The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-05-10
Ladies' of the White House Polly
PAYNE Madison.

Dolly Coles Payne, brought up in the
strict tenets of the Society of Friends.
and married at 10 to Mr. John Todd,
member Of the same sect, in less than a
year after his death, and, at the age of
%, married James Madison, and stepped
from poverty and insignifcance to wealth
and station. In her luxurious home in
Virginia she learned how to exercise
generous hospitality and benevolence
and an 1ndulgent husband allowed her
the means Of gratifying most of the fine
instincts of noble nature.
When Mr.. Madison was appointed in
Mr. Jeffersons Cabinet, he removed with
his wife to Washington, and she fre-
quently and kindly played the part of
Lady of the White House before it be-
came her own home and, on her hus-
bands election to the Presidency, his
wife's presence in the White House was
hailed by the social world as benefao-
ton, and there probably never was
person more generally loved, if some
times smiled at by the fastidious or su-
percilious, within It's walls.
With a little more elegance, there
would have been nothing more to desire
in Mrs. Madison. She had certain
amount Of tact, infinite good nature,
ready wit, and an unfailing memory Of
names and faces, which, with her warmth
Of heart, supplied many elements CT
popularity, and her reign was joyous
one. She filled the White House with
young people, putting all at ease by her
own ease, and kept up round OF gayety,
relaxing many Of the ceremonious OBJ
servances hitherto in force there, and
making some innovations. Very fond of
dress, yet never extravagant in it, wear
ing usually a tUrban and q gown of sim
pie material, and repairing times losses
with rouge, she was rather handsome
woman, with sparkling eyes, and tall,
although, perhaps, too redundant, fig
ure She was always happy woman );
and when adversely came she proved
herself a most noble one When the
British approached the capital, she was
one of the last to leave the city, having
fingered to secure certain State papers
and other valuable articles Of public
property, to the sacrifice of her own.
She was refused admission at an inn
where she requested shelter, with her
suite, at the instigation Of those already
sheltered there-people who had, one
and all, shared her hospitality, but now
chose to hold her husband responsible
for the war and punish her and, for q
short season, she was subjected to great
hardship; but, after the British had fin
ished their dastardly and disgraceful out
RACES, she was one of the first to return
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Madison
term, she retired with him to their noun
tain home in Virginia, and there was the
comfort Of his declining years. After
his death she returned to Washington, a
place she loved, and there spent the last
twelve years of her life. Congress had
paid her a goodly sum Of money as copy
wright on certain Of her husbands pa
pers, and voted her seat on the floor of
the Senate; but she died in poverty, al
though honored to the last and while
always to be seen with her splendid
green shawl, her turban, and her snuff
box, never forgetting her dignity or her
great-hearted cordiality.