The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-10-25
MRS. HARRlsoN,s ILLNESS.



She Inherited Consumption-A Gradual
Decline Since spring.
Mrs. Harrison, though apparently the
embodiment of womanly strength and
robust health, inherited on her mothers
side the disease That has laid her low.
The first appearance of the insidious
disease in her own case dates back to an
attack of the grippe" two years ago.
Soon after her return to Washington
as wife of the President it began to be
noticed that she was not apparently as
strong physically or as well able to meet
her social duties as she had shown her
self to be during her husbands term as
Senator.
In spite of the help she received from
Mrs. Mckee and Mrs. Russell Harrison
in carrying on the duties OF her arduous
position, it was noticed that, although
she had formerly been very fair walker,
she seldom set foot to the ground, and
from being one of the most regular of
churchgoers, she was seldom seen at the
Church of the Covenant excepc in the
sunniest weather.
In the winter of lS9O-91 she had the
| "grippe." This pulled her down great
| deal, but the trip made by her with the
| President to the Pacific coast 1T was
thought, had entirely restored her. She
| enjoyed every moment of it, and treas
ured all the souvenirs of travel with
which she was inundated. These she ar
ranged with much taste in the corners of
the White House corridors up stairs.
About that time, also, she became
much interested in the organization of
the Daughters of the American Revolu-
tion, and consented to serve rs the first
| president, Although she did not attempt
much of the actual work of her place
| she gave it her warmest cooperation.
One of the last occasions on which she
| appeared in public was at an evening re-
| ception given on the 22d of February last
to the members of the order, and to the
| Sons of the American Revolution.
In March last she was far from WELL
! but as she had managed to go through
the official round of entertainment with
out breaking down, she herself thought
her indisposition only temporary. Mrs.
| Mckee and Mrs Russell Harrison had
| planned TO give a grand lawn party on
| the White House grounds after Easter.
| Mrs. Harrison was enthusiastically in
favor of it. She continued to hold her
weekly receptions for her friends at 3
| o'clock in the Blue Room.
| IL was aJ one OF LneSe informal little
afternoons, early in April, that Mrs. Har-
| rison felt the beginning of her illness.
! She asked her guests to excuse her, leav-
| ing Mrs. Mckee 10 do the honors.
From that day Mrs. Harrison never
was a well woman. She rallied some
| what in May, and then was taken that
unfortunate trip down Chesapeake Bay,
when the Government steamer on which
she was, the Jessamine, was caught in
| a northeast storm and Mrs. Harrison
suffered severely. Those who saw her
| leave the White House that day, almost
carried in the Presidents arms, had grave
| doubts of her recovery. And from that
on her disease seemed to progress rapidly,
When she was brought back from
! Fortress Monroe the true character OF her
disease became apparent to her physician
and her intimate friends, though it was
carefully concealed from the public and
she was ordered to Loon Lake in the hope
that the revivifying Influences of the
| pine laden air might arrest the progress
OF the pulmonary trouble which the rack
ing cough, night sweats and wasting
strength only too plainly indicated
1t is too recent to need recapitulation
how these hopes proved delusiye, and at
her own request she was carried back TO
her cheerful rooms at the White House. h,