Evening star., 1938-02-13
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.

BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.
Repairs to tombstones marking the
graves Of dead Congressman in Con-
gressional Cemetery. Americas first
national cemetery. have resulted in
the unearthing of long forgotten items
about Dolly Madison and other his
torical notables, 1t was revealed yes
terday
The discoveries were made by Will
liam M. Heinline. cemetery superin-
tendent. in check-up Of ancient files
in connection with the War Depart
ment's supervision OF the repairs
ordered by Congress for the stones
marking the burial sites OF Congress
sional dead.
Family lined pages in musty records
reveal the burial and subsequent trans
fers OF the remains Of Dolly Madison,
who as the wife of Jeffersons Secre-
tary Of State and later during the
eight years of James Madison's Presi-
Dental tenure. dominated the activities
in the White House social whirl.
Orphan Asylum Director.
1t was during this latter period that
she became the first director of the
City Orphan Asylum, contributing
both time and money to the service
Of the orphaned youth of the Capital.
Il never enjoyed anything 50 much. "
she said Of this activity.
As the widowed venerable" Mrs.
Madison she lived on the northeast
corner Of Lafayette Square with her
beloved niece. Anna Payne. who mar
ried James H. Causten of this city.
Philip Hone, New York merchant
after Washington VISIT, wrote con-
corning her in his journal for March,
1912: She is young lady of four
score and upwards. goes to parties and
receives company like the queen of the
new world"
Upon her last public appearance in
February. l849, at White House re-
ception, Mrs. Madison received an
overwhelming ovation. according to
the diary OF President Polk upon whose
arm she made a triumphal tour of the
lower rooms Of the White House.
Impressive Public" Services.
When she died the following july
there were impressive public" funeral
services at st. Johns Church, attended
by the President, his cabinet, foreign
government representatives and other
prominent officials and friends. Mrs,
Mad1son's remains were placed in the
public vault at Congressional Gene
terry "on July 16, 1849."
This further transcript from the
Congressional Cemetery records tells
its own story:
journal III, l849- 1856" under date
Of February 10th, 1882" Mrs. Dolly
Madison Est. Dr.. to removing the re-
mains of Mrs. Madison from Public
Vault to Mr.. James Caustens familys
Vault, $3.50"
The $3.50 Is crossed through with
two lines to indicate that the bill was
paid.
The Causten vault, near that of
John Gadsby Of Gadsby's Tavern fame,
IS Of red brick with white marble en-
tablattres which bear the heading,
"Inexorable Deaths Doings." 1t has
the date 1885 over its entrance.
Among those whose remains now re-
pose there according to the inscription
on the entablature on the right hand
OF the entrance Is, Mary Elizabeth
Carvallo, wife Of Manuel Carvallo, one
time Minister of Chile at washington,
and daughter Of James H. and Eliza
beth Causton.
According to Mr.. Heinline. q de-
scendant, Luis Amenbar. special COM
missioner OF the government of Chile,
while on a mission to America last fall.
paid his respects to his maternal for
bear.
Transfer Of Body.
This extract from the Day Journal
OF the Congressional Cemetery of jan
uary II. 1858, ends Dolly Madisons
connection with it and its burial
vaults. Permission given L. williams
to remove the body Of Mrs. Madison
Causten's family vault to Virginia. -
At Montpelier it was inferred by the
side Of her husband and . simple
white monument erected over the
grave. her name being mbpelled
"Dolley" by the marble worker in
charge Of the task.
1t Is thought that her son Todd by
her first marriage, who was always
lacking In filial devotion to his mother
and who repaid repeated efforts in
his behalf by nearly reducing her to
penury in her declining years, lies in
an unmourned grave in the Congress
sional Cemetery.
An unusual transcript is that Of q
personal letter from President Polk
to the superintendent of the cemetery
concerning the burial there Of Henry
Stephen Fox. British envoy to the
United States from 1885 to 1S43. It
will be remembered that President
Polk, during the course of the Oregon
boundary dispute with Great Britain,
In his administration, said to our COM
missioners, THE only way to treat
John Bull is to look him straight in
the eye. consider . bold and firm
course the pacific one"
In his letter, dated September is,
1847, to the cemetery sexton, Mr.. Polk
said: "You are hereby requested to set
apart in the Congressional Burial
Ground an appropriate spot for the
interment of the lac Mr.. Fox, formerly
Y"3