Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-10-17
Eminent American Women.

European queens all 1--we IN history, Dul
the wives of our American presidents OIL
statesmen pass away almost without record.
Unlike female rulers in foreign countries
they have no political rights, and only gov
ern by their graces in social and domestic
life
James Parton has done more than any man
living to freshen the fading lines in the lives
of our lady presidents. That Incompatible
biographer, in volume not often read now
adays, though printed in 1868, The Peo-
pies Book of Biography" tells us that Mrs.
Martha Washington was plump, pretty,
sprightly little woman in her youth, but set
tied 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 was very poor
speller. Parton quotes Miss Bremen, the
authoress, who relates curtain lecture of
the great man by Martha, which
she overheard i'll the sleeping room.
Martha was angry, and scolded long
time. The General listened in silence
till she was done, and then mildly closed
the scene with Now good sleep 10 you,
my dear" Gen Washington was very rich
Mrs. Washington was very rich, and her
| three children by her first husband were
heirs to great wealth. Washington's mother
was a plain, illitcrate, energetic, strong
| willed lady, who preferred her own broad
acres, and declined 10 go and live with
her great son. Il thank you, George
said she, ''but desire 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 compliment, Marquis,
as to stay to change my dress,
Thomas Jefferson like Washington, mar
I-,It. H..
had considerable property but that did not
save her great husband, who died deeply
in debt, owing to his slavish devotion TO
his country She was a lady Of cXtraOrdin-
ary beauty of face and form, and singularly
competent to adorn and conduct great
household \ little above the medium
height, fair complexion, eyes large, dark
and expressive, auburn hair and daring
horsewOman, and full of talent. She play
ed, danced and sung WELL and had literary
tastes. When jefferson courted her he was
- and she 10 He played the violin and
sung well, and AS he had money then, and a
high position, he distanced all rivals They
had great wedding. She had an immense
responsibility managing her husbands great |
estate, had six children, of whom only two |
survived, and died before he rose 10 his great |
renown, mourned by him to the last. He |
remained widower forty-four years, down
10 his death vi course she never saw nm
III the hlte House DoHy fayhe
wasa Quaker, anu willow When sile married
James Madison anu tne uiu9h'er Oh VI
gina planter porn III Norm ,aroiina' lier
falher anu mother SCI lhelr saves free anu
moved 10 lhlEiheiphia anu tnere buily
married Il lawyer named iouu' one was ~
anu he dleu three years a,ter' leaving hcr
win Il son anu no wealth. lier hother KEPT
hoardtrs whlie congress SAT mere anu slie
neipeu hfr mo'her 10 Keep tlic estlpliSiiil,tll'
Among 'hese o"ardSrs were AARON burr,
, M 0chat'r rom Ne" lolN' anu ''t wv,
Mauison, member "l congress from NH-
s,n,a- p"iN was We, "c''u'liu NM ~, :'oO'l''-
llsii.u' anu Whc, Snr ma, ~" 'i', I.T, Ut
MIS- WI: 10 anu Sne - my n','' lo ,Sao en-,
w ,n ne uec",~ ,1'i ~, III iI u.s., NV