The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-04-05

forth. Day and night she was at hi.
| bedside, but the dread disease was re-
| lentless, and on Jan. IS. 1882, three
months after marriage, Walter Dim.
mick died. The body was taken &c
Honesdale, Pa, for interment, accom-.
panied by a number of friends and
classmates at Yale.
Nearly heartbroken. the young widow
returned 10 her mother. who was then
| living in Washington. Mrs. Dimmick's
| husband left her a good deal of prop-
erty, but much of this is said to have
been lost by unfortunate real estate
purchases near Washington. Never
/ theless, she retained sufficient to fur
nish her an income by means of which
she has been enabled to live in moder-
ate luxury.
The deep mourning into which the
| girl bride was plunged by the death of
her husband was the commencement of
what seemed to be almost an endless
period OF sorrow. for shortly after this
occurrence her only brother died, and
then. I'm 1889. came the death of her
mother. Mrs. Lord. followed, three
years later. by the death of her aunt,
Mrs. Harrison.
The house, in Twelfth street, WASH
ington, where Mrs. Lord, Mrs DIM
mick and Mrs. Dimmick's grandfather
DR.. Scott, lived was modest and quiet,
but was always happy by the inde-
fatigable cheerfulness of mother and
daughter, who bore with patience and
even smiles the sorrows which bur-
dened them. Occasionally Mrs. Lord s
other daughter, Mrs. Parker, and her
husband, Lieutenant Parker, would
visit them, and while their home was
never the place for formal social func-
lions their natural aptitudes for So
ciety kept this charming family con-
stantly in touch with the best people of
the city.
And now we come to the most inter-
esting part of this history-that which
pertains to the beginning of the
friendly association of the two distin-
guished principals in the forthcoming
ceremonial, an association which, in the
course of time, assumed the Importance
of a function indispensable to their
happiness.
Up to the year 1888 Mrs. Dimmick
had only such acquaintance with her
uncle-in-law as was derivable from oc-
casional visits to his family in Indian
apolis, and Mr.. Harrison, a proverbi-
ally busy man, had but little time to
devote to relatives of his family, except
in a general way. He had always a
very high opinion of his wife's niece,
but his knowledge of her was slight.
At his time, however, learning that
Mrs. Dimmick's health was not so ro-
bust as it should have been, Mrs. Har-
rison invited her to come and spend
some time with her. arguing that the
excitement of the presidential cam
paign, which, very naturally, absorbed
the entire interest of the Harrison fam
lily, would divert her mind and improve
her health.
Mrs. Dimmick accepted the invitation
and Mrs Harrison's prophecy proved
true. Her health improved rapidly, her
interest in the election of Mr.. Harrison
grew intense, and this excitement
brought the color of permanent health
to her cheeks.
Both Mr.. and Mrs. Harrison were de-
lighted with her, and she soon became
a prime favorite with the whole fam
lily. When Mr.. Harrison was elected |
and it became necessary to go to Wash |
ington, Mrs. DimmicK accompanied the |
family, and. by special invitation of |
Mrs. Harrison, took up her abode at |
the White House. Here her services to |
her aunt were invaluable. She had |
such grace and tact that much of the |
weight of social responsibility was |
lifted from Mrs. Harrison's shoulders, |
and Washington society rang with |
praise of her and the benignant ease |
and effectiveness with which she as |
sisted her aunt at all laborious social |
functions.
After the death of Mrs. Lord, which |
occurred soon after the Inaugural ton |
Of President Harrison, Mrs. Harrison
took her father home to the White
House, and, at her request, Mrs. Dim
mick continued to make ii her home as
well.
1t was while harried with the cares of
office and the perpetual opportunities OF
aspiring politicians that President Har-
rison began to find comfort in the rest
tntxr 90 til |
good comradeship that had grown up
between himself and his wife's niece.
Mrs. Harrison, always the faithful
housewife, from the time she used to
cook dinner for the young LAWYER at
North Bend, Ind, was kept perpetually
busy with the management of the es-
adjustment. Mrs. Mckee was, in her
way, a comfort to her father, but she
was averse to exercise, and the presi-
lent enjoyed long walks. So did Mrs.
Dimmick. She was a good walker and
used to playfully challenge the chief
to all sorts of trials of speed
Ind endurance. These challenges were
always accepted at once, and away
.hese two went, like school children.
THEY WERE GOOD COMRADES.
OF course their regard for each other
vas now nothing more than good fell
owship, yet IL was enjoyed by them to
he full. and. without in the least sus-
Decting IL. they were laying the founda-
ion for the serious compact which is
% bind them together for life, and II
s a matter of fact that never since
hat time has there been the slightest
Freak i'm their close friendship.
Mrs. Dimmick accompanied the presi-
lent's party when Mr.. Harrison made
his memorable tour of the country,
Ind IL was she who invariably stood
reside him on the rear platform of the
ar from which he addressed the multi
ude of his countrymen who came out
o greet him. In this connection, and
Is a notable instance of the truth OF |
he assertion that Mrs. Dimmick re-
aims to-day all the jaunty, fun loving
,f,-If % har. oh fpof1ant - |