The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1894-11-15
Three Presidents Wives.

pie tastes, but married to ambitious
men, anxious to occupy the prominent
places of public life, do not always svm-
pathize with their husbands craving
for distinction They may feel a pride
in their husbands popularity, but they
feel more the pain of breaking away
from their home life to participate in
the gay, feverish end unsatisfying life
of Washington.
When General Jackson was elected
to the presidency, Mrs. Jackson said
"For Mr. Jackson's sake am glad
tor my own part l never wished it,"
Life In the White House had no ct
fractions for her; her own home was
more desirable to one whose domestic
habits made her Indifferent to the po-
5ition OF ''the first lady in the land "
She died before the Inauguration.
II assure you," she said to friend
Il had rather be a doorkeeper in the
house of my God than to live IN the
palace at Washington
"The house of my God" was plain
little edlfice, built by General Jackson
to crafty her after she had united with
the Presbyterian church. 1t was locat-
ed on her estate, quarter of a mile
from the mansion, and Mrs Jackson
spent many happy hours within It's
walls.
Margaret, the wife OF President Tay-
lor, had been educated in that old fash
loned society which thought the dear
est spot on earth was home, and that a
woman's highest ambition should be to
make happy home for her husband
and children.
Born near Chesapeake Bay, where
deer, canvas-back ducks, terrapin and
home-cured hams abound, she was we'll
versed IN the art of "Maryland house
keeping" The epithet in those days
was synonymous with good food, and
good cooking, an orderly, comfortable
home, under the constant supervision
of the housewife.
While General Taylor was winning
battles from Mexicans, Mrs. Taylor was
looking after her four-roomed cottage
at Baton Rouge, working in her little
garden, and ranaging a small dairy,
which supplied her table with what
was unknown in the neighborhood-
fresh milk, rich cream and sweet but
ter.
For more than quarter of centu-
~ General Taylor had been occupied
by military duties His wife's dream
had been that at some time "the gen
eral" and she might retire to their little
cottage, and there live out their days
unnoticed except by their friends.
When public opinion pointed to her
husband as a candidate for the presi-
dency, she expressed her regret. lit is
a plot" she said to her friends, "to de-
prive NE of his society, and to shorten
his life by increasing his cares and res
ponsi biities"
Her words we're prophetic. A little
more than year after their entrance
into the White House she was widow
The wife of John Adams was cast IN
a different mold. A friend, referring
to Mr.. Adams nine years of absence
from home, as our representative in
Europe, asked her
Had you known that Mr.. Adams
would remain so long abroad, would
you have consented to his going from
you?"
She thought a moment and then re-
Piled Had | known that Mr.. Adams
could effect what he has done l could
not only have submitted to the absence
| have endured, painful as 1t has been,
but l would have been willing that
three more years should have been ad-
ded to the nine.
Il feel pleasure in sacrificing my
selfshness to the general good, and in
initiating my husband s example, which
has taught me to consider myself and
family as the small dust Of the balance,