Historic Gardens of Virginia 



Her quick recognition of persons, her recurrence to their peculiar in- 

 terests produced the gratifying impression in each and all of those 

 who conversed with her that they were especial objects of regard." 

 What charm! What tact! 



President Madison must have equaled, if not excelled, his good 

 wife in tact, for did he not have two separate establishments under 

 the same roof; with everything that might rupture the harmony 

 of the household — separate and apart? One side of the house was 

 occupied by Mrs. James Madison, Senior; and there, attended by 

 her old family servants, constantly visited by her children and 

 grandchildren, the venerable dame preserved the customs and 

 habits of an earlier generation. In the basement were two kitchens, 

 one for "Mother Madison," the other for Madame Dolly. There 

 were separate living apartments, and separate stairs led to the bed 

 chambers. Indeed, our President Madison solved the problem that 

 has caused so much havoc in otherwise happy homes. 



The central part of the old house and the arrangement of the 

 two stairways are just as they were in the "good old days." Nor 

 has the library been changed, where the ex-president received when 

 so feeble that he had to recline on a couch, which caused him to 

 remark merrily, "Strange as it may appear, I always talk better 

 when I lie." But the wings of the house have been rebuilt and 

 broadened, so that the house now is many times larger than it was 

 originally. The Tuscan portico, flanked by huge box-trees, the old 

 cream stucco and the general spacious atmosphere of hospitality is 

 there just as it has been for these hundred and more years. 



We must go through the house, across the beautiful turf with 

 peacocks strutting under century-old trees; under a cedar of 

 Lebanon (which President Madison planted himself) to the brick- 

 walled garden with lovely wrought iron gates, which give an added 

 feeling of seclusion to the peaceful spot. Here one enters under 

 a tunnel of box-trees; at the end of this the garden itself is spread 

 out in all its glory. Certainly one feels the French influence, and 

 rightly, I believe, for in 1824 when the Marquis of LaFayette 



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