The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-11-03

amp,cs. Like the Empress OF Germany,
the granddaughter of Queen Victoria,
she was reared and educated in the old
fashioned way.
The hou usekeeping in the White House
was not a promotion to Mrs. Harrison in
practical! s nSe, as She never before
had house with SO few bed chambers
in it rs has the Executive Mansion.
The Empress OF Germany has the min
utest details Of her imperial housekecp-
ing at her royal fingers ends; SO had
Mrs. Harrison all the domestic affairs
of the Presidents house within her
knowing. She was the heal Of the
housekeeping and she managed it with
all the care and discretion that she ever
exercised in her own house. House,
maids, housek, cper, and steward were
al under Mrs. Harrison's supervising
direction, whose first care was for the
comfort of her husband.
Mrs. Harrison WAS model hostess,
with NJ expcri.n e in entertaining.
10th in Indar apois and in Washing
ton, in both of which places her name
is synonym socially for all that is
gra e.ul and agreeable. When in Wash
ingtcn during the Senatorial terms of
her husband she never assumed the
cafes OF Il house OF her own. but her
quiet receptions once or twice each
week. held in her parlcrs. were fire.
Quented Ly the Lest people Of the city.
Artisticaly she hal what was almost
a hobby 70. painting on china, in which
she long INDUCED, and was very pro-
fc.ent. Delicate, fragile bits of china,
plaques, and vases painted by her bear
traces of an al OF professional touch.
This work. the result of an original
taste, cou, led with constant practice,
is really charming.
In making her designs Mrs. Harrison
was accustomed TO gather buds aud
blossoms fresh from the flower beds,
and make her studies directly from
nature. Mrs. Harrison was also fond
of artistic nee ilework and embroidery.
As ncedlcwoman she marked with
her mono .,ram each piece of linen in
the house at Indianapolis from bed
clothing to napkins.
Among the social graces for which
Mrs. Harrison was known. and one
fully tested in the White House, was
her Practice of seeing each visitor who
| called. She was never known to show
irritation or annoyance, and 1t must be
n fragrant cas- g indeed when she refused
| to receive a caller.
l. III youth Su0 was uS pCtAtci
| and daguerreotypes show a slight. grl-
| ish figure. with n face SO bewitchng as
| to have almost the appearance of a fan.
| c:ful ideal. In later years she grew
| stouter, but her features were still reg
uiar and retained much Of the harm
| for which the owner was once noted
| while there was always Il mirthfui turr
to the corners of her mouth, which gave
her face an inviting and pleasant cx'
preston. The pas age OF years dc.
| stroye forever the youthful outline o.
her figure and brought a little gray into
the black hair, at one time very dark
| The greatest charm in Mrs. Harris on
deposition vas her strong common
sense, her evenness OF temper, her will
in,ness 10 oblige. and the kindly
thought for everybody else which dom
mated every act. She cultivated thu
faculty o; saying happy thing Of ev
erybodv, and repressei the strong in
clinat:on TO say witty th'ngs which al
ways came SO easy 10 her, for fear sht
might unwittingly offend a sensitive
person. Her high position did no
change her In the slightest degree, un
less it were 10 make her feel more thar
ever willing to give up her private in
clinations to do that which was cxI ecte'
from her by the public.
The people who knew Mrs. Harrison
when her husband was in the Senat
could find no change in her when sh
came to the White House, save that tn
passage of years had silvered her sof
brown hair. Mrs. Harrison was jus
the samc-kind AMI thoughtful 70
everybody. great and small-and tn
friends of her early days in Washingto
| >,-or, hor fr;onI, <s, ho II:
She was probably one OF the most in
dustrious mistresses the White HOus
has ever hal. Her own method of lif
was SO simple that it gave her NOR
time than ordinarily comes to person
in high places to devote to things sh
liked best. She was a constant reade
of the best literature AMI devoted t
her brush. She had tcen q diligent pu
p;l for several years in the stu1y q
; china painting, and her a'ent was ofte
; displayed in the gifts she made he
sfriends at the holiday period.
n. In carrying out tho hospitality OF tn
l4FWhite House she has never been ea
Fl cetlcd, She presided with easy dignit
/; atd grace upon al! occasions, an
omitted no detail that would add to tn
! pleasurseafstAgse attending them. Sh
carried ot$to. Eke letter the written an
unwritfeh laws OF she house. and did q
much mere as it was possible to d
within: the limits Of each season.