The National tribune., 1900-05-24
19THSTREET, OCCUPIED
PRESIDENT MADISON.

i. AADISON.
peared with his military attendants in full
uniform, and the lady smiled in triumph
over the mos. successful General of that
day and the President Of the United
States.
Comments occasionally came to Mrs.
Madison's ears of this nature: "Her table
was more like harvest-home supper than
the entertainment of high Official She
observed with a smile that to her abun-
dance was preferable to elegance; that
circumstances formed customs, and GUS
toms formed taste, and as the profusion so
laughed at by foreigners arose from the
happy circumstance Of the superabundance
| and prosperity Of our country, she did not
hesitate tosacrifice the delicacyof European
| taste for the less elegant but more liberal
fashion Of Virginia.
1t reviyes many memories as you wan
der through this house today, and you
wonder how the wonderful functions that
are observed could be carried on in
these circumscribed apartments. The
| drawing room is there, with its antique
chandelier for burning oil, suspended by a
| heavy chain, from the center of the ceiling,
and We do not wonder that it required
slaves for statues with burning torches to
| illuminate the place. The enameled paint,
with dead gold pointings that decorated
| the woodwork Of the hand-carved window
| frames, and the heavy folding doors
that separated it from the dining room,
Just as it was, still gives an air Of the
what has been" to this room, and you
people it again with Chief Justices, Peace
Commissioners, Generals, Senators, Con-
gressmen, Ambassadors. The old mahog-
any, cut-glass, and silver again, in mind,
decorate the dining room, where Jefferson,
Monro., Clay, and scores of heroes and
diplomats have gathered around the hos
| pitabie board. We reverently touch the
mahogany railing of the stairway in re-
membrance Of gracious Dolly Madison and
| the brilliant throng who have passed this
way.
President Madison did not occupy the
White House again during his term Of Of
flee, which expired March 4, 1917. The
| White House was not ready for occupancy
until 1918. Then President Monroe was
first TO occupy 1t.
Mr.. Madison joyfully returned TO agri-
cultural pursuits. Embosomed among the
hills which lie at the foot Of South Mount
ain Is Montpelier, the paternal estate OF
Mr.. Madison. He was &C years old when
he retired to private life, and from that
time resided at Montpelier. He lived to
be 85, and is looked upon by his country
men as relic of Republican virtue.
| Mr.. Madison died in 1886. During that
| Winter Mrs. Madison wrote TO President
Jackson in regard to manuscript left by
her husband, which he intended TO publish.
In a special message the President com.
municated the contents OF her letter to
Congress, and the manuscript was Dur.
chased for $4,000. This work is record
Of the debates in the Congress of the Con.
vention during the years 17S2-17s7.
The last IL years of Mrs. Madison's life
were spent in Washington. Many remem.
ber her dignifisd bearing and courtly man
ners in her old age. She always held
public receptions on New Years Day and
Fourth OF July, which were as popula, as
the Presidents receptions.
The house in which shs lived these IL
years was On the corner of Lafayette Place
and 81 Street. 1t was built by Richard
Cuts, Mrs. Madlson's brother-in-law. /,
came later into the possession of Mrs.
Madison. who was compelled to rent II for
economy's sake. 1t was occupied in turn
by Attorney-General Crittenden. Hon. VIM.
e. Preston, and Mr. Roosevelt, of New
York.
Mrs. Madison was buried in MONTPELIER.
The world remembers her as without a
rival in queenly graces, and the most
popular woman who ever presided over the
White House.