Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-08-22

Who was Dolly Payne, the wife o
James Madison, President of the Uni
ted States and a gallant soldier of tn,
Revolution? A Quaker girl, aroun,
whom clusters all that was romanti,
and poetic in Madison's life, except hi
tender devotion to his mother. He fel
In love with her while he was in Phila
delphia attending the sessions of Con
greSs as a Representative from Virginia
She was born In North Carolina, bu
when quite young her parents removed
10 Philadelphia and joined the Societ,
OF Friends. When Madison first me
her she was Mrs. Dorothy Payne Todd
the widow of John Todd. Still she
was only twenty-three years old, and as
pretty in features as charming In con.
versation. His suit was successful
which is not to be wondered at, for he
was a man of wealth and with wide
reputation. With her he retired TO hi.
country seat to enjoy her society, the
company of his friends, and the com.
forts OF home. Seven happy years were
spent al Montpelier and then in 1901
Madison was appointed Secretary OF
State and removed with his beautiful
wife to Philadelphia. Afterwards, when
Madison became President, she shared
the White House with him. 1t is said
OF her that she presided with more
brilliancy over the Executive Mansion
than any other woman before or since.
Her beauty, her charming manners, her
quiet refinement, and her dignity aid
grace lent charm before unknown to
the White House entertainments.
And she was rs brave as she was
beautiful. During the exciting days of
the war of 1872 she showed such devo-
ton and bravery that she was no longer
simply queen of the drawing-room,
but a heroine among heroines. The
oath of August, 1914, witnessed the en-
try of the British into the Capital, after
defeating our army at Biadensburg.
On the day previous, Mrs. Madison
wrote thus to her sister at Mt. Vernon:
My husband left me yesterday to join
General Winder. He inquired anxious
ly whether had courage or flrmness to
remain in the Presidents house until
his return on the morrow or succeeding
day, and on my assurance that | had
no fear but for him and the success of
our army, he left ME, beseeching Inc to
take care of myself and of the Cabinet
papers public and private. Ihave since
received two dispatches from him writ
ten with pencil; the last is alarming,
because he desires that L should be
ready at moments warning To enter
my carriage and leave the city. | am
determined not to go myself until | see
Mr.. Madison safe and he can accompa-
ny ME, as l fear much hostility to-
wards him." On the following after
noon she adds a postscript" VIII you
believe it, my sister, we have had bat
tie or a skirmish near Bladensburg, and
l am here within sound of the cannonl
Mr. Madison comes not may God pro-
tect himl Two messengers covered
with dust come to bid Inc fly, but wait
for him."
AT last she consents to depart, but
even then delays. at the risk of capture,
to order the demolition of the heavy
gilt frame around Stuart's portrait of
General Washington, so that the valued
picture may he taken out and carried
to a place of security. Dolly Payne is
a demure little Quaker girl no longer,
but brave woman of whom the whole
nation may well beproud. 1t is a pleas
ing incident of her husbands love that
in after years, when writing his will, he
always mentioned her as my dear
wife" With all her beauty and with
all her bravery Dolly Madison had her
share of trouble. John Payne Todd,
son by the first husband, was wild,
profiigate fellow, who inherited none of
the good qualities of his mother. He
was the scapegrace of the family. When
Madison sold his manuscripts and pa
pers to Congress for $4,000, young
Todd managed to get most OF the mo-
ney from him. Afterwards when Mad
ison made his will, ne left land and 9th
er property to all his relatives, but To
John Payne Todd he gave only the med
ais presented to him by his friend Geo.
W. Erving, and the walking staff made
from the timber of the frigate COnsti-
tuition and presented to him by Commo-
dore Elliott, then her commander. So,
young Todd, figuratively speaking, was
cut off with shilling. Dolly Payne,
as she is commonly called, resided III
Washington during the last years of
her life. In her old age she was bap-
tized and became member Of st. John S
Church, in Philadelphia.