The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-26

of the sere and yellow leaves, which
dropped from the stately elms and oaks at
every. light puff of air., upon the green
Harrison Harris T had died with the leaves and
flowers she loved SO well. and her life
ebbed at that inspiring hour OF the night
which precedes the first husn OF
s,ns wnsn the itself 0iooa runs 80 Ssrs
almost suspended Its functions The news
OF her death gave rise to universal express
ions of sympathy. bot caused no
surprise, as everyone in Washing
ton had been fully prepared for 1t. There
were signs of mourning about the city
at an early hour in the flags which dropped
at half-mast on the public buildings. ana
on hotels and private houses. But because
of the non-oficiai position of the Presl-
dents wife these demonstrations OF sympa-
thy were purely voluntary. and the wheels
of the city's life revolyed much as usual.
The people going to their work glanced at
the headlines in tho morning papers and
exchanging few sympathetlc words, went
OH their way with sober faces, and the rou-
tine of the day proceeded.
The guard of special officers detailed inn
mediately on the death of Mrs. Harrison to
prevent the entrance of lntruders into the
White House or it's grounds was main.
tanned this morning and no one admitted
without some special reason. After the
end had come this morning the fresi0ent
retired TO his own room, adjoining that In
his bed lie passed the early hours OF the
morning In strict sec!usion. and shortly
after o'clock. Is his custom. be arose
and descended TO the breakfast-room.
whero he joined the other members OF the
family at O'clock. The meal was soon
over. anu tho President and the family at
once returned to the private part of the
mansion. The grandchildren were gwen
their breakfast after the other members OF
the family, and then. in charge of their
nurses. they were taken ont for their usual
morning walk In the White House grounds.
Soon otter sbreakfast the Psesident was
joined in his room by the Rev. DIR. Hamlin,
pastor of the Church of the Covenant, who
spen: some time with him. Attorney
general Miller was early at the executive
mansion and saw the President. Secretary
Tracy called little later aud also spent o
few minutes with the President. The
atfiicti0n he suffered In the tragic death of
his wife and he knew well the feelings OF
the grief-stricken man to whom he came to
tender his condolences. as the PRESIDENT
and Mrs. Harrison had done TO him so
tenderly and thouRhLfnlly In his own great
bereavement.
BEARING HIS SORROW WELL.
The Presid ent is bearing up remarkably
we'll in his deep affiictlon. The traces of
his great sorrow are plain and unmistak-
able, but apparently he has nerved him.
He and the other members of the family
are bravely enduring the strain on them,
and their grief, though painfully evident.
is we'll controlled. Postmaster general
Wanamaker was one of the first of the
mem bers of the Cabinet TO arrive at the
executive mansion. He had half hour 9
conversation with the President and found
him stronger and braver than he had ex.
pected. HIS tear-stained face showed un-
saf. IL. .tan orntf
and yet he seemed to have been gathering
up his strength and nerving himself for q
month past tor the day that must come.
The POstmaster- general also saw the ven-
erabIe Dr.. Scott, Mrs. Harrison's father,
now in his ninety- third year. he tear
fully told his friends how he spent the
evening BESIDE the bed of his stricken
child. and finally retired. leaving her
peacefully sleeping, When he awoke this
daughter had passed on before. He could
hardly realize, he said. that she should be
taken and he left. and he could not under
stand why il should be 80, but his faith in
the wisdom of the Master sustained him
sorrow.
Secretary Noble, who. with the Attor-
ney- general, Postmaster gen eral and Secre-
tary Tracy, are tho only. members of the
Cabinet in the city, also called this MORN
ing and passed about half an hour with
the President. Secretaries John w. and
Charles Foster will reach the city to-mor-
row and Secretaries Rusk and Elkins in
time for the funeral. 1t was the expressed
wish of the President to the members of
the Cabinet who called this morning that
the affairs of government be proceeded
with as usual, and in Difference TO the re-
quest thesheads of the several executive
departments were at their desks during the
greater part of the day and the depart.
ments remained open usual
Mrs. Miller. wife of the Attorney general.
nnd Mrs. Rusk and other ladies of the
families of the members of the Cabinet.
called this morning and spent some time
with the family. A few other intimate
friends were also received. Mrs. Parker
met most of the callers who went mp stairs.
Mrs. Mckee is bearing up very bravely in
her loss. She wac up and about the same
as usual this morning, although her pale,
sad face tells the story of her desolation
better than words.