The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-24

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Mrs. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Bucks county, that state, in the first
year of the century. When he was a
youth in Philadelphia he met young
woman named Mary Neal The young
people became much attached to each
other, but circumstances intervened to
separate them. The young lady's father
was bank cashier in Philadelphia.
About the time she was entering the
most interesting age of maiden life he
removed to Washington, Pa, taking his
family with him, to found and manage
bank in the interests of eastern capital
lists.
About the same time Mr.. Scott, hay
ing completed his educational and theo-
logical studies, came to Washington.
Pa, as an instructor in the old Washing
ton college before it was united with its
rival, Jefferson. The old acquaintance
was renewed, and soon after Mary Neal,
the bank cashiers daughter, became the
wife of John W. Scott, 1.-THE professor.
Some forty miles in a northwesterly di-
rection from Cincinnati is the rural
town of Oxford. AS early as 1926 it was
made the seat of Miami university.
founded under the patronage of the
state. These important educational in
terests subsequently led to the establish
ment of the Oxford Female college and
the Western Female seminary. OF the
former Rev. John w. Scott had become
president.
There was student at Oxford at this
time of the name of BENJAMIN Harrison.
He had passed from Farmers college into
the Miami university, and graduated at
the age OF IL years. The young student,
in the midst of his pursuit of learning,
found himself overtaken by love. The
daughter of the worthy man of erudition
was the object of his affection. John
Scott Harrison, the father of the stndent,
was too warm hearted and liberal to lay
by much of earth's stores, or even to take
selfish care of what lie received by in
heritance. The patrimonial estate had
diminished in acres and the family ex-
chequer in cash under his management,
which left Benjamin to make his own
way, with good education as his cap
ital and the world as his field for invest
ment. He finished his toilsome Journey
up the rugged highway Of jurisprn-
dence, and the first thing thereafter, on
Oct 20, 1858. he made Miss Carrie Scott
his bride.
Their honeymoon was passed under
the paternal roof at North Eend, below
Cincinnati. In the following March the
young couple went to indianapolis. the
the wife to lay the foundation and make
home, and the husband to build up a
career. In addition to the care bestowed
upon her education the young wife was
trained in household duties. The Ok
ford seminary boarding house, which
accommodated about thirty young la
dies, was managed by Mrs Scott, who
was assisted by her daughter. Carrie
Scott IN those days was a bright, viva
cious, witty girl, very pretty, with speak
ing eyes and good figure. She was
greatly admired by the students, but not
one could stand in the way of ben" as
she always affectienately called him.
The cash capital at the command of
Benjamin Harrison when he began mar
fied life and the practice of his profession
was $500, al advance on a lot in Cincin-
natl inherited through his aunt. Mr.
and Mrs. Harrison began their domestic
responsibilities in rooms in an Indian
apolis boarding house. In the summer
of 1854 Mrs. Harrison paid visit to her
parents at the old home at Oxford, and
there on Aug. 10 Russell Harrison, their
eldest child, was born. After this event
in the family circle, the young mother
having returned in the autumn to In
dianapolis, the proud husband rented
small house and began life In earnest, his
faithful and industrious wife doing her
own housework In cottage of three
rooms. The steady gains in fame, prac-
tice and pecuniary rewards in two years
found Mys. Harrison presiding over
larger and more pretentious house. Here
their second and last child, Mary Scott
Harrison, was born.
What a marvellous transitiou March,
1884, Mr. and Mrs. Benjanin Harrison
settled down at Indianapolis to life of
toll and posi- bilities. March, 1889, Pres
ldent and Mrs. Benjamin Harrison at
! Washington entered upon the admin.
istrattve duties and ceremonial and So
clal en1oyments of supreme rank by the
voice of the people. During the inter.
sening period of thjrty.five years the
career of Benjamin Harrison had been
one of growing honors, and his estimable
wife had kept pace with him in every
sphere.
In 1881 General Harrison entered the
senate of the United States, and Mrs
Harrison became member of that dis.
tinguished circle, the wives of the SEN
ators. In her Washington residence of
six years Mrs. Harrison extended her
sphere of usefulness Her name was
associated with noble charities and
church work. Tho Garfield hospital
owesit its success in large degree to her
active interest as one of its first direct
ors.
In appearance Mrs Harrison was
type of matronly beauty. In figure she
showed the generosity of nature in a
well rounded form and in minds nature
equal beneficence, expanded by training
in the requirements Of liberal educa-
ton, drawn from the broadcast opportu-
mites. A lavish growth of hair, silvered
with the threads of over half century
of life and floating in curly waves over
well shaped head, ending in graceful
coil, her regular features and dark ex-
pressive eyes formed picture of ripened
womanhood. She had voice softened
by the instincts of gentle nature and
gift of conversation which, while ami.
mated, was still thoughtful.
Mrs. Benjamin Harrison possessed
great tact, and it is said that this admir-
able quality contributed not a little to
the election of her husband TO the presi-
denev in ~