The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-20
M'KNlLEY'S HOME
LIFE IS IDEAL
Drief Glimpse at The Domestic Affairs Of
The Next President :
WHERE CONFINEMENT IS ENrnRONED
The Ex.Governor's Working Room,
His Library and Household Ways.
DAYS Filled with Steady Work
and Brightcned with Cordial Hos.
pitality.
rom the Buffalo Express.

pitalitv.
From the Buffalo Express.
The home at Canton to which Mr..
and Mrs. Mckinley returned after the
expiration Of the governors term Is full
Of associations for them as well as
their friends. 1t was here that the
young attorney and his bride-Miss Ida
Saxton, a bankers daughter, and one
Of the bellies Of the town-first went to
housekeeping, and in this house the two
little daughters were born and died
Ida In infancy and Kate when she had
reached the age about four years. To
these bereavements, together with that
caused by the death of her father,
which occurred Just previous to the
birth Of her second child, must be at
tributed the invalidism of Mrs. Mckin-
ley, who was so completely overcome
by her sense of loss that she never re-
gained perfect health. Mr.. and Mrs.
Mckinley left their own home and they
did not again reside there until they re-
turned from Columbus last January.
The house Is not a pretentious one,
but the thought suggests itself that 1t
must have seemed an ideal home to
the young Cantonian when he took pos
session Of it 25 years ago. 1t is a many
gabled affair, exemplifying no particu-
lar style Of architecture, and sets well
back from the street, surrounded by
trees and shrubbery. Across the front
of the house Is q vine covered veranda,
which is approached by a broad flag
stone walk.
The most interesting room in the
house is the eX-governor's office i'm
mediately on the right of the hall which
extends down the center of the house.
1t is q medium-sized room decorated
In rather somber colors, but with sew
eral large windows which command a
fine view Of the street. The walls are
pretty well covered with pictures;
among others etchings Of President
Lincoln and Grant. a fine picture of
Gen. Gibson, an autograph photograph
Of William L. Gladstone. large etch-
ing showing the First regiment, Ohio
Light Artillery, In action and large pho
tographs OF the governors staff. Then
there are souvenirs Of the majors army
experience, an autograph copy of the
song America" and the mantel Is
covered with more photographs. At
the rear of the room Is the exgover-
nOr's desk-of the ordinary roll-top pat
tern-and by his side Is q capacious
waste basket. Within easy reach is q
large revolving bookcase filled with a
we'll selected collection of books, most
of them works of reference.
In the rear of the library is the din
- ing-room, and on the opposite side Of
the hall Is the double drawing ROOM
Near the front Of this room Is large
bow window and 1t was in this alcove,
bedecked for the occasion with q pro-
fusion of smilaX and carnations, that
Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley received the
1000 guests who on February 5th at
tended the reception which the ey-gov-
ernor and his wife gave as a "house
warming" and at the same time a cele-
bration Of the twenty-flfth anniversary
Of their wedding.
The second floor Is reached by broad
stairway ascending from the hall and
the rooms. which are fairly large and
well lighted, are furnished in the sim
pie style but with the same excellent
taste that is so noticeable everywhere
about the house.
DAILY PROGRAMME.
Notwithstanding his manifold duties,
Mr. McKinley's daily programme is a
very simple one. He rises early and
breakfast is served about 7.45 o'clock
While at breakfast the major re-
fNync NHn tnr NIB tet
in the neighboring cities, and he
glances through them and then re-
pairs to his library, where the first de-
livery of mail has meanwhile arrived.
From that tirre until nearly II o'clock
Mr.. Mckinley works very hard. In the
first place, there come to the house
daily no less than $50 papers. and mas
much as the ex-governor has always
been great newspaper reader, he likes
to glance over as many Of them as pos
sible. Then there are fully that num-
ber OF letters. AS many as possible are
turned over to the attention Of his pri-
vate secretary, James Boyle, who with
a stenOgrapher occupies quarters on the
second floor.
Mr.. Boyle Is an ex-newspaper man.
''.'o "e>o WI Ah AIh6iu uul CdIlc "
this country and worked, first on the
St. Louis Globe Democrat and after.
ward on the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette. He understands the majors
wishes very perfectly, and is able to re-
lieve him Of an immense amount OF
work.
Such Of the letters as demand Mr.
McKinley's personal attention are die.
tated to his own stenographer AS any
person who has heard him speak may
imagine, 1t is not difficult to take his
dictation. AS he talks to his stenog.
rapher he is apt to walk slowly up and
down the room or stand with his frock
coat loosened and one hand thrust into
his trousers pocket.
At II o'clock II the weather be pleas.
ant Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley go for thell
daily drive. Before returning they
usually call on Mr.. McKinley's mother
and sometimes they stop at Mrs. Nc.
Kinley's old home, for although the
Saxton residence Is now occupied by
another family, the ex-governor still
has room there, in which are stored 6
number Of copies of the Congressional