The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-06-26


The "Hermilaeei and the grounds
81 Che Iate President James X. Polk
are places Of Interest 10 risitora The
tomb Of Polk s. IN the yard IA front OF
the house, which Is now occupied By
his widow, who e at the advanced
aEe Of 50 years. We rang the bell at
kbe door q the great ola mansion,
Whlca was answered BIZ q sable ser
want, BIZ whom we sent our card to
Mrs. Polk, who returned 3 message
that she would be glad to receive "a.
On catering the room we were sur
prised 10 see such youthful looking
woman, who u still beautiful and
graceful, possessing a charm OF man
nef that many Of the Young might
envy. Said she ALTHOUGH j never
20 into society, and have not since
my dear husbands death, I am glad,
when not suffering from rheumatism,
10 see my friends. am pleased 20
have the representatives Of such 8
journal ~ the Infer-OccdH call upon
me. read the daily papers and am
interested In the political events Of
the day. / am sometimes SURPRISED at
myself. that az my time on life I
should be 80 interested in the aiiairs
Of State, for they are all gone Of my
day and generation, and I am only
waiting the Masters call We live
here In the old house, my niece, Ms.
George Falls, her husband, and their
daughter. Sadie Polk Falls.
She continued: You know We
had no children Of our own 90 my
niece has been our child, and her
daughter, who IL now lust seventeen,
and who will graduate this summer,
is our household idol. Many Of these
pictures you see are the work Of her
brush
The handsome mother OF the beauti-
ful daughter entered the room, aud
after exchanging greetings, I re-
marked ave were gpeaking OF
your daughter" "Yes,H said Mrs.
Fails, 1--WE are proud Of Sadie. Here
Il her last worn, !" q painting I'm full Of
Psyche" which was artistically ex-
ecuted, Gnd q marvel Of beauty. Said
Mrs. Polk "Sadie, too, is a fine
musician, possessing q marvellous
voice. / wish you could hear her
sing. often come into the parlOr 70
welcome her young friends, for
want them to feel they are welcome
here, and IL was not present they
might think they were disturbing the
old lady"
During last summer Mr. Falls and
her daughter were in New York.
Mora, the photographer, saw the
young lady, and gained her consent TO
sit fora picture. The artist draped
her hat and shoulders with white
tulle, and the picture resembled q
fairy queen. The young lady en-
tered as we were saying adieu, and !
did not wonder that artists wished 10
copy that lovely face, FOR shr Is beau
tlful
In the centre Of the parlor mantel
was q printed copy, In frame, Of
OF President POlkis first message 10
both houses Of Congress Of the United
States Of America, delivered In the
city Of Washington, December 2, 1S45.
In another frame was q printed copy
Of his inaugural address. Beside tbfs
stood a gilt frame which contained a
piece Of silk embroidery done at the
Salem Institute. North Carolina, IN
the year 1918, by Mrs. Polk. A life
size portrait OF President and Mrs
Polk, by Healy, adorned the walls Of
one Of the parloFs; also portraits Of
Washington, Madison, Monroe and
e8~Ag0As MS n 81 AcluAlhEus AOu
see, the Presidents are well represent
ed here"
This large, Old-fashiOned house,
with its heavy COrinthian columns is
the home Of culture, refinement, com
fort and content. The garden walks
are lined with blOssoming tulips, and
we brought some away as souvenirs
OF our pleasant visit to Mrs. James X.
Polk, one Of the most estimable and
remarkable women in America.