The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-10-22
MRS. BENZ. HARRISON.
Her Lamp of Life Nearly Burned
Out, Her Days Glide
Swiftly by, and She is Nearing the Great
white Throne--The Presidents Wife
the Victim OF Consumption, With
Death Not Very Far Away.

CINCINNATI Oct IA special to the
Enquirer from Washington says: To
the sympathetic public there is some-
thing inexpressible in the sickness of
Mrs Harrison. Her remaining lease of
life is short. She is the victim of con-
sumption. One of her lungs has ceased
to perform its functions and the other
one is much impaired. The patient
sufferer confronts the certain change
from time to eternity, and it may come
in few days or few hours, but
perhaps not for a month. Many an
other person has fingered with con-
sumption with death not far away But
here is the wife of the president--a
woman occupying a position which, in
the custom of society, entities her to
the title of the "frst lady of the land"
almost looking through ''the gates
ajar"-a woman whose affliction not
merely commands the solicitude of a
circle of relatives and friends, but of
thousands of patriotic men and women
for mourners. The highuposition into
which Mrs. Harrison was thrown by
the election of her husband to the chief
magistracy made her many good quail
ties conspicuous The reserve which
was naturally hers was necessarily un-
cloaked when she came to the White
house, and the amiabilty and
worth which were known only
to an Individual range Of
acquaintances became known to people
generally. Every reader of a newspa-
per has word of sympathy or tear
when he reads the bulletins from the
sick chamber, which give no hope,
though they record the cheerful resig-
nation of brave and pious woman.
Every person who passes the white
house turns sorrowing glance toward
it, and thinks of the sick lady and the
distinguished unceasing watcher at her
side. The grief of the president, who
shows signs of nervous affliction from
his long vigil, is shared by thousands
who only see the walls of the mansion,
or whose imagination of the scene in
that home is stimulated only by de-
scription.
By law which, though it does not
depend on legislation, seems to be i'm.
perative and unalterable, the wife OF
LhS pIGSluGnG VI VIC ~ hlISN CJdISo hda
social leadership imposed upon her.
Momentus social events are inseparable
from events of state. 1t depends large
ly on the tastes, ambitions and ac.
complishments of the mistress of the
white house what tone and brilliancy
the society of the capital shall take on.
Mrs, Harrison has been in Washington
what she was in Indianapolis, a
woman. She brought to the white
house abundant qualifications for the
position she was to occupy, and a
plentiful supply of common sense,
which somebody has said is uncommon
sense. While not affecting the most
brilliant heights, she has acquitted her
self with ease and grace, and made so
ciety the more worth living for by gen.
tly reno owing some of its frivolities She
has not done too much, and has done
we'll what she has done. Mrs Harri
sons sickness began with the grip in
the spring of 1891, and she has declined
steadily since then. The president de.
votes nearly all of his time to his wife.
Early every second afternoon he holds
a short reception in the east room, and
he occasionally takes short walk in
the EVENING"