Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-30

8 y
the world Knows how. In 1914. after the
battle or Biadensburg. the least whicn
Dolly Madison spread for her husband
and his party in the famous apartment,
was consumed by the victorious brush:
we also read OF ner standing. spy-glass
in hand. at an upper window. 10 "atch
for the return OF the retreating Aneri-
cans: while an unchronicled tradition
states that she stationed trusted SER
want at an adjacent point commanding
another road. leading into the capital
from the scene OF the conflict. Now and
again she appealed to her fellow watch
er for the latest intelligence. only TO re-
ceive dlscouraging reports.
AT length throwing his hands over MS
head. the old darkey cried out: "Dyar dey
come. dyar dey come. nistis. and then
las they approached nearer, with :san
ininIta bic ring of pride In his voice.. q n
Mars Jeems in de 'ead!
The second birth which took place at
the Executive Mansion was that Of Mrs.
Mary Done.son Wilcox. who still figures
in Washington as 1.-The White House
baby" This lady. the daughter of Mrs.
Donelson General Jacksons ward. was
baptized in the East Room. Old Hickory
clasping her IN his long. thin arms; Mar
.tin Van Buren, standing sponsor; and
Robert z. Lee and other notables looking
on In 1854. the victims Of the explosion
Of the Princeton were buried from the
apartment: and later Abraham Lincoln
lay In his 1ower-feapcd coffin beneath
its central. crepe-festc oned chandelier.
During Grants administration. the CELL
Ing was separated into panels and GLUED
and at an altar near one Of the SOUTH
ern windows Nellie Grant-wno. despite
imperfect health. is still seen at important
functions. in Washington-was married, TO
Algcrron Sartorls. of England.
a painting of Mrs. Hayes In the ad5on-
ing Green Room. presented by the Wo-
mans Christian Temperance Union Of
America. recalls the cold water reign,'
and the frozen oranges into which the
beverage was secretly infused by sympa-
thetic subordnates. and which-as tie
only method of evadins the prohibito1y
law-becan1e SO popular with masculine
guests. &
The Blue Room. the next in the suite,
served both for public and private Sfe-
ceptions. In II the marriage Of Grover
Cleveland '(the eighth solemnized at the
White House, occurred; while the apart
ment above. formerly Nellie Grants bed
room. was arranged for the reception OF
his bride. On this floor. too. is the room
IN which William Henry Harrison died;
that in which Zachary Taylor breathed
his last. and the one made memorable h5
Garfeld's sufferings The apartment in
which Mrs. John Adams received. being
'aStOnlSnsd at the many VINO catled. con-
sderns they lived in the Wilderness:
and the library. Instituted by Mrs. E5.I-
more in which are membership books.
presented to the different Presidents by
their authors. are full Of interest In
deed each has Its rich store OF associa-
tons. the accumulated 1egacie OF a sue
cession of occupants.
OF these some were never quite at home
in their unaccustomed surroundings. I'm
easy lies the head that wears a crown.
Less easy still is the position of the iun-
crowned American queen. who not born
20 the purple. must. without rehearsal.
play her difficult part before a critical:
sharp-tonsued audience. on the alert for
any faux pas into which her inexperi-
ence may betray her
On one occasion. when the social adj
vantages of official circles in Washingt on
were under discussion. John Randolph
Tucker drylv remarked that the wives
of distinguished men were not always
distinguished"
These embryo statesmen ard Presi-
dents-sprinsirg. as many of them do,
from the people. and marrying before
their undeveloped talents have hoisted
them to the high places which they VIE
ultima tely occupy-choose their !ife-paft
ners from their own humble walks in lite
Their attraction has probably been some