The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1896-10-31

held In his honor; the breaking up %
conferences that might change the
course Of his career; the disappoint-
ment of his friends and political sup
porters, and hundred other trying ex
periences, nll Of which have been met
with the simple remark: II must 90,
my wife needs me-" IL has also meant
hard physical and mental toll, for there
are those who know how, night after
night, all the session through, when
the country hung upon his words, and
the terrible drudgery of the famous
tariff bill had to be gone through with.
The major sat in his little room at the
Ebbitt house, in Washington, working
with all his might and main. Neither
clerk nor stenographer were there 10
help him, that he might be able 10 af
ford some new attempt OF medical
science to relieve his wife, or prolong
her stay at some expensive cure where
she was receiving treatment.
There have also been times when Mrs.
Mckinley, aware OF the anxiety OF those
around her, and fearing they would wire
for her husband, perhaps seriously
alarming him, or causing him TO disap-
point large number of people, has for
hidden message TO be sent. Perhaps
unconsciousness set In and the physici-
ans, Alarmed as hour after hour passed
without a sign of life or any response
70 the strongest remedies, would sum
mon her husband. No matter at what
hour Of day or night he came, or how
soft his tread, when his foot crossed the
threshold and his hand sought hers,
her eyelids would begin to flutter, and
her lips attempt his name.
In one instance, several years ago,
when Mrs. McKinley's health was at it's
worst. she lay apparently lifeless for
81 hours, and her medical attendant
could no longer detect any pulsation Of
her heart. The major, who had been
in New York at an important meeting,
was summoned. Pale and troubled
faces met him at the door. He feared
the worst, and with groan sprang up
the stairs into the sick room. His wife
lay white and motionless, her lips blue
and contracted, her features fixed.
The distracted man thought at last
she was really lost to him and kncel!ng
by her side called in passionate appeal:
Ida, Ida, come back, come back TO me,
/ am here close to you" A change,
slight but perecepible, passed over her
waxen face. Like lightning the major
detected il. "She lives, doctor, she
lives" he called, and renewed his en-
treaties for n sign, look or a word.
Presently the eyelids OF the sick woman
quivcred and with great sigh she came
back from the very shadow Of the dark
valley.
No wonder friends say that Mrs. Nc
Kinley has n sixth sense where her hus-
band Is concerned. Indeed, no matter
what suffering she may be in, what the
distractions, or how great the buzz Of
conversation going on, her husbands
name is only TO be mentioned 10 ind
her at once alive and intent, and while
she does not trouble herself much about
worldly affairs, anything that is going
10 affect his arouses her at once TO
activity and she expresses her own
views with Rcumcn and great good
sense.
Speaking OF the majors physiognomy,
the well-known artist, George Mnduro
Peixotto, TO whom he is now sitting for
a portrait in oils, said: For years
have wanted TO paint William McKin-
ley. no. because / knew that some day
he wonld be president, that did not
matter rap 10 me as an artist, but
because he has the most powerful head
of any man in this country. | have
painted Victor Hugo. Gladstone and
Bismarck, three men whose tremcn-
dous character and force OF intellect
uality have hewn their way through
very flesh and blood. 10 is the
same with Mckinley. One censcs 10
ask Is he handsome or not. Years have
made him finer in the highest sense
of the word. Time has etched his soul
and thought i'm such wonderful lines
upon his face that one ceases 10 dwell
upon the flesh In the study of the
spirit"
Towards women the majors man
nor Is charming. II has both Difference
and understanding In IL. Perhaps that
Is somewhat the result OF the fine types