Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-12-11

European Queens all live in history,
but the wives Of our American Presi-
dents or statesmen pass away almost
without record. Unlike female rulers
in foreign countries. they have no po-
liiieal rights. and only govern by their
gTaces in social and domestic life.
James Parton has done more than any
man living to freshen the fading lines
II TIE lives Of our Lady Presidents
That ineosnparable biographeF. an . vol
nme nok often read nowadays. though
lssls..ss4s - 1855 Tee psoplasa BaBis a
Biography, tells rs that Mrs. Martha
Washington wasa plump. pretty, spright-
ly little woman in her youth, but set
lied down into plain, domestic wife,
who looked sharply after the servants;
she was far from an educated woman,
and though she kept her own accounts,
she was very poor speller. Parton
quotes Miss Bremen, the authoress, who
relates curtain lecture Of the great
man by Martha, which she overheard
in the sleeping room. Martha was an
gIy, and scolded a long time. The
General listened IN silence till she was
done. and then mildly closed the scene
with Now good sleep to you, my dearP
Gen. Washington was very rich; Mrs.
Washington was very rich, aud her
three children by her first husband,
were heirs TO great wealth. Washing
tons mother was plain, illIterate. en-
ergetic, strong-gilled lady. who prefer
red her own broad acres, and declined
TO go and live with her great son. 4
thank you. George said she, but de-
sire to be independent And when
Gen Lafayette called she was at work
in her garden. with her old sun-bonnet
on; so she came to him, saying, Il could
not pay you so poor a compliment,
Marquis, a. to stay TO change nv dress.
Thomas Jefferson, like Wash
Ington, married a widow, Mrs. Maria
Skelton, who had considerable proper
ty, but that dId not save her great hus-
band, who died deeply in debt, owing
to his siavish devotion TO his country.
She was lady of extraordinary beauty
of lace and form. and singularly compe-
tent to adorn and conducts great house
hold. A little above the medium height.
fair complexion, eyes large, dark and
expressive, alburn hair, and a daring
horscwCman, and full of talent. She
played, danced and sung well, and had
literary tastes. When Jefferson courted
her he was 2S and she 19. He played
the violin aud sung well, and a. he had
money then, and high position he dis
tanced all rivals. They had a great
wedding. She had an immense res
possibility managing her husband $
great estate; had six children, Of whom
only two survived, and died before he
rose to his great renown, mourned by
him to the last. He remained a wild
over forty-four years, down to his
death. OF course she never saw him
IN the White House. Dolly
Payne was a Quakeress, and a widow
when she married James Madison, and
the daughter of Virginia planter, born
in North Carolina. Her father and
mother set their slaves free and moved
to Philadelphia, and there she married a
lawyer named Todd. She was 30, and
he died three years after, leaving her
with son and no wealth. Her moth
er kept boarders while Congress sat
here, and she helped her mother 10
keep the establishment. Among these
boarders were Aaron Burr, then SEN
aior from New York, and James Madi.
son, a member of Congress from Vir-
ginia. Dolly was very beautiful and
accomplished, and when she married
Madison, he was 43 and she 25. They
had no children. When he became
President, in 1909, the White. House
received its lovely mistress, who en-
joyed its attractions for eight years
She died in Washington in I849, aged
80 year, surviving her husband thir-
teen years Daniel Webster
was twice married, but his first wife
was the mother OF all his children. She
was a clergyman daughter, one year
older than himself, quite accomplished,
not beautiful, but much esteemed; and
when she came to Washington. more
than ffty years ago, made many friends.
She died in New York, aged 46, in 1927,
whittier she had been taken from the
National Capital by her husband. II
she never saw him in his splendid prime,
che GId not witness his sad decline
have spoken Of Mrs. An
drew Jackson more than once. She
was the wife OF another man, Lewis
Robards, Of Kentucky, when young
Jackson saw and loved her. Her moth.
er, Mrs. Donelson, was keeping board.
ing House at that time, having returned
to Tennessee with Mr.. and Mrs. Ro.
bards, and Jackson lived IN her house,
Result, jealous husband and a separa-
tion. A rumor came that divorce had
been granted. and then young Jackson
married the grass widow but the ru-
NOR proving false, they lived together
two years before q divorce could be
really granted, and then they were mar
ried again. The first husband left ear.
ly, and these peculiar circumstances
led 10 many bitter quarrels between
Jackson, who grew into a great rePuta-
tion. and bad many enemies. She was
short and stout, a great housekeepeI
and manager, very religious. very illit.
crate, kind TO her slaves, and full Of an
ecdose and fun. She had no children,
and died in December. 1928. Just aiteI
her great husband was elected PresI.
dent. She was the Aunt Rachel oI
Nashville. and regularly smoked pipe
with the General. When the news d
ms election a. President came 20 hei
dying couch, she SIMPLY said: Wei
J tor Ar. Jaeksoa's sake (she AWAY