Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1907-11-27
DINNER WILL Be SERVED
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Old Madison Home Is One of Vir-
ginid'S Most Priced Relics OF
National Historic Value
Thanksgiving in
1925.

Washington, ID. C., Nov. 27-Pres-
ident Roosevelt will make Pilgrim
age to the old home of President
Madison. Orange, Va. tomorrow
before eating Thanksgiving dinner
at the White House The president
will start early in the morning on
his pilgrimage to the historic old
Madison home, which is known as
Montpelier. SO as TO get back 70
Washington in time for dinner which
will be served in the evening.
Montpelier is one of the famous
old mansions of Virginia, and ii was
from there that Madison used to
start out on horseback to attend the
meetings of the early Board of Wis
iuors of the University of Virginia
when it was founded, nearly a CEN
tury ago. Jefferson, Madison and
Monroe were three Of the first mem
bers of that board They all lived
within horseback rides of Charlottes-
vile.
1T is understood that the Journey
of the president to Montpelier will
complete his circuit or the homes of
former presidents from the southern
states. On his way back from HIS
recent Mississippi trip he visited the
former home of andrew Jackson, the
Hermitage. He has made num-
Der of pilgrimages to Mount vernon,
and in June, 1908, he visited Month
cello, the home of President Jeffer-
son.
Owned by DUPONT Family.
don.peliei~is owned oy member
of the DUPONT family of Delaware
and relative of Senator Du Pont
James Madison, Sr., the father of
President Mauson, built the original
Montpelier. a very much smaller
building than the present residence.
1t is thought to have been the first
brick house in Orange County. In
the first term of President Madison's
service. doubtless just before the
war of 1872, it was enlarged. 1t was
finished in a style that could hardly
be called ornate, but still for that
time it was an expensive domicile.
Altogether it was a fine old man.
sion, and il associated with the name
of Virginia's honor. 1t was a hos
pitable home, another fact which
commends it to the Virginian. The
people of the state were blessed with
great means and abundant leasure,
and both were devoted without stint
The courier, planter and scholar
were met in one person. Montpelier
dispensed a generous hospitality.
House Full of Visitors.
81 find the house full of particular
friends" wrote Madison to his neigh
him, though thirty miles of eXsrcr-
able road laid between them, who
win stay some weeks receiving and
urning visits"
YESTERDAY" wrote Mrs. Madison,
1--WE had ninety persons to dine with
u.s."
such was the Montpelier of Madi-
sons time. There he spent the last
years of a useful career in the quiet
pursuits of a country gentleman in
pleasant companionship with favor
ite authors.
1t was there that his wife was
"bled by DIR. Wilks" for infiamma-
about the gardens some times, as in
1925, accompanied by Gen. IIafay-
cite. There his mother spent the
dosing years of her life
Mother Gentle Soul
This mother of Madison was an
important member OF the household
at Montpelier. She attracted many
friends by her gentle manners ana
her sincere interest in the throngs
who called to pay their respects TO
her distinguished son.
About 500 yards southeast of the
mansion and on lower ground,
though still on ridge, is the old
Madison cemetery, surrounded Jy
brick walk. An iron gate on which
swung to locust posts. The stone
above Madison's grave is perhaps IS
feet high. feet wide and 2 at top.
1t Is severely simple, bearing no in
scription beyond Madison" and the
dates OF birth and death.
shaft to Dolly Madison.
on the side of the Madison shaft
opposite the inscription is smaller
one of polished marble, about feet
high, bearing the inscription In
memory of Dolly Payne, wife OF
James Madison" and the dates OF
her birth anu death. There are az
least fifteen other gravestones over
the Lees, Conways Willises, Masons,
etc.
Madison was not born at Mont
pelier. At the time of his birth MS
mother was on a visit to her sister
at Port Conway, on the shores OF the
RappahannOck River.