The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-18

'',-S =" o"SSot AO'SiJ MOuldL. Oue was u
pretty woman, with bright, intelligent
face that possessed to a wonderful degree
that intangible quality which women, for
want of better term, denominate as
''sweet"
She had kind, motherly heart. and her
life in the White House was not unlike
that which she led Mt Indianapolis, when
the difference in the two social positions is
considered. To the last she was the same
even tempered, sweet dispositioned and
agreeable woman who had been deservedly
popular years before in Washington rs the
wife of Senator Harrison. Neither the
great prominence to which she was lifted
through the election of her husband to the
presidency nor the atlulaton that was be-
slowed upon her from every quarter had
the slightest effect upon her.
Like Mrs. Cleveland, Mrs. Harrison was
especially considerate OF the poor people,
who, as well as the rich, crowded in Mt her
public receptions. Her deeds of charity
were numerous and unostentatious, like
every other act of her public and private
life. The social duties of the White House
were distasteful to her. She had no love
for society. She much preferred the quiet
home life at indianapolis, where she saw
more OF her husbands society, and where
the simple routine Of her daily rounds was
much more congenial to her.
1t was for this reason that she kept in
the background as far us her official duties
would permit and made Mrs. Mckee the
real mistress of the White House. She
could not have found n more fitting substi-
tute. Mamie Harrison Mckee was always
popular woman in Washington. She
was popular rs girl when her father sat
in the senate, and she was no less popular
when the whirligig of time transferred
her in day, as it were, from the quiet
home life of indianapolis to the proudest
position in the land
Mrs. Mckee's schoolmates and others of
her friends who had not seen her for years
reJoiced to find her the same simple, unaf-
tected little woman they had known in
years past. Strictly speaking, she is not
so pretty rs Mrs. Cleveland, for Mrs Cleve-
land Is an unusually attractive woman
even in this country, where beauty is so
frequently to be found. But Mrs. Mckee
is an unusually attractive young lady, as
her photographs will show Mrs. Cleve-
lands beauty is more of the statuesque or
der. Mrs. Mckee belongs to less snowy
but none the less attractive type. Her
manners, like those of Mrs. Cleveland, are
frank and unaffected.
Since Mrs. Harrison's death she has been
the mainstay of her father from a domes-
tic point of view, and during the Ions. days
SO overcome with his great grief that he
found 1T impossible to transact the bust
ness of his office, Mrs. Mckee was con-
stantly with him, cheering and comforting
him rs only n noble woman can cheer and
comfort n man under such circumstances.
Her grief probably was no less poignant
than that of the presidents, but she tried
to forget it, end she bore a smiling front
always when in his presence.
= d. - -
take part in the social festivities in the
White House on next New Years day.
This is one of those occasions to which all
Washington looks forward upon the ap-
proach of the holiday season. 1t is an oc-
casion when the White House is literally
thrown open to all the world. 1t is one of
the few occasions during the year when the
members Of the diplomatic corps appear in
the full glory of their gorgeous court cos.
tunes; when the army and navy are repre-
scented by the officers of both services in
full uniform; when the judges of the gu
preme court, the grave and reverent seniors
OF tho senate, the noisy and disputatious
members of the house, cabinet ministers.
bureau officials and the like, all accom-
panied by their wives, flock to the White
House to see and be SEEM to admire and be
admired
On these occasions the mistress of the
White House is usually assisted by q score
of ladies', all prominent in public life, and
selected from representatives of both
political parties. AS Mrs. Mckee will be
in mourning, she is not likely to appear
even informally. Her place will be filled
by Mrs. Foster, the wife of the secretary
OF state, who comes next to the presidents
wife i'll oil matters of official and social
etiquette.
Mrs. Foster, like Mrs. Mckee, Is an
Indianian, and for years past has been
one of the social leaders of the capital
She is handsome woman who has not vet
reached the meridian of life, but who
prides herself upon the fact that she is the
grandmother of several interesting young
sters who live with their parents in north
ern New York. She is both pretty and
an attractive woman. If the president and
Mr. Morton were to die, her husband would
succeed to the presidency, while she would
supplant Mrs. Mckee at the White House.
The New Years reception will probably
be the last official affair in which the pres
ldent's family will be expected to partici-
pate. Mr.. Harrison will leave the execu-
tive mansion in four months He will
leave it with few if any regrets. Had Mrs.
Harrison lived a reelection to the presi-
dency would have been gratifying to him,
but since her death he has but one desire
which is to return to Indianapolis, aban-
don all further political ambition and
spend the remainder of his days in dig.
nified retirement, surrounded by the friends
who have known and loved him for half a
century or more. ROBERT GRAVES.
Pet Names in Early Times.