Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-14

OF course her name was DOrothea, but
the world knows her as Dolly.
typical Virginian, accident caused her tt
be born in North Carolina. Famous fol
gayety and splendor of dress. she was
born simple Quakeress and bred re-
ligiously to the bonnet and the drat
kirtle. Destined to be the first lady OF
the land. she for some time kept
boarding house in Philadelphia.
Reduced to poverty because her fathers
Quaker faith impelled him to sell his
slaves, she returned to wealth when she
married James Madison, whose slaves
were counted by scores. Marrying twice
for purely practical reasons, she learned
to love both husbands dearly; risking her
life to caress one dying of yellow fever,
and becoming the greatest aid and main
stay of the second when he became Presl-
dent of the United States -
Beauty Attracted Attention.
With this brief summary of some OF
the points of Dolly Madison's career let
us tell in more detail of her life after
being left a widow at twenty-four-she,
with her mother, set up boarding
house in Philadelphia. then the national
capital, for such statesmen as could be
lured from the grosser joys of the tav-
ern. Her beauty attracted attention
wherever she went. Really. Dolly
said a discreet Quaker friend, thee
must hide thy face; there are so many
staring at thee Among the starers
was James Madison. substantial Vlr,
ginia planter member of Congress and
a man of such mark in the constltu-
tional convention that men called him
1.-The father of the Constitution.
Among those who knew Dolly socially
was Aaron Burr. also. member or Con-
gress, and a gentleman of charming man.
ners destined later to win unsavory re-
nown. In Congress Burr and Madison
were sworn foes, but love that laughs at
locksmiths ignored that political feud and
Madison induced Burr to Introduce MIN
to the deity. Aaron Burr says that the
great little Madison has asked to be
brought to me this evening" wrote pref
ty Dolly, all in a fluster.
Madison was forty-three, a bachelor,
scholarly, but not slow in lovemaking.
News of his suit came to the ears Of
Lady Martha Washington, who sent for
the Widow Todd.
Dolly, is it true she asked, that
you are engaged to James Madison?
IL think So answered Dolly, With
becoming hesitation
IF it be so do not be ashamed of it.
We both approve. He will make thee a
good husband and be the better for be-
ing so much the older.
Royalty" Approved Courtship.
With this approval from royalty the
courtship progressed apace and a scant
year after her first husbands death Dolly
was again bride. An end then to all
Quaker simplicity. Mr.. Madison wanted
her to shine in society. and she, nothing
lOath, became gayest of the gay. At the
presidential mansion in the later years
of Washington s administration she was
the favored guest But his rejection of
third term sent her back to retirement
at her husbands noble estate of Mont
pelier in Virginia, for John Adams. the
next President was too sturdy federal
list to have the republican Madison about
his councils.
/ The retirement was scarce long enough
to teach her the pleasures of a great Vir-
ginia estate. Thomas jefferson was elect
ed President and Madison recalled as Sec
rotary of State. The Presidents wife
was dead. his daughters married and liv-
ing far away. He made the charming
Dolly, now approaching her fortieth year.
mistress of the White House.
Such gayety as she could arouse in
Washington = struggling village. with a
lane OF mud connecting the Capitol and
the White House: a capital where people
lived and entertained in taverns, and cat
tie and swine roamed the street-such
town she evoked. The President was de-
voted to her-too much so at times-for
he once took her into a state dinner and
seated her at his right hand, while the
wife of the British minister. to whom
those honors were due, bridled with rage
at the snub. Poor lady. Perhaps she
lived to find consolation when, during the
war of 1872, the British drove Dolly in
flight from that very White House and
devoured with complacency dinner Of
forty covers she had prepared for other
diners altogether.
Continued Social Triumphs.
Madison succeeded Jefferson in the
presidency. His wife continued her So
cial triumphs She had the knack not
merely of making people seem at ease.
but of leading them to put forth the best
that was in them, that at her parties
folk scintiIated who elsewhere were
bores. Without the dignity of Martha
Washington or the intellect of Mrs.
Adams she had enough of the one to
maintain her position and of the other
to be a true help to her husband. She
said she was no politician. but of her
James G. Blaine wrote: She saved the
administration of her husband; held him
back from the extremes Of Jeffersonism.
and enabled him to escape the terrible