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

climb the steps together. The day has
begun!
Mrs. Mckinley enters her own coy
sitting-room, and takes her faNorite
chair in the sunny window, to look
over her mail, which is brought in on
a large tray. She reads all the letters
with patient attention, and in number
they are legion. Sometimes she smiles,
tut oftener signs. Then again her face
grows radiant as she finds greetings
from old friends or that some little act
OF kindness on her own part has been
Of real help. Many of the people who
write for assistance seem to be under
The impression that the nomination
was an election and beg for immediate
Office or position; others are evidently
under the impression that the nomina-
ton brought wealth and ask for sums
ranging from SIS 10 $4,000 in cash.
Every day brings application for stew
ardship at the white house. Indeed,
one would think that all the colored
walters who have stood behind the
majors chair in the Washington hotels
had made application, and as 10 chefs,
maids and coachmen, the woods nrc
simply full OF them. Then there are
widows with startlingly large families
and mo strong arm TO lean on who
beg for capital TO start boarding houses
and anxious mothers who want intern
perate sons TO take the gold cure.
Mrs. Mckinley herself is never to be
seen without n badge of her husband
pinned To her corsagc. Her favorite Is
On oval pendant, containing an excel
lent likeness framed in gold, and sus-
pended from n slender bar OF the same
metal. She always carries about her
miniature letter case, in which is pic
ture OF the major, taken many years
ago, and another OF the fair little Katie,
whose portrait smiles down from the
wall in almost every room In the house.
In her dress, Mrs. Mckinley shows
both taste and simplicity. She has very
fine diamonds and laces that beautify
and refine any costume and were given
TO her by her indulgent father. Many
OF the laces she was allowed TO choose
for herself when she went abroad as
a young girl, and quantity Of ex.
quisite point that she bought at the
time she afterward used on her wedding
gown. The gown, by the way, she was
able to wear, with slight alterations,
at the silver wedding celebration OF last
January.
IL is not often That a silver wedding
Is so really beautiful and sacred anni-
,ersary as in this instance, and Ida
Saxton, the lovely maiden in her bridal
robes of white, with youth, health,
wealth, and the man of her choice az
laer side, was not half so inspiring and
rare n figure 10 contemplate as Is to-
day Ida Mckinley, the frail, delicate
and yet lovely woman, whose heart has
been torn by the most cruel bereaye-
ments, and whose physical strength has
been shattered by her Affections, yet
who in the happiness she has conferred
and received in this quarter OF cen
fury, has been blessed above other
women.
10 has often been said that tho women
OF this country, IL IL were left 10 them.
would elect Maj. Mckinley by an
overwhelming majority. If IL we've
only to snow tlelr appreciation or tic
perfection Of his character as n man
and as husband. A certain cynic
says this ~ not so much an indorse.
ment OF the major "a criticism IL
his sex at large. This Ia hardly just
remark. A man may be faithful 10 hia
wife, especially II he has n regard for
his reputation. without making her hap
by, and except for the consciousness OF
virtue on bis own part, without being
happy himself. Or he may adhere rigid
ly TO the very letter OF his marriage
vows, but in the spirit be grossly UNI
faithful and in the flesh stick n thou
sand darts into the sensitive heart Mt his
side.
Maj. McKinley's attitude towards his
wife IL far above and beyond all this
~ he had married a trump OF n vixen
he never would have been anything but !
kind and generous. IL IL not I'm him:
hut having married the woman of his
hearts and being man who quite knew
his own mind. all the misfortuncs that
came to his beloved but bound him
moro closely to her, and the greater