse
,ne. AMI make yourself as much at home
/ IN my house and on my grounds as if l
were here Ny servants will show YOU
what people generally wish to see. They
are accustomed to seeing strangers, sir;
I ha hat, quite accustomed to it, | assure
you.
1t was something l had read about this
graceful old-fashioned courtesy, but
but never saw before real illustra-
| ton of
COURT.
/ And as | escorted the nimble old lady to
her carriage, she chatted away as cordially
as if she was my grandmother, and insis-
ted upon my calling again. Her riding
dress was of the shiny silken material
that one sees at old folks concerts; 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 large brooch
which contained a picture of her husband.
| Her shawl was of black lace, folded in
the old-fashioned way, and on her hands
we're "mitts" or whatever they call those
silk, knit affairs, that haven't any fingers.
As the carriage drove away | turned back
| into the yard and went to the tomb of the
Presidet, which stands midway between
the street and house, at the left of the
walk II is plain, rectangular sarco-
phagus, about sixteen feet in height, of
smooth limestone, and inclosing a low
square monument of the same stone.
| An effort has been made to remove it to
the grounds of the State-house, which