The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-05
M'KINLEY,s HOME LIFE.
His Ability to Keep Coo at All Times
and Sleep soundIy.
Baltimore Sun

Mrs. j. V. L. Findlay. who recently spent
a day at Canton. O., as the guest OF the
wife of Major Mckinley, and had an oppor-
tunity of witnessing the throngs of voters
who called on the presidential candidate
to assure him OF their allegiance to the
cause of honest money. spoke entertaining
ly yesterday of the home life of Major and
Mrs. Mckinley INC of the scenes she wit
messed while there. M
The acquaintance between Mrs McKin-
ago at Miss Eastman's famous school for
girls at Media, Pa. Mrs. Mckinley. whose
maiden name was Miss Ida Saxton, had
been a pupil there before Mrs. Findlay's
coming. and she visited the school several
times to see a sister who was In Mrs.
Findlay's class. The acquaintance then
formed was renewed az Washington dur
ing Mr.. Findlay's terms as g Congressman.
During my visit to Mrs. Mckinley" she
said, which lasted from ; o'clock in the
morning until 10 O'Clock al night, no fewer
than twenty delegations. containing in all
not less than forty thousand persons, called
on Major Mckinley, and to each delegation
Major Mckinley made an address. Once or
twice he spoke extemporaneously and with
out a moments preparation, but he was
usually notified iii advance of the coming OF
a delegation. Nearly all of the delegations
that called the day / was there were received
at the front gate, where there was a stand.
Major Mckinley would walk deliberately
down the path and after receiving the dele
cations would mount the platform and
make his speech. He was always deliberate
in his manner and his speaking. and when
the address was over he would walk back
to the house as deliberately as he lett IL.
and to al appearances acted as IL nothing
out of the ordinary had happened. His
ability 10 remain calm at all times, together
with his happy faculty OF sleeping Sounuly
every night, no doubt is the reason he has
been able to keep up under the tremendous
strain which he has undergone.
II was told that the day ! was there was
only a sample Of many days hat had gone
before. / Can we'll believe this when L re-
call the condition Of the front yard. The
house stand back some distance from a
wide street and is surrounded by a lawn
that once was Mr.. McKinleys pride. Moth
ing remains now to be proud of save the
shade trees. In place OF the smooth lawn
of soft, green grass there Is now only a
bare piece of ground bereft OF every sign
of verdure. The thousands of feet that have
trampled over the lawn have worn away
every sprig Of grass and the ground Is SO
hard that to restore the lawn II will be
necessary to a it plowed up. Not con-
tent with destroying the lawn IN their de-
sire to do honor to their candidate, some
members of the delegations carried away
cigar boxes filled with earth from his front
yard, and it may be found necessary 10 re-
new the earth when the battle Is over anu
time is given in which to restore the lawn:
Mrs. Mckinley was very much amused
when she saw the dirt being carried away
from the yard. she enjoyed heaI'iiy
what I told her Mrs. Harrison had said TO
me about the havoc wrought by the visitors
to President Harrison's home during ms
campaign 1t must ei ns With pf ! uS, P paid
house vi TIC w illC llOhSO
Mrs. Harrison to me. for when we get
through there won't be a home left here
Nearly all the delegations ieaVe some
little thing as reminders of their visit. one
large delegation from an OHIO town, evil
IDENTIFY candy makers, left an enormous
stick Of candy. 1t was as tai dS d good
sized boy and as large around as a stove
IA delegation from Kentucky presented
Major Mckinley little brown jugs Which
they carried with them on their trip. one
lug larger than the others, contained a
gallon of Bourbon whisky that was said to
be fifty years old. Another delegauon from
the same State left on the 'front.' porch q
bundle of tobacco leaves tied together with
yellow ribbon. The tobacco was pronounced
to be the finest ever grown IN hehtucky. L
sat for a while upon the now famous stump
of a tree presented by a delegation from
Tennessee. 1t was beautifully poilshed and
was mounted on rollers in order that 1t
could be moved about
Major Mckinley had not been able TO make
speeches from Ii. Another gilt whlch Mrs:
Mckinley priced highly was a beautiful
gold vase presented by a delegation of sill
versmiths. who had made II py working
extra hours.
tn receive all but the largest delegations in
side the house. but this had to be aban-
doned, as the furniture was quickly giving
way under the strain TO which 1t was sub
iecfed- In the closing days of the cam
paign only the leaders of the delegations
we're invited inside the house, while the
great body remained on the lawn and were
addressed from the porch.
las is well known. Mrs. Mckinney IS an
invalid. She, however. takes the most live
ly interest in the campaign, ana from a
seat Just inside the front door she has lis
tened to every speech made by her nus
band and at the same time giving him the
encouragement OF her presence and sym
pathy.
The home life of the couple is remark
able. for the watchfulness and care or the
invalid wife for her husband an0 the ten
derness and affection shown by the husband
for the wife. His devotion to his wife Is
apparent to every one who visits the mouse.
and IL Is shown to so simple and spon-
taneous a manner that his harshest critics
could not charge him of posing for effect
Overlooked.