The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-09-24
Dolly Madison's Flight
i8AKzH HMMAAlE1 amHM MHllz Rl7aIEa EaHaMElA lAl@muHE3H

Now that the shadow from the wings of the dove of peace rest over all the possessions of Uncle Sam. and in October will extend across the south
 srn border when the President clasps hands with Gen. Diaz. who fought
 against us in the little unpleasantness
 of 1s47-4a. called the Mexican war. 1t
 1t hard to req ize that only about nine-
 ty-six gears ago it was quite diff- erent.
 The relations of tke United States were so strained with almost all the great powers. to say nothing of the oft recurring. wasp-like injuries from the Barbary States to the American navy that in spite of all doctrines of neu- | trality. when the news of the Russian victories over the French were pro- claimed in the streets of Washington | City the very cream of social and po- iticai life of the Federal city lost no time in calling a great meeting to of- | fer prayer and thanksgiving In church for the success of Russia.
 It was a very natural thing to do. # very impolitic. for Russia was a great big friendly power. And al- though 1t was rather juvenile to throw up the hat and shout for the ally who
 hal licked the fellow one was pri- very young and national policy hardly formed in 1873 when in Georgetown. at the Presbyterian church. the celebra. ton commemoratlng the victories ol Russia over Napoleon the "oppressor, as one of the toasts read. were held The celebration began with solemn rejoicing and after two hours of prayer praise, and speeches. the distinguish . ed company of 250 gentlemen repaired to the Union Hotel. where most elah- crate spread had been arranged for their pleasure. and after the dinner had been disposed of ihe evening was passed in toastinE until twenty-hve speech and music. One of these toasts from the Russian counselor. MT. Swert-
 United States. May they never smile on the admirers of Bonaparte
 A local account of the affair reads:
 ''The ladies were first introduced inso 1so the church, then the members Of the Senate and House. members or the Maryland legislature, strangers, and citizens of the District One Of the large pews in front of the pulpit was appropriated to the use Of the PreA- dent and vice-Presidsnt of the day and the consul of Spain. At half after two inc Russian Minister, his lady. counselor of legation, and secretary reached the church in his carriage or state. The reverend clergy of the D.s- trict and the orator # the day, MT.
 Custis, were next introduced, and the
 latter was conducted to a rostrum im- mediately under the pulpit. During the
 seating of the company the ceremony
 was rendered unusually solemn and in-
 teresting by the accompaniment or ex-
 aulsite music from a band of select ed nerformers and professors. who at-
 tended from a considerable distance.
 Rev. Mr. Balch offered ap a prayer. and music succeeded. when Mir. Custis de- iivered. in 6 style of ease and dignity
 SO peculiar in his oratory. sympa-
 thatic encomium upon Russia valor The scene was closed with prayer when the lady of the Russian Minister
 was conducted to her carriage with the music of a Russian march.
 Then the Rentlement repaired to the Union Hotel and duty done. proceeded
 to enjoy the occasion 10 tne run.
 This is one of the few social or poli-
 tical affairs of the period in which
 inc graceful presence of Mrs. Madison.
 was 4MckinR. But the wife of the
 fourth President was noted for her
 tact and her kind heart also. and
 though she doubtless ieJoiced In these
 victories. she did 1t in private, for sn~ had many warm friends among the
 French and had not m the temporary
 a.,rsrgment forgotten the aid received
 from inc republic of France during the { About this time the cheerful Dolly
 must have worn sad heart beneath
 tha trim bodice that adorned her
 shsnsiy figure, for the war clouds were
 heavy over the land and the head of
 the administration hardly strong
 enough to cope with the situation. A
 nontb after the celebration of the Rus.
 aian victories Admiral Warren's dSef
 entered the Potomac. aud war meas.
 ures were pushed with vigor to repsI
 ths enemy when he should reach the
 Ca n,tal, There is e rather quaint plan
 stiil in print of Gen. Wilkinson for tho
 Sefanse of the city. TMis general was
 Temnorarly suspended rom command
 of fine army. So to utilize the spare
 tiros he made the tour of the city "f
 Washinrton In company with Gen.
 Iohn Mason of Masons Island. and
 Charles Carroll. of Bellevue. to inform
 them of his plan in the last resort to
 ranai d British surprise. It was as
 .sTwo redoubts. one in the fork of the
 Tiber and Potomac. the other on the
 height north of the Avenue called
 Dayidson's orchard (Lafayette sauare):
 also fortifcation of the Capitol and
 Presidents House
 The plan for the Capitol was de- fense by "ravelins to connect the two