The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-08-22
MRS. j. X. POLK Is DEAD
she WAS Chiefly Notable for Her
Great Beauty and Charm a~ AN
Entertainer Her Age Was 50.

NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. l7.--Mr
sarah G. Polk, widow OF cN-fresident
james X. Polk, died at 7:ao @ clock TINS
morning. Mrs. Polk was 50 years OF
age and her feeblenesss, chiefly the re-
suit of advanced years, made her death
not unexpected. Lately she has been
able TO take short drive now and then
and IL was on her return from one OF
these slow and gentle rides Wednes-
day night that she was attacked with
intense pains. The physicians sum
moned said that she was suffering with
severe congestion. She did not lose
consciousness from the time of the at
tack until her death this morning.
Mrs Polk since her husbands death
had lived i'm the Polk homestead on
Polk place. IL is in the front yard OF
this venerable mansion that the ex-
president is buried. She has lived n
quiet, unostentatious life, doing moth
ing which would attract attention to
herself. save on the one occasion when
she was sutton before the government
for pension as the widow of Presi-
dent Polk, which congress voted her.
She was not left any means 10 amount
TO anything by her husband and her
life was one of quasi-poyerty.
History can have little TO say about
the woman whose death marks one
more step in the passage of time and
erects one more hcadstone to the MEM
DRY OF the past save perhaps 20 speak
of her beauty and admirable womanly
qualities. IL will accord To her the
distinction of having been one OF the
haudsomest women who ever graced
the White House. She was also "a hos
pitablc first lady and most successful
as an entertainer, possessing n charm
of manner and tact which has never
been excellcd by her SUCCESSORS. She
IL was who Established the innovation
of weekly receptions in the White
House, whose ceremonial statelineSs
entailcd the abolition OF the old-t me
good cheer, of which refreshments and
dancing formed conspicuous part
The success OF this departure
trcmbled In the balance for time,
Washington society not taking kindly
at first to the deprivation, but Mrs
Polk maintained her position despite
adverse criticism and made the White
house assemblies more dignificd, If less
demo .ratic Her firm stand was singu-
larly enough attended in the end with
a revival of her popularity. This
tribute 10 Mrs. Folks natural aud ac-
quired talents was pronounced by an
English lady OF high rank after sit
To the then uncrowncd Empress of the
republic.
'.She is one of the handsomest women
| have ever seen; her hair Is very black,
and her dark eyes and complexion re-
mind one of beautiful spanish donna.
She is well read, has much talent for
g nversution, and is highly popular.
Her excellent taste in dress preserves
the subducd though elegant costumes
that she wears.
Mrs Polk possessed the claim TO lee
regarded as u Southern beauty apart
from her favors of face and form, for
She was born at Murrreesboro. Tenn.
Her father was Joel Cliildrcss. gentle
man farmer in Rutherford count, who,
like other country gentlemen OF those
days, was cultured and a generous en-
tertaincr, and not as many in the new
South now arc-so engroSsed in the ,il-
lngc of worn ont soil that they neg
lect the niceties of life. Her education
was com Dleted at an institute in .Salcm
y. c.. and her wedding TO James h.
Polk occurred shortly after she gradu-
nted. lie was then "A member OF con
grcss from Tennessee, and, though
rising young politician, gave no pro-
mise of one day being the chief magis-
trate OF the nation and elevating his
bride TO the exalted position she sub
sequcntly filled with SO much quiet cle-
gance and distinction.