Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-12-26
A PRESIDENTS WIDOW.

/ INCIDENTS OF a ' lSlT To MRS. L OLh.
On one of the cosy, shady streets of
Nashville, the Boston of the South, in
an old-tashioneG mansion of red brick,
with wide, deep windows, and MAN.
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 u. States-one Of the
Mothers of the Nation. a slender,
graceful old lady, with a snow white
! neckerchief and folds OF curls that lie
flat 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 d glrl; active in every
benevolent scheme, generous to an ex-
treme, hospitable according to the ira
ditions of kentucky's hospitality, and
as courtly as queen. Iu Nashville,
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 strangers. So | thought
l would pay my respects to the widow
of a President, aud about noon day en-
tered 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 OF different sorts placed
at mathematical intervals. An old fash
ioned brass knocker, like the handle OF
coffin, FURNISHED as bright as a mirror,
asked entrance for me, and bent, rick
ETY. old negro woman answered the
summons.
SIS Mrs. Polk at home 2"
Eyes sab; will you step in, sab ?
Missus Polk is at home, sab, but was
Just gwine out, sab, and she's boun to
90 thout dis time. Take a chair, sab.
She led me into an old fashioned par
lor, with shells of.all sorts on the man.
tie, and chintz curtains with large flow
cry figures hung before the windows
On the wall were portraits Of men in
wigs and military uniforms OF the old
regime, aud women with high powder
ed hair and rufies, with a few antique
prints and hall faded landscapes. The
furniture was heavy mahogany, and eX-
qnisitely carved, and the carpet half
covered with canvass, was a relic OF
ancient elegance. | was able only to
glance at things for moment after the
servant left Mrs. Polk entered, and
extending her hand cordially said {:
81 see you are stranger, SIT; but L
am happy to see you nevertheless. Peo-
pie call every day to see me, sad she,
laughing, ''or TO see how a woman lives
that lived in the White House once,and
| value the attention very highly"
l thanked her and attempted to ex-
plain aud apologize for my intrusion,
but she tapped her hand impatiently
With her parasol, and said
'The apology is on my part, sir, for
| must ask you to excuse me. l have
an appointment at this hour it is quite
imperative should meet, or | should
be pleased to entertain You. pray you
will excuse me, and make your self as
much at home in 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 had read about,
this graceful, old fashioned courtesy,
but never saw before real illustration
of the manner Of the Republican court;
and as | escorted the nimble old lady
to her Garage she chatted away as cor
daily as if she was my grandmother,
and insisted on my calling again. Her
riding dress was OF the shiny silken ma
terial that one sees at old folks con-
certs; black, and cut long wasted,
with plain belt of cord ribben. At
her neck was white linen kerchief,
folded with artistic precision, and tas-
tened with a large brooch, which con-
taned picture of her husband. Her
shawl was OF black lace, folded in the
old fashioned way, and on her hands
were ''mittS or whatever you call
those silk knit affairs that havn't any
fingers. AS the Garage drove away l
turned back into the yard, and went to
tie tomb of the President, which stands
midway between the street and house,
at the left Of the walk. 1t is a plain re-
tactular sarcophagus, about sixteen
feet in height, of smooth limestone,
and incosing q 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. Polk's wish tha. it remain
where it is, and she wants TO be buried
in the vault beneath, beside her hus-
band. Everey year the Legislature OF
Tennessee calls upon Mrs. Polk in a
body, have brief prayer at the tomb
of the President, and are entertained
for few moments by his widow, with
the assistance Of few other old-fashion-
ed ladies that have been her life long
friends
DRAwING OF TIE VALLEY EDUCA-
rIoNAL ASSOCIATION CoNcERr.-The
drawing of this concert took place at
/ EE,L,r,, SbanauIoha cOuuty last