Show i reminiscence of mrs madison A lady correspondent signing herself 11 T M thus introduces her subject it Ms his our endorse endorsement I 1 enclose ill an extract fi aiom om the lift life of sirs madison on which may alove to your readers not only as ag an historical reminiscence but as an example to the present presen tage age N mis q madison 1 w is the daughter of mr and mis ills payne pay ne of i bemb members ers of the society of friends friend who manumitted their slaves soon after their marriage and i C lalov moved e 1 I to ph ladelphia philadelphia 1 miss mis S dolly P ayno was edit C I 1 t 0 I 1 in philadelphia and whon when very young youn 9 mr tod a lawyer in that pity city who soon left her a widow with one son in 1794 mis tod became the wife of mr james madison and went to live on his estates in vir gilli genii till he was appointed secretary of state in 1801 vi nhen hen they removed to washington mrs madison u won on the admiration of all by the charms of her elegant 11 bos hospitality vitality pita lity mis madison also at the white house in the absence of mr jeffersons daughters and her frank and cordial manners ga gave ve a peculiar charm to the parties there assembled but there wore were individuals who nev never C r visited at tit the 0 presidents nor met at the other ministerial houses bouses whom mrs madison adison M won by the sweet influence of her conciliatory disposition to join her evening evenin circle birc le and sit at her husbands table always covered with the profusion of virginia ho hospitality spi but not always in the style of european e elegance leg ance the wife of I a foreign minister ridiculed th the 0 enormous size and nu number in ber of the dishes observing that it was more mor e like a hai rest home supper than the entertainment of a secretary of state mrs madison heard beard this and similar i demarks and only answered with a s smile mile that I 1 she thought abundance preferable to elegance that circumstances formed customs and customs formed tastes and as ah the profusion so repugnant to foreign customs arose from the happy circumstance of the superabundance and prosperity of our country she lid did not hesitate to sacrifice the delic icy of european taste for the less elegant but more liberal fashion of virginia iler her house was very plainly furnished her dress nov never C r extra extravagant lilt it was only in hospitality and chairty that fhe bho was aas profuse the many families d daily ily supplied hoin that profusely spread table testified to tile the real hospitality bos ot of the tit hostess host esl in ing 1800 mr madison was elected president of the united states state which high loftice ho be tor lor eight s diu dining in till all this period pel iod which included th the e stormy time of our republic when the war with great britain and other important questions arrayed a most vi violent blont opposition to the gon go ern ment and party part animosity ani was bitter and vindictive yet in the presence of 3 mrs maddon till spirit of di discord icord was hll halhed hed tile the loaders leaders of appo ite parti bartka IN would stand ground her smiling and other as is co III though ar in rl the th n shine of her benevolence till all were frieml friel ll madison was in manner cold loser ved ala aiji his bis ini integrity errity g of character character was respect buethe but the pop 11 lailey lie ho oil joyei enjoyed was 5 n mildness and gentle virtues of his wife he 0 over er the hearts of all who know knew her it n sho she never forgot a name she had once heard L face she biad once seen nor the pois onal ci t 1 stances connected with every individual acquaintance alonco her quick of persons her recurrence to tile the peculiar int n k each left ae ft the gratifying impression that flat cap was an object of esp especial ocial regard 11 jn in 13 matisons Madi sons second teim of office expired h her e to his paternal pat cinal einal estate in virginia Mont ito that place was nas called had a largo large an and a ons mansion desi designed gried more for comfort and i vitality pita lity than show where tile the mother of sr 3 so son n hid bid abaya resided one wing of the 1 was to her and she had ad there e separate establishment and her 01 old maintained all the old customs of the th last CM n by only opening a door the ob pissed C the elegan cies refinements and gaye gaieties gayeties ties of afi ern life into all that was as resper eV and dignified in bygone by gone days it was inas consi con ae f a high lavor favor and distinction by the great ani gay who thronged thron 11 ged to visit isit mr and MS montpelier if they were permitted to baj pa homage of their respects to his revered A lady who was admitted to visit her I 1 m was in her ninety seventh year thus des describe cri 0 scene I 1 she mrs madison the tit e elder was alij 0 or lather reclining ona on a couch she still till ret 10 all her faculties though not free from the b S infirmities of age beside her WAS wasa a small tai filled N with ith large dark and worn quartos cuartos a rc 1 of most v an erable crable appearance she clo clossil le w 1 we entered and took up her hnit knitting tim 11 jd C beside her among other inquiries I 1 ailed ae how bow she passed her time I 1 11 am in never neve r ata atalo slie she replied I 1 this and these touching he her rk iett I 1 and her books I 1 keep mo in 0 always alinay s busy loot 1001 my fingers and you will perceive that I 1 hi h never been idle in truth her delicate final were polished by her knitting needles I 1 audi and A eyes thanks bo be to god have ha T not faedie fa edae and I 1 read most part of the lay day but in otter oley i aspects I 1 am feeble and helpless and oe evel thing to her 1 pointing to mrs madison iboa hos by us she is my mother now and tenderly a for all my wants 11 my eyes were filled with tears as I 1 layok from one to the other of these thes 0 excellent c x CC ile n t WOE never in the midst of her splendid drai drawing rot surrounded bounded by the courtly and brilliant tt thel i mired and respected herself the bentic of ate at tion the object of admiration never was madison so interesting so lovely so estimable rahi in her attendance on lier her venerable mother mothe win whom she loved and honored with great affect affe ctol in 1836 mr madison died ile ho had bad lived b troi years in retirement and had found in the SOCK of his wife and in her unremitting attention S him when enfeebled by age and infirmity teatsy was the best gift of god oras or akiho tho cm caressi ressi I 1 his bis connection with her was the happiest ev ers of his life after his decease mis ills Madi sois moved to the city of washington where shet she en tinned to be held in the highest respect tills tilli death which occurred july twenty second n her Iler funeral fune r al was attended by a very laige cs course tit the highest officers of the go governa gove vernm rami united with the people in this testimonial of I 1 1 gird gard to the and beloved mrs badiac homo journal |