The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-05-24

Beautiful Woman Who Once Reigued in the
White House.


Mistress Dolly was not yet %. The portrait
of her in Quaker cap from miniature paint
ed at about that time, shows how exquisitely
pretty she was, though the lovely pinks aud
pearliness of her complexion and the fine black
ness of her silken hair and brows and lashcs
cannot be given in the crude black and white
of ink and paper, nor the sweetness of her blue
ewes. She was wondrously fair. Her mother,
who would not permit her to wear jewels,
taught her to take care OF her complexion. She
was sent to school with long gloves on her
hands and arms q close sun bonnet. and q
white linen mask on her face. it IS plain to
see that IN many ways great care was taken OF
the outward rs well as the inward grace OF the
young Friend Though born a Quaker baby
il was in 1772, about half q dozen years later
than Miss Abigail Adams in Massachusetts, and
half dozen years earlier than Nellie GUSTS in
Virginia, and the same year as Martha JCtlcr-
son at MOHtiCcllO-little Dolly lwhO was so
fond Of iewelry that she wore o graudmDJhers
gift of some around her neck hidden in little
bag grew up with q love for dainty clothes +;
certainlya more eXquisiteiy brOidercd and irill-
ed little Quai,cress than she of the miniature
has never been seen. THERE'S in existence still,
belonging to this period, delicate gray satin
Quaker gown, with elbow sleeves and square
neck, worn by the young beauty-Sbe certainly
was a beauty. Her mother and grandmother
. before her, on one side OF the house, had been
great bellies, and little Dolly was lowered with
sweet looks rs we'll as with q Scotch simplicity
and an Irish irTcsistiOieucss of mauuer-she
shared the Irish wit and goud-uature with her
famous second cousin, Patrick Henry.
Her gTaudnIeCe, writing a hundred years
later, tells us how she met James Madison
1t was in Philadelphia whittier she and heI
| little boy and her mother twho was also g
widow had returned, and where her reputa
ton for beauty was so great that gentlemen
stationed themselves at points she was to pas;
/ in order to see her. Mr.. Madison saw her one
| day and got Aaron Burr to call with him auc
/ introduce him, and Dolly came down IN &
mulberry cOlored satin, and a silk tuile hand
| kerchiet over her neck and on her head an eX
! guisitely dainty little cap from which an OCca
/ siOnal uncropped curl would escape"
| (She must have much rcsembled a famOu;
| young Quakeress beauty of the same period, de-
! sCrbed by a FrenChman travelling ia America
| the Prince dc Broglie; writing Of her-Polly
| Lawton, of Newpart,-h says;
| She wore a species Of English gown, pretty clos
/ 10 the figure, white milk and tichu very fui
/ and firmly fastened. Her hcad-dress was simpl
/ little cap of very fine muslin plated and passet
| around the head which allowed only half Gu incl
! of hair to be visible, but which had the effect o
/ giving to Polly the air Of Holy Virgiu1
All her friends rejoiced that she was to b
married to Mr., Madison, though he was 20 year
| her senior. Mrs. Washington sent for her t.
| come TO the Presidential Mansion, and then
Dolly" said she, is it true that you are en-
/ gagged to James MadisOn2" Dolly was embar
raised, and stammered that she thought not
and Mrs. Washington then ezorted her to e no
be ashamed to confess it, for Mr.. Madison
would make her a good husband.