St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-24
PRESIDENT POLK's WIDOW.
A Famous WOmTn as Seen at Home Hei
JIidyipl1 Lore.

A Famous WOmTn as Seen at Home HeJ
UHdyin1 Lore.
Col. Mcclure in Philadelphia Times.
Just forty years ago, on the 9Th OF March,
1S45, Mrs. james X. Polk entered the Whit
house at Washington as the wife of the presi-
dent and chief lady of the land. She had
then reached even beyond the full noon-tidt
of her years, as more than forty winters had
entered into the story Of her hOnOred life
Few of the people of the present have per
sonal rccollections of the gentle grace anC
easy dignity with which she shone in the cir
cles of the nations most cultured men and
women of that day; but the pleasant tradition
of the White house that makes the name OF
Mrs. Madison illustrious as the most beloved
OF the early mistresses OF the home Of the
president is supplemented by the lingering
memories aud oft-repeated tributes in every
section of the land which tell OF the we'll
merited aud more than generous homage
paid to Mrs. Polk while presiding as the cen
trail figure of the social jewels Of the Republic.
She welcomed at her hospitsble board the
Claws, the Websters, the Calhouns, the Ben
tons, the Bells, the Buchanans of our history,
aud In all the bitter conflicts of the disputing
giants OF the last generation the more than
respect that grows into the reverence of af-
lection was commanded from all by the lady
of the White house. Soon after the retire
ment of her honored husband from the high
est civil trust of the world he was suddenly
called, in the full vigor of his life, TO join the
great majority beyond, and the whole nation
fered by the death Of James X. Polk
Widowed aud alone, Mrs. Polk fitted the
dreamless couch Of the dead in the green
lawn that froutcd their beautiful home in
Nashville and there the ashes Of her lord re-
pose, in daily view Of the one whose life has
had a single SORROW that makes all other sor-
rows fade into forgetfulness. Unforgetting
as if unforgotten, the modest panoply that
covers the tomb Of her buried love is the
shrine to which go out the devotions of each
succeeding day, and the room in the home
stead " here the ex-president sank calmly into
the sleep of death has stood uDaltered and
unoccupied. save as widowed love returns 10
the altar OF blighted but unwearied affection
Thus while full generation has come and
gone has Mrs. Polk kept faithful vigil over
her husbands dust and her husbands honor.
she has seen ten presidents follow Mr.. Polk
in the chair be so wOrthily flied, and IS likely
to see the eleventh successor before the long
halt shall come.
OF all the women Of the land, the widow
q James X. Polk has long been accorded the
largest measure Of the nations respect and
reverence. While ever faithful to the one
bright memory Of her long and beautiful life,
she has made friend and stranger, old and
young, high and loE, welcome 10 her hospita-
Die home, aud the visitor 10 Nashville, who
does not cross the threshold OF Mrs Folks
home aud receive er welcome, IS forgetful
Of one Of the most delightful opportunities.
Every day her house bears the greeting Of the
jourueying stranger, and the bright faces Of
childhood. of early man and EOmanbOOd. and
OF ripened age come aud 90 as the grand old
lazy smiles upon them with the weight Of
more than fOur-score years upon her. / ssw
her in the midst OF large reception she had
given 70 Philadelphia ladies, and although
bowed with age and unable to stand without
support. she was sprghtly as any Of the many
accom- plished ladies' who assisted in her
qgeenly hospitality. and her uncIOuded
memory and undated interest In public
men and public events made her ever the
center Of attraction for all