Herb,

First of all, it is possible that Dolley was present when Madison was born, 
perhaps on a private visit to Monticello that never appeared anywhere. It is 
also possible, since Madison would not have been exactly cognizant at that 
point in his life, it was something told to him either by his mother, or by 
someone else at Monticello.

I cannot say I am an expert on Madison Hemings - in fact I know only a 
little - but one thing that stood out was the fact that people who knew him 
respected him for his honesty and integrity. If these were his hallmarks or 
trademarks, why would he deliberately throw them away for a moment of glory 
in a newspaper story? It just is not logical.

With that statement of the events of his birth squared away, let's look at 
what else he shared with that newspaperman that was published at the time 
when it was not history.

I guess I will have to go look up that newspaper story and read it for 
myself. If I was inclined to throw out the baby with the bath water, I could 
never have been successful as a teacher!

Anne



Anne Pemberton
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http://www.erols.com/apembert
http://www.educationalsynthesis.org 

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