The National tribune., 1888-08-23
MRS. HARRISON
s A Perfect Woman Yob.y PLANNED. ;,

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: " What of Mrs.
Harrison :" is question frequently asked, and
while her personal friends know how distas te-
fHl any unnecessary publicity would be to her,
they also know that among women she would
bear the same close scrutiny that is given TO
her honored husband Gail Hamilton, that
cleverest Of all clever women, is not the only
clever and appreciated woman who meets the
irrepressible reporter with Let me alone " but
when ia the lifetime of the most modest woman
the possibility occurs of her becoming first lady
Of the land, we all want to know what man
ner Of woman she is. An extract from letter
Of Mrs. Harrison TO an old friend gives tie
keynote to her character:
4" We are all so prone to oycrvalue ourselves
and hide our faults, we are not competent to
judge OF what others should say OF Us; but we
all alike shrink from newspaper uOtoricty, es-
peeially those Of Us familiar with the society
columns Of the Washington newspaper"
Senator'S term at the Capital brings his
family prominently into the official circle but
there are wives and wives as well as Senators
and Senators. Ars. Harrison coming 10 Wash
ingtDn a stranger, needed none 10 herald her as
/ weli-boru aud well bred. The most casual OBJ
/ server as we'll as the critical i. T. T., would
/ admit so much; but it was to the personal
/ friends Of Mrs. Harrison, especially those as
/ s0catCd with her ia works Of mercy and Chris
tiau charity, that her true character, the beauty
/ and greatness of her nature, were shown.
! When the Garfield National Hospital was
| first proposed as fitting memorial 10 Tie mar
| tyred President Mrs. Harrison was one of the
/ first to grasp the idea, which, thanks to her ef-
/ forts aud those Of the peraCyering women as
sociated with her, has been 50 well carried out.
| There were well-eOnductcd hospitals, cTeditable
/ t. the city, ali under restrictions Of various
L NTrr
conner, had already found that there was no
/ place for the iucuEabie; DO place for many a
/ stranger, OF WOrH-out Department girl friend
less and penniess, ana so when, after discour-
aging and oit-Tepeated efforts, funds were raised
! and building made suitable for the intended
purpose, it was TO MTs. Harrison seXeeutivc abil-
ity, earnest zeal aud patient labor that the final
! success was largely due. Every State WIS we'll
/ represented by devoted women in this good
work, but none more W0rthily than the State
( Of Indiana, and when the patients were brought
in and tenderiy cared for wio among the women
vino had toiicd early and late to this end will
forget how Mrs. Harrison, as an incorporation a
/ Vice President, contributor, regular visitor
was ever at her post; aud the writer can testify
that the sweet face, tho gentle, cheerful voice
the ever-helplng hand was eagerly looked C0r
and always among the most welcome to the
suffering inmates OF the Garfield National Hos.
pital. The claims Of society, the demands upou
the Senator's wife, the uuclasing ChapgTpuage oil
q loving and beautiful daughter, whose culture
aud rare sweetness OF character made her gen.
tie presence much sought in the social circle
the uuendug work OF visiting, indeed every
domestic duty, while given ali required atteu.
ton, never deferred Mrs. Harrison from Chris
tian duties aud deeds OF kindness gentle
man said OF the daughter, now Mrs Mckee
when her engagement was ANNOUNCED: " [ envy
the man who is to marry the daughter OF sucE
a mother" A well-known, and just now very
I prominent Indianian, said when the family
; were leaving their home FOR Washington
We cannot spare them their neghbors Low,
them, and their kindness reaches out IN every
| direction"
, Mrs. Harrison is a genuine woman, Chris
tian, kind, courteous, agreeable, and far aboy
! the average woman in intellect and while WI
! ali admire aud respect the present mistress 0
! the White House, whose youth, beauty an,
many graces we could hardly wish to see sup
planted, we can rest assured, if the powers S
will it, that her mantle will fall upon one who,i
all respects, will represent the highest type q
| American woman, and who viii be in its broad
est sense ahe First Lady Of the Land.-CoH
NELIA.