The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-06-12

dents Wife.
washington. June 11.-From the soci-
ETY. point of view the presidential ticket
that is now interesting the Washington
public is Mckinley and Mrs. Mckinley.
Those who arrange for party victory
think ticket as made up Of a presi-
dental candidate and some reputable
citizen Of a doubtful state for second
place; the campaign orator thinks OF the
ticket as a presidential candidate and
some great issue, like the slogan ''Tilden
and Reform" or Mckinley and Protec-
ton" But from a certain point of
view, not without bearing on our coun-
try's history. as well as affecting the
social order Of things, the ticket is look
ed upon as the presidential candidate
and his wife. Upon the first lady of the
land devolve those duties of social lead
ership in this capital that cannot with
propriety be delegated to anybody else.
Our Jeffersonian simplicity still survives
30 the extent that there are no duly ap-
pointed officers to attend sofficial func-
tons, as in some Of the monarchies, and
so the great responsibility of making
the first lead falls upon whoever hap
pens to be the wife of the president Of
the United States
BEAUTIFUL HOME LIFE.
Since everybody now believes that
nothing less than an attack of pneu-
monia can prevent Major Mckinley
from assuming the duties of the presi-
dency on the 4th of next March atten-
ton is naturally directed to the incom-
ing first lady Of the land. Unfortunate
ly Mrs. McKinfey's health will be q Sc
rious obstacle 10 her carrying out those
plans ordinarily undertaken by the wife
Of the presidnet. For years she has
suffered from an incurable nervous
disease, and while at times she is able
10 travel about and go TO the theatre,
little dependence can be placed upon
the continuance OF her good health, and
so she grows, with the years, more and
more averse 10 social prominence While
from many points Of view this affiiction
is deeply to be regretted, 1t has brought
out one OF the pleasantest sides of Nc
Ktnley's character. For years the care
and tenderness and solicitude with
which he guards his frail companion
have been among Washington's most
delightful traditions. Said a Demo-
craic congressman, who occupied a seat
beside him in the house a dozen years
ago, Mckinley is q splendid fellow,
pleasant, agreeable, oompanionable, and
a lovable man. And he takes, too. such
good care of his wife. who is q great in
valid and a severe sufferer; why. Nc
Kinley nurses her like a lover, and every
body who knows the Mckinley home
life cannot but admirer the governor"
On the 25th OF last January the Nc
Kfnleys celebrated I'm their Canton
home the twenty-fffth anniversary of
their marriage. And, too. they were liv-
ing in the same house where they began
life quarter Of a century before. When
Major Mckinley came back from the
war and completed his course of law
study he decided to hang out his shingle
IN Canton, O.. then having a population
of barely 5000. The place was settled
mostly by Pennsylvania Dutch and by
Germans from the old country, and
many of its inhabitants did not speak
English. The little town of Poland. In
which Mckinley had been brought I'D.
had but one street. running through
the middle of the town, and so TO the
young attorney, going to Canton must
have looked like big move. This was
in 1867, and he was "a years old. One OF
the leading men whom the young law
yer found fn Canton was James A. Sax
ton. a banker and capitalist, and TO a |
daughter-Miss Ida Saxton-MeKinIey |
became engaged.
MKINLEY FAMILY.
Miss SaXton had enjoyed exceptional |
advantages, having been educated. first |
at Cleveland and later at Media, Pa. in /
the Brook Hall Seminary, then under |
the charge of a Miss Eastman. some /
what celebrated as an educator. In |
S69 Miss Saxton and a sister. now Mrs. |
Barber Of Canton, o., made a trip /
Europe with a party of friends, |
and some time after her return 10 Amer
lea she was married. in 1871, to William |
Mckinley, Jr. The ceremony took place /
in the quaint old Presbyterian church. |
built almost entirely at the expense Of |
the brides grandmother. The wedding
was the greatest social event that had |
ever taken place within its walls, and |
although Miss Saxton had been a mem
Der OF the church, immediately after her
she became a communicate OF
the Methodist church. of which denonli- +
nation Mr.. Mckinley had been a fol-
lower since his 10th year. It IS also in
teresting TO add that the pastor of the
little Methodist church in Poland. with
which Mckinley became connected. was
the Rev. W. F. Day. whose son. Wilson
NJ. Day. IS now president OF the Cham
Der of commerce in Cleveland. O.. and,
II may be presumed, a strong Mckinley
man.
To Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley were born
two daughters, named Kate and Ida.
both of whom died early. the eldest
nearly years. After the loss
Of their children the McKinieys left
their home in bereavement and went for
a time to the cheerful mouse that had |
been Mrs McKiniey's home in her girl
hood. There they lived till McKlnley's
departure for Washington to take a seat
IN the Forty-fifth congress. Mrs. Nc
Kinley was considered very beautiful as
a young woman. but care and sickness
and bereavement hsveleft thsir indelible
traces. Her thick brown hair Is now cut
close for greater comfort, and clusters
over her white forehead IN short locks
Major McKiniey'z mother IS sjill iiv-
ng. but his father died q few years ago.
which event. il viii toe remembered. oc-
,asioned some confusion as 10 whether
should al once drop the "Jr"
which had previously formed so i'm
portant a part Of his official signature.
and v-slsIhe name by which be had been
elected governor. He was. moreover.
oaSh 70 lose the sufhX distins gushing
him from his father. and for a long
time preferred TO be addressed as VIII
am Mckinley. Jr. The abbreviations
lf campaign viii doubtless forever
afface this title.
FATHER AND MOTHER
The elder Mckinleys had pretty we'll
exhausted the list of names before they
yave 10 one OF their children 3 cognomen
,
he name OF their children. in order:
"a I'd Allisnr Arn... lN-lln .siaa Irrs,- % .