Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-01-23
STORY OF MRS. DIMMICK.

STORY OF MRS. DIMMICK.
In Washington special to the Phila-
delphia Record, published on Monday,
it was said that General Harrison's
children were bitterly opposed to their
fathers marriage to Mrs. Dimmick.
The New York World supplemented
the Records news with the following
story:
The trouble over Mrs. Dimmick real
iy began before Harrison's election.
During the excitement of the campaign
in 1883, Mrs. Harrison, at the sugges-
tion Of her sister, Mrs. Scott.Lord, invit-
ed her niece, Mrs. Dimmick, to Indian
apolis. Mrs. Dimmick, it is said, was
in very low spirits at the time, and the
idea was that the life and excitement
there would divert her mind and i'm
prove her health. Mrs Dimmick at
once began to take very active part in
the Harrison family affairs. Her in
auence over General Harrison quickly
became very strong. After some months
and before the family went to Wash
ington, Mrs. Harrison discussed with
an intimate friend the best way of get
ting Mrs. Dimmick out of the family.
When the family was settled in the
White House matters became con-
stantly more difficult. Mrs. Dim
mick gained steadily more inAu-
ence over the President in family
matters. Mrs. Harrison suffered
what she considered were indignities.
Mrs. Mckee and Russell Harrison sided
| with their mother. The President stub
bornly insisted that they were foolishly
and causelessly jealous.
Mrs. Dimmick's mother died, and the
restrictions of the mourning period de-
| prived her of outside companionship
and threw her more than ever into the
company Of the President. Finally
Mrs. Dimmick was given to understand,
through relative, that her continued
resi6 ence in the White House YVES un
welcome to Mrs. Harrison. She appeal
ed to the President, and he refused to
consent to her departure under such
circumstances.
The quarrel between the President
and Mrs. Harrison became critical.
| That it did not become public was due
! TO her own good sense and the efforts
of her son and daughter, who were
borrifed at the prospect of white
House scandal" Matters were ad.
justed somehow, but there continued to
be unpleasant friction until Mrs. Harri-
sons final illness began. Mrs. Dimmick
was installed by the President AS nurse.
Between her and Mrs. Mckee, who also
lived at the White House, there was
! . state Of armed neutrality until the
death of Mrs. Harrison ended the
strain.
Mrs. Harrison had endeavored, DUR
ing her illness, to bring about g pleas
anter state of affairs in the family, and
for time her work seemed to be sue
cessful. 1t is understood that one basis
of the compromise was that no such
event, as that about to take place, would
be considered. Mrs. Dimmick con-
tinued to live in the White House.
After the Presidents term ended Mrs.
Mckee returned to Indianapolis to pre-
pare her fathers home for his perma-
nept residence. Mrs. Dimmick quickly
appeared. As soon as she could, with
out attracting comment, Mrs. Mckee
left, and she and her husband have
since made their home elsewhere.
Last summer MIR. Harrison took a
cottage in the Adirondacks, and asked
Mrs. Mckee to live with him there. She
consented, aud Mrs. Dimmick prompt
ly appeared IS guest. There was
more armed neutrality, but no open
break. MIR. Harrison, who for some
time after his wife's death kept aloof
from Mrs. Dimmick's influence, has re-
Gently been obviously yielding to it
again, and his children have realized
for some time the imminence of the
step he has announced that he is about
TO take.
They have not recognized Mrs. Dim
mick in any way, and when meeting
her in society Mrs. Mckee has avoid
ed greeting. They still have hopes,
it is said, that the match be broken of.
The wedding, it is announced, has
been postponed until April instead Of
taking place at once, as was wished by
Mr.. Harrison. This postponement is
believed to have been made in defer
ence to his children's wishes.
1t is understood that MIR. Harrison
feels very deeply the break in his fami-
ly relations, and would sacrifice much
to avert it. He is especially fond of
"Baby McKee," and his other grand
children, and misses no occasion to be
with them when he is in New York.
He insists, however, that his children's
opposition to his marriage is unreason-
able, and, strong in his affection for his
intended wife, will carry his plans
through to the end.
Mrs. Mckee is known to have brok-
en- greatly in health recently, and her
friends assert that her failingi is due to
worry over family troubles.
Ayers Hair Vigo- is certainly romark-
able preparation and nothing like it has ever
been produced. No matter how wiry and
unmanageable the hair may be, under the in.
tinence of this Incompatible dressing, it be-