Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-10


W House in those days. 1t was brown
9 house, built of brown Virginia sand
stone When, less than three years later, the British
burned 1T, the expedlent of painting it white
adopted to hide the traces of the flames. But in the
Madsons time it was known as the Palace, or as the
Great House.
The mansion today really is palace, and far more
sumptuous than many royal residence; but hun
dred years ago could hardly be said properly to
respond to any such description. 1t plainly and
even lnadequatey furnished; though Mrs. Madison
had done her economical best with eleven thousand dol
lars given her by Congress to spend the equipment
of the house Of this three thousand dollars was
expended furniture for the East Room, which in
Guided two fine mirrors and number of sofas and chairs
with high and straight backs covered with yellow satin
There was also rising sun effect yellow satin
the fireplace which considered extremely handsome
The old carpet replaced by one, sent to the
House of Representatives.
Let us picture the of this Christmas dinner.
We behold in imagination the state dining room Mrs.
Madison sitting at the head of long table, the Presi-
dent in the middle and one of his secretaries the bot
tom Places OF honor occupied by Dolys sisters,
one of whom, Anna, is the wife of Richard D. Cuts
Member of Congress from Maine. The other, Lucy is
the widow of George Septoe Washington "a nephew of
General Washngton who has come after the death of
her husband to live with the Madisons Like Dolly her
SELF they are Jolly women and Washington Irving, in a
letter of his still extant calls them the Merry Wives of
Windsor Then he adds, "But as to Temmy Madison.
john"
1t is true that Mr. Madison is little man. barely six
inches above five feet in height sallow solemn and of
retiring disposition, student and bookworm At the
dinner as is his invar1abe cuStOm) he wears black
smacothes and black silk stockings, his hair tied behind
in queue. Pantaloons just beginning into
fashion; but yet not permissible in the evening
AS for hair of the older still cling queues
and POWDER but the younger ones parting theirs
on SIDE and few dandes curl their locks in little
rlnglets all over their heads
Mr. Madison, however, is content to occupy the back
ground at any sort OF entertainment in the White
House His wife is the conspicuous figure, dominating
the brilliant this Christmas evening as always
when festivities in progress. She is magnificent
at 61fa forty co11
this point there little dispute) TALL stately buxom
and rosy. Anxious to delay the flight of time as mani
tested in her own charming person, she wears much
Touge,enough indeed, to be very perceptible in a
bright light. People of her that she persists in
staying the same age for many years together
Her costume this occasion of purple velvet, the
gown cut low to display handsome neck and shoulders
On each side OF her smooth white brow punches of
dark curS, most fetching and her throat and are
adorned with strings of pearls and many bracelets the
fashion of the day demanding prolse display of such
ornaments.
Jefferson, with all his simplicity" and generous hos
ptallty, was always formidable and compelling
figure While he in the White House there was no
such Jolly lntormalty as that which rules when the
Nadisons reside there Dolly likes to gather merry
people about her, and nobody knows better than she
how to give her guests good time.
At the Christmas dinner of the most conspicuous
persons present the brilliant Mrs. Van Ness social
leader and great heress She is the only daughter of
old Davy Burns who owned until he sold it the Cow
eminent for big price, large part of the land which
the city OF Washington stands, Lafayette Square
(afterward laid out opposite the Presidents palace
being his apple orchard.
Other guests young Virginia cousin of Mrs.
Madlsons, Sally Coles; famous beauty named Maria
named Morris, and his sister Phoebe; and among the
notables, John Randolph of Roanoke, who, with his
high pitched voice. takes leading part in the converse
tion 1t is popularity of Randolphs that at dis