The Washington herald., 1909-08-29

the windows 10 be barricaded with loop
holes for musketry. and the lower floor
OF the Capitol. as well as the ravelins. 10
be sufficiently furnished with artillery;
and the preparation OF the Presidents
House for the reception Of musketry;
competent garrisons for the several posts
10 be detailed and held IN readiness 10
occupy them should It become necessary,
and suitable munitions OF war 20 be pre-
yiously deposited IN each"
This practical plan became so en-
meshsd with red tape that nothing was
done, and a month later the British were
gleefully applying the torch, without re-
monstrance- 10 the very buildings Cen
Wilkerson had planned TO protect. Well,
1t would have been interesting for the
p esent-day guides 10 have 10 show the
loopholes In the walls OF the Capitol and
20 point to where the White House stew
ard made his last stand But the pres
ent Capitol is far handsomer than the
one burned on August a. 1915, and his
tory would have been robbed Of the story
of the splendid heroism OF Dolly Madison.
who refused 10 leave the house. though
she knew the British were within the
town and there was not even a company
OF militia to guard her. until the state
papers were stored within her coach and
the great picture of the first President
taken laboriously from it's frame and
rolled up and sent 10 a place OF safety.
There is no record that Mrs. Madison
took for herself one piece OF jewelry, one
bit Of silver-and she had natural taste
for all that was costly OF beautiful in
Gems-but the property OF the country
she loved she guarded with her life, and
it is said that among the papers saved
by her unselhshness was the Declaration
OF Independence.
One hears much OF the social graces o.
the wise and witty lady Of TIE White
House and not much OF her sorrow and
disappointment at the ingratiude OF those
she had made welcome at her home. II
is z big tribute TO the generosity OF her
nature that. aft@- the cloud passed from
the city and the oficia4 suites were once
more fully paid by Mrs. Madison she
never sought 10 retaliate on those who
treated her so coldly while her husbands
policy was In question IL has probably
been forgotten by many that after her
escape from the burning city Mrs. Madi-
SOC sought shelter not only for herself,
bat for the precious papers IN her coach.
and door after door was closed on her
appeal And It is related that this one
time darling OF fortune spent the night
in the coach IN an apple orchard. and
some Of the storm that-though she knew
not Of it-put out the fires OF the burning
city and scared the invader back 70 his
ships beat upon and rocked the great
vehicle until It seemed 20 the lonely wom-
ar that the windows would burst under
the strain
Can more desolate situation be mag
ined? Alone, save FOR few faithful
servants. without knowledge as 20 her
husbands fate. her home destroyed, her
country in danger. the women she had
befriended refusing her even the shelter
Of a kitchen until the storm should pass.
But plucky Dolly was not dismayed, and
likely is II that those lonely hours Of dis
tress were made possible OF endurancs
by the firm faith in a higher power which
never left Mrs Madison in all the years
OF her varied life. And likely also IS Il
that those prayers were heard. for it was
not the bravery Of the American soldier
that routed the enemy. but a wonderful
semi-tropical storm such as Washington
has not known since the Weather Blu
reau began 10 record freak weather.
It is said in all the records Of that
y
day. that as the British army OF invasion
was beginning 20 enjoy itself burning up
the Capitol, White House. and a few
other important places OF the arch trait
ors' 8 roar OF thunder Ike the Joint
artillery OF the world shook the town,
and trees crashed and lightning flashed
about the heads OF those bent on destruc-
ton. The rain did not fall In the begin
ming and the wind seems 10 have been
unnOtiCed. but the thunder 70 the invad-
ers, unused 10 the American midsummer
storm. seemed the echo or cannonading.
and thinking the American troops were
about 10 attack from the other side OF
the trees. a wild panic ensued, and the
invaders dropped their torches and their
loot and broke for their boats. So il was
not the valOr OF Madison and his handful
Of raw soldiers that saved the remainder
Of the Federal city from humiliation
That wild day, but He who. watching
over Israel. slumbers not nor fails 10
hear the cry for help when raised in
earnest