Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-04-30

ninety people to dine with us, at one
table, fixed under the arbor. Only a
half dozen of them stayed all night, but
| am less worried about a hundred
guests here than twenty-five in Wash
ington, in summer especially. | truly
Ielieve a country home is the happiest
and most Independent in all the world.
About a quarter of a mile from the
house is the family burying ground,
which is so surrounded by trees that
many of the gravestones have been
thrown out of line by their spreading
roots. In this spot lie the remains OF
the fourth president of the United
States, under handsome granite shaft,
on which is cut in large black letters
the one word, Madison and the dates
OF his birth and death This monu-
ment was erected by private subscrip-
ton, mostly in his own county. Many
years afterwards his wife's remains
were removed from Washington and
placed here by his side.
over Montpelier, like the fragrance
of an oldtime flower, fingers the men,
DRY of Mrs. Madison. Sweet Dolly
Madison" she was called then, and 1t is
as Sweet Dolly Madison" that she has
gone down to history.
Madison, when member of Congress
from Virginia, met in Philadelphia Mis-
tress Todd, dashing widow of bril-
llancy and beauty seldom equaled. Oh,
these widows They betwitched us
then as they bewilder us now. Per-
maps even little more, for in read
ing the history of those early days one
cannot but be struck with the number
OF widows one comes across. They held
right royal sway and were undisputed
bellies. What became of the girls until
they themselves became widows it is
difficult to discover In sooth, they
seem modestly to have held back, while
their widowed sisters reaped noble tri-
umphs on the field Of conquest. Of the
first four presidents three-Washing-
ton, Jefferson and Madison-married
widows. and many others among the
prominent men of that day followed the
riage to the sprightly Widow Todd took |
place in 1894 at HARDWOOD her sisters |
home in West Virginia. This sister had |
married George Steptoe Washington,
nephew to George Washington. 1t has
fallen to the lot of few women to go
through as varied career as that of
Mrs. Madison. She was brought up ac-
cording to the strictest rule of the
Quaker church in Philadelphia. and lit
lie Dolly Payne, tripping to school in
her demure Quaker bonnet and quiet
lrab gown was as different from dash
ng Dolly Madison as if they had been
wo persons instead of one and the
'ame But the demure Quaker bonnet
'ould not conceal the beauty and fascin-
ltion beneath it, and she soon had adj
nirers galore. She married one of
hese, John Todd by name, a member
# the Society of Friends and a rising
'oung lawyer, and until his death about
hree years later, lived the life of a So
er Quaker matron. After mourning him
or some time she threw off her Quie.
arb and bloomed out one of the most
ewitching bellies of her city until she
eft it to go to Montpelier, as the bride
t James Madison. Here she remained
ntil Madison became Secretary of
tate under Jefferson and she left her
uiet country home for the gay life at
he capital. Travelling then was not
that it is now; steamboats, were few,
ailroads unheard of. and a journey
lust needs be taken on horseback or
! a coach. Mrs. Madison carried much
her household furniture with her
nd commanded frequent stops on the
ay to rest her weary horses, so the
myth of time it took to make the trip
GEMS almost incredible to us of to-day.
During the eight years that followed. !.
er house was, with the exception of
lie White House, the best known in
and whenever Jefferson's
lughters were absent Mrs. Madison
resided over the presidential recep-