Page 44 - Discover Summer 2022
P. 44
A Popular Retreat CONTINUED
air (over loudspeakers). themselves, but the world in which they lived.
Madison was particularly amusing in Possibly the greatest line of the evening
his effusive use of elegant prose in nearly every was delivered by Mr. Madison, who closed
utterance. For example, his initial comment his remarks with a story about some advice
upon viewing the audience of ‘invited local his father had given him. The elder Madison
guests’ spoke of his mild surprise that we were had cautioned his son about entering into
not “clothed in the expected aboriginal attire”. political frays in which he might face strong
He also remarked on the apparently large opposition.
number of those in attendance by suggesting,
“It’s the early bird that gets the worm,”
“the local gentlemen might consider
he recalled his father saying. “But it’s the
curtailing their domestic activities”.
second mouse that gets the cheese.”
The extent to which these men
I can hardly wait for next year!
study their history and the writings and
speeches of their characters is amazing. Their To learn more about Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar
performances reflected a deep and thorough Forest, visit www.poplarforest.org.
understanding, not only of the characters
42 Discover Smith Mountain Lake SUMMER 2022
