The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-02-13
A PRIVATE CITIZEN.
Ex-Governor Mckinley One in
the Fullest Sense.
Impressions of Him Gathered
by a Newspaper Man.
Gar Reeds Portrait and Its
Conspicuous Position.

The Interesting Relics One Sees in a
Visit to the New Home-A Man Who
Finds Very Little Time for Any But
Hasty Reading.
Ex-Governor Mckinley seems very
much of private citizen indeed, accord
ing to the impressions Of Massillon In
dependent reporter. Since his return from
Columbus he has been trying to get alon g
without secretary, but his immense
mail has already compelled him to en-
ploy a stonographer, and he succeeds in
busying himself constantly with his let
ters and papers. The tasteful residence
he occupies is Mecca to which never
ceasing throng Of visitors resort, and he
receives eve ybody without distinction or
formality.
His library Is at the right Of the hall,
step or two from the entrance, and the
visitor is struck at once by the full moon
face Of that other great republican,
Thomas Brackett Reed. A large photo
graph of the White Czar of the House oc-
cupies the most conspicuous place on the
mantle Pictures of Grant, Judge
Nathan Goff, Gladstone, Edward Tifiin,
the first governor of Ohio: Mrs. MoKin-
ley, and the officers of the Mckinley adj
ministration- occupy positions on the four
walls.
Then there are all sorts of souvenirs
gathered up from everywhere An auto
graph copy of America" written in the
spencerian hand Of DIR. Smith, is care
fully framed and highly valued. A gavel
made of wood, taken from a counter be-
hind which Grant ofIiciated in Rockford,
ILL.,, hangs in another place. A broom,
typical Of the clean sweep of the republi-
can party, has been contributed by en-
thuslastic followers from the west and
there are hundred odds and ends, the
remembrances Of friends and acquaint-
ances from everywhere
Down at the old Saxtou residence,
where Mr. Mckinley lived when he was
a congressman, he has a Large library
that has not yet been moved, and many
of his personal belongings have not yet
come from Columbus.
IT am hardly yet familiar with the
feeling that l have no official RESPONSE
bilities," said he. "While it was pleas
ant to,be governor questions were con-
stantly arising that required deci sion, so
that the place was not entirely bed of
roses. OF course am busy here, as you
see but experience sense Of great re-
lief.
AN EARLY RISER.
Mr.. Mckinley rises fairly early, at
tends to his correspondence, makes 1t a
point to go driving, and by way Of exer-
else walks down to his mothers resi-
dence. He files away his important let
ters, and being a rapid newspaper reader
absorbs the best of all that is going on,
and the marked articles sent to him, but
keeps no scrap book.
II am sorry" said he, "that did not
begin scrap book collection early in life |
neglected to do so and now l am afraid |
it is too late to begin"
He attempts to scan the current litera.
ture that every man must read more or
less thoroughly and likes good story as
much as anybody
But / d ont get much time to read |
the light matter that should like to-"
he complained. "When l have finished |
my days work 1 am so tired of reading |
that it would be strain to undertake to
do very much for the mere pleasure of it.
have been trying without much success
o'get a chance to read these" said he lat |
the same time handing out one of the
volumes of narrative of American his
5ory woven into the form of romance.
Mr.. Mckinley says that he has few
for public addresses and |
loes not intend TO make any, If he can
possibly avoid it