Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-03

husband. So frank and cordial was
she that she disarmed the raucor
Of her husbands fercest political foes,
who fiocked willingly TO her sumpt,ions
dinners. which we're 10 the ample Virginian
style. Al The Inauguration ball OF her nus
hand iIoIly Madison easily carried away
The palm by her imposing appearance. She
.sIo,,ked and moved like queen. She
wore bufl.eolored velvet, with pearl orna-
menfs. ard Paris t,irban With bird.of'
nara0ise plume." When duly installed In
Inc Executive Mansion she gave weekly
dinner parties and frequent receptions.
sls abolished much Of the ceremony and
etiquette which Mrs. Washington had
made The fashion, being resolved that
everybody who came 10 enjoy her bospi-
taIiiies should have ga good time." " Her
memory was 50 good" writes one OF her
contemporaries, "that she never. forgot
name. ard could address each OF her guests,
tLourb lust introduced with twenty Others,
rs II she had known them for years. She
was a Misunderstanding woman In the
drawing.room. Her stately aud Juno-ike
figure lowered above the rest oil the ladies'.
When she found a timid young girl she
wtn,Id attend TO her most 9ssiduously, con-
duet her TO the piano, and remain with her
until she became more at ease" MIS-. madl-
sou was real heroine. When the British I'M
yaded Washington and approached the Pre-
,idept's house, Mrs. Madison refused TO
STIR step out OF IL until she was assured
that her husband had got across safely into
Virginia. OF Mrs. Monroe, The wife OF
that President who was called "the last Of
the cooked hats" because he was the last
TO wear the old continental costume, the
social history Of her time tells us little. she
was a quiet, somewhat retiring lady, 10
whom her husband was devotcdiy attlched'
Che had. however, once been beautiful; Tor
when her husband was Minister to France
she bad been known in Partisan society as
OLA BELLE AMERICAINE."
The present White House was built to-
ward the latter part Of Madison's term, and
was occupied by Monroe. Us II has been by
every succeeding President. John Quincy
Adams brought 10 the White House a
ylyaciOus, petite. and brilliant wife. Lsuise
Catherine Adams was English by birth and
education, and had spent a great part ct
her early married life 10 the European
courts at which Mr. Adams had served
as American EnyOT. The manners
Of the second President Adams were
cold, formal. and somewhat ropelling; and
IL was fortunate for the "repiblican
court" which in his day returned to somc.
thing Of the eXcluSiycnesS and ceremony o.
the Washington period. that Mrs. Adams
was 20 buOyaDt In spirit, so lively in dts.
position, and 50 bright in conversation.
Though 10y no means so great IN her sphere
as Mrs. Madison. Mrs. Adams well su'-
tanned the reputation OF the Executive
Mansion for having mlstresseS who adorned
IL by elegance, beauty. and wit.
Twelve wears were covered by the presi-
DENTAL terms OF the two wldowerS, Jackson
and Van Buren,. In ,jackson's time the
social duties Of the White House were per-
formed by his nleces and dlughtcr-in-law,
Mrs. Jackson having died just as her hus-
band was about 10 take the presidential
chair. Jsckson's "cOurt was very differ
emf from The acrimonious court OF his pre-
dccessor. II was very Democratic" In "A
social as well NJ political sense. Van Buren,
revived in some degree the polite and more
elegant traditions of the White House; but
the next lady after Mrs. Adams the youi e.
or. who highly distinguished herself as no
accomplished and elegant social queen IN
the White House, was Mrs. james *. Polk.
She was The wife Of the least 6nowa aud
most insignificant of our Presidents. II
orce more seemed, rs In the cisc Of Madi-
con. that the lack OF social qualities ia the
Precedent was amply aud finely supplied.
proyIdentially, by the Presidents spouse.
Mrs. Polk came upon Washington society
rs a SURPRISE. Her manners were easy,
animated, and simple. A visitor to the
White House on the occasion OF New
Years levee says, Many ladies, beautifully
atiired. stood near the wife Of the Pre- l.
dent; but among tlrm all | should have
selected her rs htly representing, IN person
and manner, the dignity and grace OF the
American female character. Modest, yet
commanding in appearance, felt she was
worthy Of al the admiration which Ia.
been iayished upon her. She was richly
and bccominglV dressed and easy and all +
hIc i'm manner" An English lady who saw
Mrs. Polk at the White House describes
her rs ga very handsome woman. Her
hair is black, and her DARK eyes aud com-
plcxion give her a touch OF the spanish
donna. Mrs Polk is very well read, l.
uiyhly popular, and her reception OF all
uariIcs Is that OF kind hostess and an ac-
complished geptlewOman. She has an eX-
cellent taste i'm dress. and is ready at reply
Mrs. Polk wa. withal, deeply religious,
although she did not carry her piety to
tie extreme OF auStenty. She was cinrl-
table, and had a kindly word or act
for every one who came near her. Mrs.
Polk is still living, passing serene and
honoTed old age at Nashville, in the old
| Polk house, aud can see from her window
| the tomb OF her husband in temple bun
in the grounds. While later Presidents
| have had amiable. elegant, and tnota0ly m
the case Of Mrs. Hayes distinguished
wives. Mrs. Polk may be said to have been
! the last Of the queenly presiding spirit'
| OF the White House. General Taylor
wife was -simple-hearted, kindly, affections
ME. and domestic, who shrauk timidly iron
the thought Of her blunt soldier-husbaud
| hecominp President. She was not mad,
10 he n social leader. and the social duties
Of the White House during Taylor's short
fern were. for the most part, conducted by
his daughter, Mrs. Bliss. II is probable
that Mis-. Fillmore, had she been in gooC
| health, would have riyalled the ZANE o.
Mrs. Polk as a social leader sac WAS re
markably erect, graceful, and elegant IN
personal appearance, with soft blue eyes
| bright auburn hair, and delicately fail
| complexion. She had, too, very WIN
| ming manners. But she was an In
valid during the greater part OF he
husbands term, and the social feature
of the White House were undertaken
| Nv Others. Much the same may be SAID
Mrs. Pierce, who succeeded Mrs. Fill
more Of the White House. and the death
whose only son by railroad accident. jus
before she was called upon to go TO Wash
iurton, east cloud Of gloom over hcrwhol
residence there. Many persons not be
yond middle age will remember the ele
eance and grace with which Miss Harrie
Lane presided over the establishment o
her bachelor uncle, President Buchanan.
The later Presidents wiyes-MrS. Lin
coin, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Hayes, and Mrs
Garfield are near our own time, aad thei
Qualities as ladies Of the White House ar
fresh in the general recollection. And now
in the new Mrs, Cleveland, the youngest o
all the Presidents wives will take up he
abode In the White House; aud the hes
that we can wish for her is that her reign a
the leader Of American society may be II
gracious, as happy, and as brilliant as tina
Of any presidential spouse who has pre-
ceded her In the Executive Mansion OF th
republic.
a QUESTION ABOUT'