The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1874-11-19
A Visit TO One or the Mothers of the
Nation.

Nation.
Nashville Letter to Chicago Inter ocean,
On one of the cozy, shady streets o
Nashville, the Boston of the South, il
an Old-fashioned mansion of red brick
with wide, deep windows, and man
moth-pillared piazza jutting out like th'
bold forehead of the famous man tina
once lived there, is the house of Mrs
James Knox Polk, widow-One of tn,
Mothers of the Nation. A slender, grace
full old lady, with q snow-white necker
chief and folds of curls that lie pat on
each side of her brow. She is seventy.
six years old, but her figure is as straight,
her step as quick, and her eyes as bright
as the eyes of girl; active in every
benevolent scheme, generous to an ex-
treme, hospitable according to the tradi-
tiOns of Kentucky hospitality, and as
courtly as a queen. In Nashville, few
days ago, the house was pointed out to
me, and a description OF the old lady
given, with the remark that she liked to
receive strangers. So l thought l would
pay my respects to the widow of Presi.
dent, and, about MONDAY, 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 fower-beds in diff
ferent designs, borders of box, and shrubs
of different sorts placed at mathematical
intervals. An Old-fashioned brass knock
er, like the handle of coffin, FURNISHED
as bright as mirror, asked entrance for
me, and bent, rickety old negro woman
answered the summons.
"Is Mrs. Polk at homer"
"Ycs, sab; will you step in, sab; Mis-
sus Polk is at home, sab, but was just
gwine out, sab, and she's bOain' to go
bout this time. Take chair, sah."
She led me into an old-fashioned par.
lor, with shells of all sorts on the mantel,
and chintz curtains, with large, fowery
figures, hung before the windows. On
the walls were portraits of men in wigs
and military uniforms of the old regime,
and women with high powdered hair
and ruffles, with few antique prints
and half-faded landscapes. The furni-
ture was heavy mahogany, and ex-
quisitely carved, and the carpet, half
covered with canvas, was relic of an
cient elegance. was able only to glance
at things, for moment after the servant
left, Mrs. Polk entered, and, extending
her hand cordially, said:~
" l see you are stranger, sir, but l
am happy to see you, nevertheless. Peo-
pie call every day to see me-" said she,
laughing, "tO sec how woman lives
that has lived in the White House once,
and value the attention very highly"
/ thanked her, and attempted to ex-
plain and apologize for my intrusion, but
she tapped her hand impatiently with
her parasol, and said:
"The apology is on my part, sir, for /
must beg you to excuse me. l have an
appointment at this hour it is quite i'm
perative / should meet, or / would be
pleased to entertain you. l pray you
will excuse me, and make yourself as
much at home i'm my house and on my
grounds as if were here. My servants
will show you what people generally
wish to see. They are accustomed to
seeing strangers, sir; ha! ha! quite ac-
customed to it, assure you"
1t was something l had read about,
this graceful, old-fashioned courtesy, but
never saw before real illustration of
the manners Of the Republican Court,
and as / escorted the nimble, old lady to
her carriage, she chatted away as cor
daily as if she was my grandmother, and
insisted upon my calling again. Her
riding dress was of the shiny silken ma
terial that one sees at old folks concerts
black, and cut long-waisted, 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 picture
of her husband Her shawl was Of black
lace, folded in the old-fashioned way,
and on her hands were "mitts'-or what
ever 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 President,
which stands midway between the street
and the house, at the left of the walk.
1t is plain, rectangular sarcophagus,
about sixteen feet in height, of smooth
limestone, and inclosing low square
monument OF the same stone. An effort
has been made to remove it to the
grounds of the State House, which stands
not more than six hundred yards
away, but it is Mrs. Folks wish that it
remain where it is, and she wants to be
buried in the vault beneath, beside her
husband.
Every year the Legislature of Tennes-.
see call upon Mrs. Polk in a body, ha4
brief prayer at the tomb of the Presi
dent, and are entertained for few mo-
ments by his widow, with the assistance
of few other old-fashioned ladies that
have been her lifelong friends.