The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22
THE M'KINLEY WOMEN
GOSSIP CONCERNING THE WHITE
HOUSE LADIEs-ELECT.
Noble Traits OF the Wife of the Ohio
yfcfor-Others Who VIII Take Part
in the Social Functions.
New York Journal.


American people-one which precedes the
advent OF every new administration to the
White House. 1t is a question upon the
answering of which a multitude of Ameri-
cans, and no small proportion OF them
men. spend a deal of thought and talk.
When the Cleveland menage, I'm March
next. turns its back upon the White House
for the last time, whose will be the new
faces at the door? Whom will the new
President and his wife bring in their train
to share their residence in the mansion
that has harbored so many executive fam
flies? Who will figure as ladies Of the
administration for the four years TO
come. in the reception OF foreign princes
and potentates and in other White House
functions? To a great part of the Ameri-
can people these questions are paramount
with the making of President-elect Nc
Kinleys Cabinet. They are questions
which. alphabetically put, began to harass
some people as soon the nomination of
Major Mckinley was heralded.
Long before the st. Louis convention, in
fact. public attention was challenged by
statements that Mrs. Mckinley had for
many years been in feeble health and was
I'm no wise equal to the performance of the
social tasks which must fall 10 the lot of
the first lady OF the land. There were, in
deed. opponents OF Mckinley who were mar
row enough recount this among the ar
guments against his election.
The history Of the trying campaign just
ended, so far as it bears upon the ques-
ton, puts such tales at rest, and gives
guarantee that she will be, in fact as in
name, mistress of the White House. and
that she will administer its offices herself
The manner in which she withstood the
"a
multitudinouS receptions and interminable
Misunderstanding. Is eloquent of a vast amount
of reserve strength. Add to the actual
physical strain the worry of uncertainty.
aggravated by the fact that she is, perhaps
more than most women. wrapped up In
she has shown is little short of marvellous.
MRS. MKINLEY'S FUTURE.
Viewed from the standpoint of social and
Intellectual fitness. there probably never
was a woman called to reign over the
White House who went to its difficult duties
with a more thorough equipment than hers.
In the first place. she is woman of charm
ing presence and distinguished personal ap-
pearance. The home in which her girlhoOd
was passed was one Of great wealth and re-
finement, frequented by the most dis
tinguished people of the time. Her educa-
ton was of that thorough order which re-
suits in true cultivation, not in mere veneer.
Endowed with force and breadth or char
acter almost masculine, she took control,
when a mere girl, of her fathers large
business interests. when the emergency re-
CURED a clear head and prompt nand-
But maintaining always a fine woman
illness, she is. to every one who has ever
known her. type of the best American
wOmanhOOd.
Mrs Mckinley is no stranger to the
White House. During the administration
of President Hayes she was perhaps the
warmest friend OF the sterling woman VINO
then presided at state dinners, and amazed
the world by her independence IN barring
tendance of Mrs Mckinley at the White
House will. in all likelihood, not be unin-
terrupted, for she declares she can never
have any home but Canton and a consid-
cradle portion of her time will probably be
There is one feature of the life of the
McKinleys, which the chroniclers of the
chapter which, however, is an old though
always touching story to dwellers In Can
and his wife to each other is we'll known.
In the cemetery on the outskirts or the
town there is a small burial plot wherein
three little graves. 1t differs in no par
ticuiar respect from others about II. The
casual passerby would pay no especial heed
fame came knocking at his door, William
Mckinley and his wife buried hope. The
three little headstones mark the graves of
their children. and every day, all the long
years through, Mrs. Mckinley has gone to
the lonely graveyard and laid fresh flowers
is I'm Canton they make the daily pilgrim
age together. Since those graves were
made there has dwelt In Mrs. Mckinley
heart and been manifest IN her life great
wCmanly kindness toward all the world
and a sweetness mat can only come Of sor-
GRANDMA M'KINLEY.
A notable figure in the group of White
House women, too. will be the venerable
mother, from whom. the phys ,ogomists de-
clare, the President-elect has inherited his
strongest traits of face and character.
Though now nearly ninety years of age,
Grandma Mckinley" all Canton knows
her, rejoices in the hope that she may live
to make the journey TO Washington and
see her son take the oath OF his distin-
guished Office, Grandma Mckinley" is. for
her years. a most striking, personality.
and the picture she will make, with her
silver hair and ume-furrowed face, sitting
I'm the seat of honor in the White House
will be worth going miles 10 see.
There is no more devoted daughter in the
land than Miss Helen Mckinley, sister of
the President-eIect. She devotes her life to
the care OF her mother and the old lady
sttendance and aid Miss MeKinIey. who
was for several years a teacher. is a woman
OF great refinement and-o learning withal.
but is to singular degree retiring and
averse to publicity. To her the newspaper
fame which has come to the family-a fame
which IS too minute TO consist with her
Gisagreeable feature of her brothers eleva-
ton 10 the presidency. Her personal APP
. pearance Is in keeping with her nature. She
Is petite precise, quiet and retiring TO de-
gree, but TO those who know her a most add
mirable and lovable woman.
In addition TO the care and devotion
which she lavishes upon her mother. Miss
Mckinley bis had charge of the education
OF her niece. Miss Grace Mckinley. the
orphaned daughter of Major Mckinley s
brother James. This young lxD. who is
now in college at Mount Holyoke. is des-
tined 10 be one of the brightest and most
particular stars among the White House
women. Nature cast her in a liberal mold.
She Is tall, OF magnificent figure. though
she Is only girl of eighteen, and with a
disposition and mind of the same fine order.
she has superb carriage. and such a COM
plexfon as one reads about. In her face
and in her mental makeup as well. are
plainly discernible the strong features
with which Grandmother Mckinley has en-
lowed all her children and grandchildren.
Major. though, instead Of the dark COM
plexion and hair, she has brown hair and
blue eyes and Is fair and rosy.
THE MKINLEY COUSINS.
Her chum I'm Mount HoIyoke Is her
cousin. Miss Mary Barber, who Will be an
other of the group OF young people at the
White House. In appearance Miss Barber
is almost the exact opposite of her cousin.
She is slight. dark and very pretty withal
and in manner as winsome a maid as Won
would meet in a days journey.
The chums at Mount Holyoke were also
chums at Pennington. Conn. where they
previously attended school. and the com
nonsense education that is dealt ont NJ
nj a IL n anr1Ffr 81