The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-15
MRS. POLK Is DEAD.
Mistress of the White House
Forty-Five Years Ago.
THE FUNERAL OF LOWELL.
Many Distinguished Writers Present
Funeral OF Editor George Jones'
Death OF Congressman.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. l4.-Surounded by
few loving friends and relations, Mrs. James
X. Polk, relict OF the eleventh president OF the
United States, died at 7:30 o'clock this morning.
She had full possession of her mental faculties
President Polk left very large estate at the
time of his death, but in the civil war nearly
everything was destroyed or lost Mrs. Polk
income kept dwindling down, until half dozen
years ago she found herself well-nigh pennies.
When bill was introduced in congress to grant
the widow OF President Lincoln pension OF
5000 year it lacked one vote in the Senate TO
secure passage. That was the vote OF senator
Jackson, OF Tennessee, he Offering 10 vote for
the bill provided IL was so amended as TO give
an annual pension to Mrs. Polk, for the same
amount and the widow of President Tyler as
wei as TO Mrs. Lincoln, and the bill became a
law. Since that time Mrs. Polk has lived on
this pension.
Mrs. Polk was in fairly good health until last
Wednesday, when she was taken with her fatal
Illness
One of her physicians was constantly at Mrs
Folks bedside from the time she became I'll.
When called upon this morning by the reporter
he spoke in an affecting manner of the deathbed
scene. He said he had never known grauder
character than that of Mrs. Polk A large num-
Der of kilograms OF coincidence have been se-
ceived from prominent people in all parts OF the
country, and the flag on the state capitol is
placed at half-nast. The funeral will occur ON
Sunday morning, the remains being placed in
the vault alongside those of her husband.
lsarah Childress Polk was born near Murfrees-
boro, Tenn. september 4, 1873. Her father, a
farmer in easy circumstances. sent her to the
MorayIan institute at Salem, y. c., where she
was educated On returning home she married
Mr.. Polk, who was then member of the legisla-
ture OF Tennessee. The following year he was
elected TO congress- and during his fourteen
sessions In Washington City Mrs. Folks courte-
Gus manners, sound judgment and many attain
Inents gave her a high place in society. On ner
return as the wife of the president, Mrs Polk
having no children, devoted herself entirely to
her duties as mistress of the White House. She
held weekly receptions, ana abolished the Gus
tom OF giving refreshments 10 the guests. she
also forbade dancing as not in keeping with the
character OF these enter ailments. In spite
OF her reform Mrs. Polk was extremely
popular. Madam" said prominent
south Carolinian at one OF her re-
you in the Bible On her inquiring his mean
ing he added: ''The Bible says. Woe unto you
when all men shall speak well of you An
English lady visiting Wash ngtOn City thus de-
scribed the presidents wife. Mrs. Polk is
very handsome woman. Her hair is very black,
and her dark eyes and complexion remind one
of the Spanish donnas She is well read, has
popular. Her excellent taste in dress preserves
the subdued Though elegant costume that char
acteriZes the lady Mrs. Polk was a lifelong
Presbyterian. Since the death OF her husband
in 1919 she had resided ut Nashville, in the
house known as Polk place. The tomb OF the
president is on the estate OF late years Mrs.
Polk had been feeble and forgetfuI. yet she
the world around her. receiving visitors every
day.