Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1901-03-14
HAS SEEN MANY PRESIDENTS.
"Reminiscences of an Elderly Lady
Caller at the White House
Reception.

Dear mel if there isn't a turban
bonnet, just such as my mother used
TO wear when she was here with my
father in Dolly Madison's time" said
sn old lady at the presidents last re-
ception. Her hair was snow-white
and worn in soft, silyery puffs each
side of her almost unwrinkled face.
The lady was Mrs. Matilda Brundage,
of Los Angeles, Cal, and she was
making her first visit TO Washington
after an absence of 81 years. She
was born in Washington 81 years ago
January -, 1s13-while her father,
]. w. Miller, then of Philadelphia, and
a contractor of some means, was en-
gagged in fulfilling some government
contracts, says the Washington Star.
mo, | can't remember anything
about the white house of that day."
she replied readily to the Star re-
porter's question, though I've heard
my mother talk so much about it
that | would think | remembered il
| did not know it to be impossible at
that early age. | remember those
queer turban bonnets, because the one
my mother wore 10 one of the ia
nous receptions here-we called il
the Presidents Palace in those days,
though my mother said il was the
barest. most lesolate OF houses so far
as comforts OF life were concerned
that she ever was in--is carefully pre-
served in our family. 1t is horrible
looking affair Of yellow velvet, with
white feathers and furnished old
buckles, once brilliant with paste dia-
monds.
"My mother told me that President
Jefferson once held me on his knee
and admired my long, curly hair. 1t
was almost white then, and il is quite
SO now. YOU see" she added. with a
Jolly laugh. I'm 1870 when | was
seven years old, business took my IA
Their to Boston. and there ! saw eX-
President Adams. whom ! remembered
very well. II seems 10 me that | can
remember President Madison and his
charming wife. but my mother said
that was not possible, as ! was but
three years old when we left WASH
ington Mrs Madison was fond of me,
and often gave me sweets, my moth
er saws. and President Madison some
times spoke TO me when ! was with
his wife
Have you ever seen any other presi-
dents?" was the natural question TO
put TO this pleasant-faced woman who
had lived through most nj an eventful
century.
yes. saw William Henry Har-
rison after he was elected, but be-
fore he was inaugurated president.
have also seen President Tyler, and |
saw both Gen. Taylor and Milard
Fillmore before they were elected to
the presidency and vice presidency.
saw ex-President Franklin Pierce in
1859 and James Buchanan just after
he left the presidential chair. ! saw
Abraham Lincoln in Philadelphia when
he spoke in Independence hall just be-
fore his first Inauguration. used
often to see Gen, Grant, and saw him
once after he became president Then
we went west, and had not the OPP
portunity to see so many of the great
men of the day. | saw Mr.. Cleveland
in Kansas City in 1889. | think il was
and now for the first time have seer
President Mckinley. That makes II
counting two vice presidents. Thai
isn't bad. is il? l nope 10 live L
see the next president" and. spry az
though but 50, this remarkable woman
followed her party out Of the cas-
room. She had seen the presiden'
who was inaugurated in the close o
the eighteenth century, been a ia
vorite with jefferson inaugurated II
1901. and now rounds out hundred
wears of presidential "reminiscences
bv a visit to the white house, wher'
she played a sunny-haired child
when the old century was young.