New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-19
DOLLY MADISON.
Any or Old TINES.

Snr o. Fa',eI ny her granda'ecer 16mo. PIP 2lo
Hourhton, Afiiin n Co.
u il n piece OF public good icitune when JIG
.ors serions records of our Naticnal history are
pirmiaatsd by thoughts snd experiences OF Tue
distinguished women of tho revolutionary ana
cary republican periods They reelected, often
more Completely than the political aiarsts and let
,er-vriters the opinions of a society In whlch
,heg were themselves a great force ana the char-
acteristcs of a class which had nero influence
an .nv one class exercises OF the present day
over the course of public affairs Until JacKsohs
,imc there was a social ASPECT OF othciai Ire a'
the National capital to which there is nothing
corresponding in orr day. Ia the small circles
which then surrounded the seat of governmen.
personal gifts and accom- lishemnts had them iuii
value the chief officers Of State werc brought ln'o
familiar and hospitable intercourse Win QUO
another and with visiting strangers instead OF 'no
nrou,iscuous and Improbable gayety OF TINS eehei
alton there were intimacles between peopo VIM
really had something in common anu 49,
were exchanged, ceremonious perhaps YET cor"'''',
which had some effect upou the decorous Pios
pubnc affairs. The etiquette OF the 7ap''A w.
DISTINGUISHED In many important psl"cui'iH 80 ~
republican simplicity far more genuine '""" We"
which il affected now A value was set upoh eoou
- hu, che idea Of equality was carefully
.la II must not be supposed that the
s,,,.,,s nd administrators of the new STATE Weio
is,orapt Of polite observauoes. Most OF 'heih on
tbe contrary were men of good breeding VINO nau
eniovod many social advantages ana wouiu nave
,oken q position Of rank in almost any community
The women of that era ware worthy Oh ther nun
hands and fathers; and it was largely OWING "
them that the tone Of Philadelphia and Nasn'hs
Ton was celebrated for dignity simplicity anu
,efrement of which one thinks WIFE delght anu
envy.
We have had various pleasant memorials OF tna'
,oprtlv pe,iod but few more fascinating than this
h,tle book about Mis-. Madison, made from family
letters and trs i;Sions and marked CT every page
nv tact. taste and sympathy Mrs. Madison was
o-e a. the most charming women who ever graceu
,ha p,es,dent's house. She of Quaker parent
oee and although she seems to have fallen away
from the Society in early womanhood she ciung 10
.oe faint remnant o. the dress until long ater sue
became n leader OF the gay world Her ia.her'
John PAYNE. was q Virginia planter "heh
D,r,ny Tor Dolly, as she always signed herselr'
was fourteen years old, Mr.. Payne freed DIS slaves
and removed with his family to fhiladeiphla TOT
tie sake of the spiritual privileges offered by thao
,oetropolis lie became prominent speaker amcng
The Friends and brought up his children according
70 the strct.st rules of the sect OUT II NAY DC
6o,,,od Uhether he quite succeeded In Graduating
hum, nature from his bright and beautiful
5op,h,cr Dolly When tho child went To school III
Nircinia her mother used to equip her every morn
ing with a sun-bOnret sewed on her h7ao' "h''o
linen mask to keep the sun from her complcXloh'
and long gloves covering her hands ana ARMS
There was surely little encouragement 10 vanity
here; and Dolly had worldly deb9ht besi1es
which her parents knew nothing about lor hei
grandmother used to make her surrepttious
presents of ancient odds and ends of iewery which,
not daring to show them, she wore in bag hung
s-oood her neck md hidden under her clothes At
h,r fathers command, when she was about nine
teen she married John Todd, an estimable yonng
Quaker lawyer. She is described at this time as
tall. slight. with delicate oval face. welcomed
ifn,t perfect features q dazzlingly fair complex
ION very black barr and blue eyes which wore a
pccIlarly sweet expression beneath the little
Quaker cap. Although her marriage was entirely
unronautic it was happy and when john lodd
died OF ye1ow-fever after three years of union
she was Frustrated with grief. She took the con-
tsfion from him. and recovered only after long
Illness during which the younger of her two clnl-
dren died The elder Payne Todd. lived to be a
great sorrow 10 her: SIZE loved him to the end Of
her life with vearnmg and pathetic tenderness
which lie hardly recognized much less repaid
The beautiful widow of twenty-five who added
I, ner attractions of tsCe, hgcTe, AMI disposition
fortune which for that day was very large. had
in,umerabe admirers "Really. Dolly said one
Of her friends. thee must hide thy face there are
20 many staring at thee Mr.. Madison, then
member of Congress. was twenty years her senior
aod passel for an .ncorrgi 5le old bachelor; bat
having seen her in the street, lie would not rest
! until he had obtained an introduction Dolly
n writes TO her friend Mrs Lee: Dear friend,
thou must come TO me. Aaron Burr says that the
great little Madison has asked TO be brought to
zee no this evening" At this interview, which
ended in Madson's losing his heart. If he had not
lost il already, Dolly was dressed Sin a mulberry
oolored satin. with silk tnlle kerchief over her
neck and OIL her head an exquisitely dainty little
cap. from which an occasional uncropped curl
wonld escape" Mr. Madson's attentions became
matter of general talk, and the rHmors reached
General Washington. who interested IN both
PARTIES Madison being high in his esteem while
Dolly was connected with his family, her younger
sister, Lucy. having married George Steptoe Wash
ington Of HARDWOOD. Jefferson County. Virginia,
the Presidents nephew. Dolly was summoned to
the Presidential mansion. Dolly" said Mrs.
Washington. is it true that you are engaged to
James Madison ?" The fair widow stamme red,
No she thought not. "If 1t is so' Mrs Wash
ington continued. do not be ashamed to confess it,;
rather be proud; he will make thee a good hus-
band and all the better for Icing mach older.
We both approve Of ii the esteem and friendship
,xistng between my husband and Mr. Madison
is very great, and would wish thee to be
happy" The wedding took place at HARDWOOD in
1894 about year after John Todd's death
Travelling was an affair of much time and pains
In those days. and the journey from Philadelphia
10 HARDWOOD took a week The cavalcade moved
merrily in bright September weather. the prospect
i've bride riding with her little sister Anna in an
open barouche, while Mr. Madison and a party
OF particular friends prancel their horses along
eide or followed in carriages. the marriage was
celebrated with characteristic Virginia hospitality
AID merrimeut the festivities lasting several days
and attracting a throng of acquaintance from far
and near At last after the girls had despoiled
Mr., Madison of the last rag Of his lace-ruiies, to
b. cut up for menentos, the laughing bride and
groom drove of. amidst a shower of rice for