. Appleton's cyclopaedia of American biography . member of the legis-lature of following yearhe was elected tocongress, and dur-ing his fourteen ses-sions in Washing-ton Mrs. Folkscourteous manners,sound judgment,and many attain-ments gave her ahigh place in society. On her return as the wifeof the president, having no children, Mrs. Polkdevoted herself entirely to her duties as mistressof the White House. She held weekly receptions,and abolished the custom of giving refreshmentsto the guests. She also forbade dancing, as out ofkeeping with the character of these entertain-ments.
. Appleton's cyclopaedia of American biography . member of the legis-lature of following yearhe was elected tocongress, and dur-ing his fourteen ses-sions in Washing-ton Mrs. Folkscourteous manners,sound judgment,and many attain-ments gave her ahigh place in society. On her return as the wifeof the president, having no children, Mrs. Polkdevoted herself entirely to her duties as mistressof the White House. She held weekly receptions,and abolished the custom of giving refreshmentsto the guests. She also forbade dancing, as out ofkeeping with the character of these entertain-ments. In spite of her reforms, Mrs. Polk wasextremely popular. Madam, said a prominentSouth Carolinian, at one of her receptions, thereis a woe pronounced against you in the Bible. Onher inquiring his meaning, he added: The Biblesays. Woe unto you when all men shall speak wellof you. An English lady visiting Washingtonthus described the presidents wife: Mrs. Polkis a very handsome woman. Her hair is veryblack, and her dark eyes and complexion remind. 56 POLK POLK one of the Spanish donnas. She is well read, hasmuch talent 1ur conversation, and is highly popu-lar. HIT excellent taste in dress preserves thesub-dued though elegant costume that characterizesthe lady. Mrs. Polk became a communicant »1the Presbyterian church in 1^34. and maintainedher connection with that denomination until theclose of her career. After the death of her hus-band she resided in Nashville, in the house seenin the illustration, and known as Polk the foreground is seen the tomb of her husband.—President Polks brother. William Hawkins,lawyer, b. in Maury county. 24 May, 1815;d. in Nashville. Trim., Hi Dec., 1K2. was gradu-ated .it the Iniversity of Tennessee, admitted tothe bar in ls:!!t. and began to practise at Colum-bia, Maury co., Tenn. lie was elected to the legis-lature in 1*41 ami again in 1S43. In 1N45 hewas appointed minister to Naples, holding theoffice from 13 March of that year t
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