Well actually, his given name was James Madison and he was born on March 16th, 1751. He later in life became known as the Father of the Constitution, though he referred to it as a product of many heads and many hands.
Madison served two terms as the fourth President of the United States and, though he tried to keep the country out of war, he was plagued by a second battle with the British for independence known as the War of 1812. The British captured Washington and burned the White House in 1814 but Madison's plucky wife, Dolley, managed to save a portrait of George Washington before fleeing.
They were a pretty good pair, the Madisons. So let's strike up the band and salute them both today.
This next picture has absolutely nothing to do with the Madisons but something about the brilliant display of white blossoms made me think of Jimmy so . . here it is.
The tree is just one street over from my back door and I was struck by it while out on my daily walk the other day.
By the way, today's date also marks the day Judge Roy Bean, the so-called "Law West of the Pecos", died in Langtry, Texas, in 1903. I haven't found a hanging tree to commemorate him. But there is a namesake watering hole in Prescott named after Bean's legendary saloon.
So, maybe after saluting the Madisons, we might all stop off at the Jersey Lilly and raise a glass to the old reprobate, "Judge" Roy Bean.
And she made some pretty good ice cream also.
ReplyDeleteFrom a distance, that tree looks like it's growing popcorn. James Madison was also our shortest president. I believe he was under five feet tall and couldn't get on a horse without help.
ReplyDeleteHe was our shortest president but his height is listed as 5 foot 4 inches. Don't know about the horse mounting.
DeleteIf the story is true, Dolly also set a pretty good table......apparently the brits that partially burned the white house sat down to a dinner table that had been left when the staff fled and ate before lighting their torches.
ReplyDeleteToo bad Judge Bean wasn't around. : )
DeleteI was going to say what Joe did. I heard she was the first to serve ice cream in the White House. Maybe anywhere? And that tree...WOW! :)
ReplyDeleteNope. Thomas Jefferson was the first to serve ice cream in the White House in 1802, beating out the Madisons. But in 1790, George Washington spent the then unheard of sum of nearly $200 for ice cream equipment and recipes.
DeleteCool history note and wonderful spring pictures. That tree has exploded in blooms.
ReplyDelete