The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-05-25
Ladies of the White House.
DOLLY PAYNE MADISON.

Dolly Coles Payne, brought up in the
strict tenets of the Society of Friends,
and married at 10 to Mr.. John Todd, a
member of the same sect, in less than
year after his death, and at the age of
%, married James Madison, and stepped
from poverty and insignificance to
wealth and station. In her luxurious
home in Virginia she learned how to
exercise generous hospitality ard be-
nevolence, and an indulgent husband
allowed her the means of gratifying
most of the fine instincts of a noble
nature.
When Mr.. Madison was appointed in
Mr.. Jefferson's Cabinet, be removed with
his wife to Washington, and she fire.
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 benefac-
tiOn, and there probably never was a
person more generally loved, if some
times smiled at by the fastidious or su-
pereiliOus, within its walls.
With a little more elegance, there
would have been nothing more to desire
in Mrs. Madison. She had a certain
amount of tact, infinite good nature,
ready wit, and an unfailiDg memory of
names and faces, which, with her
warmth of heart, supplied many ele-
ments of 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 Observances hitherto in
force there, and making some innova-
tions. Very fond of dress, yet never ex-
travagant in it, wearing usually tur-
ban and gown of simple material, and
repairing times losses with rogue, she
was rather handsome woman, with
sparkling eyes, and tall, although,
perhaps, too redundant figure. She
was always happy woman; and when
adversely came she proved herself a
most noble one. When the British ap-
preached 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 re-
fused admission at an inn where she re-
quested 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 a short
season, she was subjected to great hard
ship; but, after the British had finished
their dastardly and disgraceful outrages,
she was one of the first to return. At
the conclusion of Mr.. Madison's term,
she retired with him to their mountain
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 goodly sum of money as copy
wright on certain of her husbands pa
pers, and voted her a 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 eOrdiality.-Ch Chicago
| Ledqer.