The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-05

only a. woman of the world. but de-
voted wife, is evidenced by her letters
to her husband. which arc windows
TO her heart. and hold only affec-
ton and respect.
AS mistress of the White House
Dolly Madison scarcely has a rival
Al the inaugural ball after her hus-
bands induction into office, she wore
Il robe of yellow velvet her neck and
arms adorned with pearls. and a
Paris turban adorned with a bird of
paradise plumcs. And the costume OF
the first lady was no moro brilliant
than the social regime which it fore
told. Washington called her "a fine,
portly. buxom dame, who has a smile
and pleasant word for everybody"
lie also calls Mrs. Madison "a sworn
friend
She used this smile for the high
and lowly, and when the plain coun-
try woman exclaimed. perhaps You
wouldn't mind If 1 kissed you. just TO
tell tho folks about" she yielded to
the request with childish grace.
During the War of 1912 she was
helpmeet to her husband. and as brave
as any solder. and when Lieutenant
Hamilton, son of Paul Hamilton, Sec
rotary of the Navy, brought the flags
Of the Alert, the Guerriere and the
Macedonian to Washington he has
tened to Il ball which Mrs. Madison
was attending and laid the flags at
her feet.
After this war. when the wife OF the
President had evinced so much SYM
patty and heroism. old records tell
US that her countenance was so
radiant with joy that one to look
upon her would know that the country
had passed from gloom to glory
During the eight years of her hus-
bands presidency his wife was "a
very great lady and a very great
belle" and Sir Charles Bagot. special
peace ambassador from Great Britain,
pronounced her every inch a queen.
And when his term of office expired
| James Madison's wife was quito as
much OF a queen at Montpelier as she
was at the nations capital. She was
as seductive in her role of farmer and
| gardener as in her more conspicuous
| life III Washington. but in Washington
| her last days were spent, and the
| fragrance of her life continued TO the
| end.
| y most wonderful hospitality was
dispensed at Montpelier, and sometimes
| ninety friends were entertained at
| dinner.
And during her last years in Wash
| ington. she kept open house, too. She
could not give up life until 1t was end
| ed. In those days of age her dress
| was gorgeous still. sShe wore purple
velvet and lace and tulle wound
around her neck to hide the ravages
of time. She died in 1919. and in 1874
she was aboard the Princeton wher
the great gun Peace Maker exploded
She was miraculously saved.
The brilliant woman shared the fate
of even the most distinguished o.
| mortals, and at Montpelier we find {
simple obclisk, on which is carved:
In
Memory
DOLLY PAYNE,
| Wife of
James Madison.
Born
May Goth, 1858.
Died
July Sth, 1919.
All this and more. and yet until yes
terday afternoon no picture OIL DOH.
Madison was at the White House. VIII
l was TO blame? Gilbert Stuart palnte
her picture In 1902. and this pictur
once hung at the white House, an
was afterwards purchased by tn
Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts i
Phiiadelphia. From whom? Liebe
painted wonderful miniature of hel
and Woods picture Is also we'll known
The ncgl gcnce was, however, beau
tifully healed OF yesterday Afternoon
splendid procession OF elegant wo
men, beautifully gowned, started fror
the Arlington Hotel at quarter to
o'clock. and went in carriages an
motor cars to the side entrance to tn
White House. where they alighted an
proceeded through the splendid corr
doris TO the Eas, Room of the whit
House. In this gay procession wer
ten danes rcprcsenting the most dis
tinguished families from each of tn
following States
PENNSYLVANIA. Maryland, New Jerse
Delaware. virginia. Rhode Island. MAJ
sachusctts. South Carolina. New Yorl
Connecticut. Georgia. New HampShir
North Carolina and the District {
Columbia; and three Danes from. t.
non-Coionial States OF California. III
nois. Michigan. Minnesota. Iowa, ON
Colorado. Maine. Missouri. Wisconsf
Tennessee. Louisiana, Kentucky. II
diana, Alabama. Texas, Arkansa
Florida, Vermont. West virginia, MI
sissippi, Kansas. Nebraska and Wyon
ing.
goodly company. indeed. with the
exquisite frooks and handsome. enli