The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-10-25
CAROLINE SCOTT HA ARR1soN.


A Life That Was Gentle and Tender in all
Its Ways.
Mrs. Harrson's illness dated from q
severe attack of the grip, which she hal
some two years ago. In the early summer
relief was vainly sought at Cape May and
Deer Park, and in July last. in the hope
shat the mountain air might affect a cure,
she was taken to Loon Lake in the Adiron-
dacks. But the change did not bring the
relief SO eagerly sought for; her fsebleness
increased, and in September, at her own re-
quest, she was taken back to Washington.
The journey from Loon Lake to Washing
ton was sad one. The gentle invalid was
accompanied by her husband, the president,
who from the first has been absent from
her side only when imperative public duties
required it; by her son, Russell, and her
daughter, Mrs. Mckee.
Day and night the president was almost
constantly by her side. He spent few
hours in his office each morning, but dur
ing this time made frequent visits to the
sick room. The only callers received by
him were those whose business was of the
utmost Importance. Mrs. Harrison was
constantly attended by a trained nurse;
her daughter, Mrs. Mckee; her daughter
in-iaw, Mrs. Russell Harrison, and her
nieces Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Dimmick.
Mrs. Mckee anu Mrs. Russell Harris n as-
suned the duties of mistress of the White
house and each morning received few
friendly callers, but the great majority of
their acquaintances did no more than leave
a card of sympathy at the front door OF the
White house.
Mrs. Harrison's sickness and death lend
a melancholy interest to the details of her
past life. The president and she had been
lovers and companions from their early
youth. Mrs. Harrison was by birth a vest
ern woman. Her father, John w. Scott,
was many years ago teacher in Mama
university at Oxford, Ohio, and it was there
that the wife of the president was born.
She was named Caroline--Carrie for short
and when she grew up was sent to school
in the girls college of the town. Those
who knew her in girlhood describe her rs
quiet and demure, with petite form and q
face ideally beautiful. In those days her
hair was black and her complexion dark.
She was until her last sickness a very hand
some woman, but her hair had become
plentituly sprinkled with gray, and her
girliah fo N had assumed the tullness of
mature matronhood.
1t was while at school at Oxford that
Caroline Scott met Benjamin Harrison.
She fell In love with the quiet, modest,
studions youth, and her love was fully
reciproeated. Before either was 81 they
had maeried, settled in life and their first
baby had been born. In the early days of
his wife was of the greatest help to him.
and he often said that she was 'half the
capital" She did her own cooking and
housework and aided her husband in many
ways.
After eight years of happy married life
Fort Sumter was fred on. and then life for
the young couple began in dreadful earnest.
The husband went to the front AZ colonel of
an Indiana regiment while the wife re-
mained behind, keeping house alone with
her two children. Only onue did the hus-
band return home on a brief leave OF alb
sence. On this occasion he found his son
very ill with typhoid fever, but tho crisis OF
the disease had not been reached when his
furlough expired. and hs was forced to leave
his wife alone TO watch the outcome of the
battle between life and death. Twice she
went with her children to the front to see
their father. When Sherman's army left
Nashville and started for Atlanta Gen. Har-
rison marched at the head of his b, igade,
while the wife and children returned to the
lonely home in Indianapolis.
A letter which Gen. Harrison wrote to his
wife ON Nashville in October, 1863 gives
a touching insight into the relation that
existed between them. In this letter he
W tote:
My DEAR WIFE: On the tenth anniver-
sary OF the day ON which we pledged our
selves to each other for better or woise
could have wished that we might not pe sep
arated, but ss this coveted pleasure il de-
MED me will spend the evening in the
closest communion with you that our sepa-
ration will allow. wrote some time ago to
Mr.. B to p epare ring for you and
have it sent to you to-day. You have prob
ably received it before this time and now
wear it upon the wedding finger. With
that ring do thee wed again."
The war over. and with Gen. Harrisou's
rise in the political world aud increasing
prosperity In his profession, the home life
of the Harrisons became more pretentious
but none the less happy. They had at dit
ferent times several homes III Indianapolis
The enc which they left when they removed
to Washington three yeas ago stauds on
North Delaware ut. eet. in one of the pretti-
est parts of the city. Those who had the
good fortune to visit its say that it was home
from collar to attic. Ii was long ono OF
the oenters OF the social world of Indian
apolis.
The home life of the Harrisons at the
White house is familiar to all newspaper
readers. Mrs. Harrison WAS well known
in Washington before she came here to rule
she White house." said the Washington
Post recently, "and while thnt event might
have added to her eminenoe, IL could moi
have increased the affection and esteem oi
hor friends. She has been IN the executive
mansion as she was in he private residences
tontinued oM second Page.