The Washington times., 1911-03-06
RECALLS HEROINE.
OF DOLLY MADISON"
Washington Woman Gives
RecolIections of Famous
White House Mistress.

One of the most interested spectators
at tonight's performance of Dolly Mad
ison," at the Columbia Theater. viii be
Mrs. Jane Van Zandt, Oae of Washing
tons oldest citizens, who knew ana
loved the inimitable Dolly.
The aged lady is almost painfully
eager to see the White House mistress
live again in her counterfeit present.
ment by Miss Elsie Ferguson. Fack IN
1871 Mrs. Van Zandt, then little Jane
Cabell, came to the wilderness city OI
Washington with her father. a member
of the Tyler official family. and Mrs.
Madison, being cousin. called on the
family.
The child Of eleven was as quickly
captivatcd by Mrs. Madison charms as
every adult seemed TO have been who
ever had the good fortune TO meet this
remarkable woman, and for eleven
years, until Mrs. Madison passed away,
was often with her. In speaking Of the
selection of the wife Of the fourth Pres
ident as dramatic timber, Mrs. Van
Zandt expressed surprise that the idea
had not earlier occurred to some writer,
but said probably the magnitude of the
TASK Ol tdbtlllllS NlAC llr~Ilb anu S'i1SN "a
such ? manv-sided personality as was
Mrs. Madison's had delayed or deferred
tho timid.
"I can think of no character in his
tory or romance. and Mrs. Madison
really comes under both classes, more
worthy of portrayal" said Mrs. Van
Zandt in talking over this eagerly
awaited play.
Was Always Young.
"Of course, | knew her when she
had lived many years, but l do not
remember that she was old, her vital
fly was great, her skin unwrinkled,
and eyes always sparkling. one mo-
ment she was the perSOnification OF
dignity, the next bubbling over with
gentle fun. She knew from actual eN-
perienCe most of the events of Amer
lean history when history was in the
making. she knew what IT was to be
fiattercd and fawned upon and what
it was to be without place to lay
her head.
'One morning she was the wife of
the head of great nation and that
night she saw the flames eating into
her last shelter without knowledge
of whether her husband had died, or
fled before the enemy. Without
friends. she who had always been
nations pet passed through a wild
storm with only a couple of servants
and managed to guard the state
papers she had hidden in her carriage.
Through this ordeal she came unruf-
fed. for / have heard her tell many
times of her experiences, but never
with a trace of bitterness.
Acquaintance Wide.
'Mrs Madison had met during seven
ty years of life about all the distin-
Eushed men and women who lived
during that period, and 1 do not think
she ever forgot a name or face. She
would have the most astonishing re-
ceptions. quite as large as those that
were held by the President, though
she had no official position when l
knew her, and was poor. New Year
Day and Independence Day as reg
ularly as they came round were OBJ
served with open house by Mrs. Madi-
son, have seen her entertain all who
could get into room with light,
graceful. cheerful running fire Of
talk that seemed to single out each
person and yet include every one.
Il am glad that Mr. Nirdlinger has
woven a comedy about her life for
though she knew much of tragedy and
outlived many that were very dear to
her. still the note of hope and sparkle
of sunshine dominated her personality
and no true drawing of her nature
could be made. in dark tones"