Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-30

even Colonel c., with the hundred men.
who were stationed as guard IN TINS
enclosure. French<Iohn. a faithful SER
want, Offers to sd the cannon ut the
gate, and lay q Asin Of powder wnicn
will blow up the British. should tney
enter the house. To this propomtion
positively object. without being able. now,
ever, to make him understand why AL
advantages in war may not be taken.
"wednesday morning. August "a, ISL
~ o'ciock.ESince sunrise have been
turning my spy-glass In every direction,
watching with unwearied anxiety, hoping
TO discern the approach OF my dear nus
band and his friends: but alas! ! can
descry only groups OF military wandering
I'm ELI directions. as IL there was lack or
arms, or OF spirit to fight for their own
firesides! "a,
"Three o'CIock.-wili you believe II!
We have had battle near Biadenspulg'
and am still here within SOUND OF the
cannon, Mr.. Madison comes not: may
God protect himl Two messengers, COW
cred with dust, come to bid me ny, but
wait for him. A. this late hour a wagon
has been procured. I have had II niled
with the plate and most valuable portaoie
articles belonging to the house. Wnether
II will reach Its destination, the Bank OF
Maryland, or fall into the hands OF the
British soldlery, events must determine
Our kind friend. Mr.. Carroll. has come 10
hasten my departure. and Is In very
had humor with me because insist upon
waiting until the large picture of General
Washington Is secured, and IL required
to be unscrewed from the wall. This
process was found TO be too tedious Tor
these perilous moments. i have ordered
the frame to be broken and the canvas
taken out. It IL done. and the precious
portrait placed in the hands OF the gem
tlemen OF New York for safe-keeping
And now, my dear sister, I must leave
this house or the retreating army will
make me a prisoner In II by filling up
the road which I am directed to take.
When shall again write TO you or where
I shall be tomorrow cannot tell.
During the remainder OF her husbands
term of office Mrs. Madison occupied
private house In Washington. At Its ex-
piration, having lived sixteen years at
the capital-eight as Secretary Of state
and eight as the nations Chief Execu-
tive-Mr. Madison abandoned public life,
and returned to his mountain home in
Virginia. Montpelier" was so arranged
as TO be like two houses rather than one,
which enabled the ex-presidents mother.
then 81 years of age, and an inmate OF
his home, to preside over her own sepa-
rate suite OF apartments. There was
scarcely a month in the year when the
establishment OF the younger matron
was not thronged with visitors. On one
occasion we read OF her having enter
tanned ninety guests at dinner, and TO
cross the threshold between the two
houses was like passing from one coun-
try to another. In the one were gay
carpets. light French furniture, silken
draperies, and windows opening 10 the
floor; in the other ponderous chests OF
drawers. tables Of polished mahogany
dark with age, high bedsteads with
dimity hangings. and small. hoavily-cur-
tanned windows. After her husbands
death Gn 1880 Mrs. Madison again be-
came n resident Of Washington, occupy
ing the present Cosmos Clubhouse. which
was built by her brother-in-law. Richard
cults. and purchased from him by Mr..
Madison.
MOST BRILLIANT WOMAN.
And now, after an absence OF nearly
eighty years n place In the White-House
has been accorded this. "the most brilliant
woman who ever presided over H. ana
e. f. Andrews. the director or tue Cor
coran School Of Art. in Washington, mas
filled that place with a representation OF
the original. so beautiful that the passing
stranger pauses and Involuntary yleiuS
TO Il his tribute of admiration. the Work
has not been accomplished without labor
and difficulty. The artist coveted as his
model the portrait Of Mrs. Madison by
Gilbert Stuart. the property OF Mrs
Kunckel, Of Catoctin. Nd. In order 70
obtain the use Of it for his own purposes
ne made a copy Of II, without compensa-
ton. for the orphan asylum in Washing
ton referred to above. of which MIS-.
Madison WAS regent lie also examined
a nainting Of Mrs. Cults, formerly Miss