Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-10-25
MRS. HARRISON DEAD.

( o'clock this morning, III NasHihSton,
aged sixty years.
Mrs. Harrison remained conscious,
though as The afternoon wore Oh she lost
the power OF speech. Most of the time
she lay as if i'll dream, so gently she
breathed. So faint was the ilutter OF
her heart thai twice during the day it
was though that she was dead. But
again her vitality restored her. That
she was dying she knew, and indeed,
had known for days, for some time ago
she asked DR.. Gardner for a frank state
ment of her condition. He obeyed.
Since then she spoke only rarely, and
appeared to lose all interest in passing
! events.
Last night was without special Incl
dent, but late and early-so frequently
that HI; could have slept but little, if at
all-the President was in and out of the
sick chamber, and was never away for
any len-;h OF time All of the family
in Washington were present at the
Gcathbcd except the three little grand
children and the venerable DR.. Scott,
| the t..thei of Mrs. Harrison. The mem
be, The family spent few minutes
around ne iiyess clay, and when they
emerged with sorrowful faces the Presi-
dent retired Immediately to his own
room. The other members of the iami-
ly, respecting his grief, allowed him to
remain unmolestcd.
3Irs. Harrisor's funeral viii take
place in indianapolis on Friday
morning. Interment will be made in
Crown Hill Cemetery. Funeral SER
vices will be held at the White House
on Thursday, previous to the depar-
tire of the funeral train.
Mrs. Harrison's illness was The out
come of an attack of grip during the
winter of lS90-9l, which left her with a
cough lasting for several weeks. While
AT Cape MAY Point III the summer OF
1891 she contracted a cold which caused
return of the cough, and it lasted dur
ing the entire summer. In the follow
ing March she had second attack of
the grip, followed this time by catarrhal
pneumonia, lasting about nine days.
The coughing spells then increased in
severity, until at last they were accom-
panied by bloody expectations, and
about the 1st of May she suffered from
hemorhage of the lungs, which, al
though not very severe, caused great
prostration.
During the Lenten days last spring
there was such pressure OF callers
upon her that she set aside certain af-
ternoons in each week to see visitors.
She was generally present, but If not,
was represented by the other ladies OF
the household. At the very last date,
however, of this series. Wednesday.
April 9th, she was in the Blue Parlor
and held brilliant reception from five
to six. The afternoon was excessively
warm and all the doors and windows
were opened. She coughed nearly
every time she spoke aud seemed to be
suffering considerably. That evening
she was very hoarse and her physician
WI, -iuamoncd. Her last illness began
thay night and but few of her friends
have seen her since.
Miss Carrie Scott met Mr. Benjamin
Harrison at Oxford, Ohio, while she
was student at her fathers college,
and married him on October 20. 1888.
She leaves two children, Mr.. Russell
Harrison and Mrs. Mckee.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harrison were devoted
to each other. Love and es,ceH .or
his wiic mas always remained para
iaoun: in the breast Of Mr.. Harrison.
The deceased was prominent in good
works and was i,c.tied with several
associations for tle alienation of the
unfortunate. She was q lover Of art,
had strong literary tendency, but,
above and beyond all, was model
housewife. She was q conscientious
mother. devoted wife and an obedient
daughter. 1t used TO be said of her out
in her old nome at indianapolis that
hers was the best-lsept house in lndi-
ana. Her home life was as it should DC
the dearest thing in the world TO her.
Of Mrs. Harrison us IN artist 1t may be
said she was superior amateur. She
has left behind her many evidences OF
her skill.
In a literary way Mrs. Harrison con-
fined her studies to subjects which sell
dom interest women. She was never
reading novels even of the better class,
but for years had closely followed the
discussion of the leading questions OF
the day. Few women who nave lived
in Washington in recent years were
better equipped for an argument on
any of the political or economic ques-
tons. She was i'll every sense her nus
bands helpmatc She took an interest
in everything OF interest to him, and
not infrequently since he has become
President has discussed with him the
affairs of State and legislation general
". Mrs. Harrison Was Il vigorous wo-
man mentally and physically. She was
particularly vigorous in her likes and
dislikes, and one of the most difficult
tasks she set herself when she became
the first lady Of the land was TO treat
every one she came in contact with not
only courteously, but kindly. Natur-
ally of an Independent disposition, it
had been her policy in life to seek the
society of those only congenial to her.
It was during the early part otthc Presi-
dents administration that Mrs. Harri-
son and Mrs. Blaine had their falling
out. The fact was, this unpleasant
ness was the outcome of incivilitv
shown Mrs. Harrison when the Presi-
ident was a member of the United
States Senate. When she came to the
White House. although a number of
years had elapsed, she did not forget
the former slight on the part of Mrs.
Blaine, and as 4 consequence there
was never any cordiality between the
Presidents family and that of his Sec
rotary of State.