Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1892-10-22
NEARLY ENDED.
The Gentle Valid of the
White House.
Passing Through the
Valley of Death.
The Eve of The Presidents
Glorious Victory.
Is Darkened by the Cloud of a Great
Sorrow and the End is Very
Near.

WASHINGTON, ID. u, Oct. 2l.-T Asso-
ciated Press. The shadow of a great
sorrow hangs over the white house
here. Its gracious and accom-
lished mistress is i'll past recovery, and
the nations loving sympathy goes out
to the Borrowing husband and children,
who, powerless to avert it, now dis
pairingly await the end. Her sweet
womanliness has been from the first
the keynote in the strong character of
Mrs. Harrison. As loving, faithful
wife, and tender, devoted mother, she
has won the esteem of millions, who
know her only by name and it is for
these reasons, first OF all, that now
when her life is known to be in peril.
the country turns with hushed and
anxious expectancy to the sick bed in
Washington. Mrs. Harrison's
illness dates from severe
attack OF grip, which she had some two
years ago. In the early summer relief
was vainly sought st Cape May and
Deer Park, and in July last, in the hope
that the mountain air might affect q
cure, she was taken to Loon Lake In the
Adirondack. But the change did not
bring the relief so eagerly hoped for :;
her feebleness increased, and in Sep
TENDER, at her own request, she was
brought back to Washington.
The journey from Loon Lake to
Washington was sad one. The gentle
invalid WAS accompanied by her hus-
band, the president, VINO from the first
has been absent from her side only
when imperative public duties required
il; by her son, Russell and he daughter.
Mrs. Mckee. The presidential party
reached Washington the day al
ter the great Grand Army parade,
and all OF the public buildings
in Washington were still decorated in
honor OF the visiting veterans. The
president did not ride from the station
TO the white house in the family car
riage, but rode beside the stretcher con-
tanning his wife in the army am bulance.
Not once daring the slow and lonely
ride did he note the decorations along
the way, A few weeks before he had
looked forward eagerly to taking part
in the reunion Of the Grand Army and
marching side by side with his old COM
rades in the great parade, but now he
was oblivious to all save the sick wo.
man whom he married in his early
youth and who all her life has been a
helpmeet to him in the best sense OF
the term. Finally the ambulance drew
up under the north portico OF the white
house and Mrs. Harrison was tenderly
carried through the great doorway,
probably never to come out again alive.
Mrs. Harrison now lies in a chamber
in the west wing OF the white house,
as far removed as can be from all pos
sible noise and hustle. Following the
return from Loon Lake there was Tor
few days an apparent change in her
condition: but this was soon shown TO
be only temporary, and now it is known
that consumption has claimed her as a
victim, that the end must come soon,
and that all that remains is to watch
and wait. Day and night the presi-
dent is almost constantly by her side.
he spends a few hours in his Office each
morning, but during this time makes
frequent visits to the sick room. The
only callers received by him are those
whose business is OF the utmost impor-
lance. Mrs. Harrison is constantly at
tended by trained nurse; her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Mckee; her daughter-in-law,
Mrs. Russell Harrison; and her nieces,
Mrs. Parker and Mrs. Dimmick. Rus
sell Harrison spends most OF his time at
the white house, and the Rev. DR..
Scott, Mrs. Hsrrison's aged father, is
also there. Like that of the presi-
dent, the old gentlemsn's anxiety and
sorrow are distressing to behold. Every
day the children oil Mrs. Mckee and
Mrs. Russell Harrison go out into the
grounds OF the executive mansion to
play in charge OF their German COVER
ness, but care is taken that their play
full noise shall not penetrate to the
sick room. Mrs. Mckee and Mrs.
Russell Harrison have now assumed
the duties OF mistress OF the White
House, and each morning receive few
friendly callers, but the great majority
Of their scauintances do no more than
leave card OF sympathy at the front
door of the White House.
DR.. Gardner and the consulting ply.
sicisns said tonight that the end was
merely question OF time. The sufferer
might linger several days and she
might pass away in a few hours.
Tempe Items.