Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-07-19

NO matter W1dG tne patcOlAC oi Oal9 campaign may be, for my own part would rather live here in my little home in Canton than in the white house, where I know he must sacrifice me to his duty. But she added, smiling wistfully, q will put no obstacle in his way; I will do the little which may lay in my power to encourage and strength en him in the battle which now lies be- fore him."
 To many a woman such a statement might seem like cant. Few wonder, dare say, but twho would give up all rest fulness and quiet to become the first lady of the land, but what Mrs. McK'n- ley uttered was uttered with d sincerity that admitted of no doubt as to her perfect truthfulness. Perhaps if you or I had been an invalid with only one thing on earth to live for, and that hus- bands love, we might more fully and en- tirely appreciate the sentiments of the sad-faced little woman. No doubt she feels ambitious, but not as younger or more vigorous woman feels it. I think 1 gan say with perfect truth that there is no self-ambition ill her heart. The only ambition that lies there is an am bition for the man whom she almost idolizes.
 And then she went on in that quiet, wistful way which sometimes made me turn my head aside and gaze out upon the trees and the flowers and the green lawn when sine spoke: You may not understand how a woman would feel about these things. She sympathizes with her husband and she realizes in measure what it all is and yet she cannot come to a complete understanding of what politics really are; nor can she see in her woman's way why when a man runs for some great political office he must necessarily be accused not only of downright corruption, but of mental in capacity and moral insincerity. I pre- sume that I ought to be used to all that by this time, but I am not" she said. ''I am used to it in this way that l am grown wise, for seldom, if ever, read the newspapers and if do read them l take great care to select only such pa- pers as 1 know are in sympathy with my husbands ambition.
 If it should happen in the game of chance that the major"-she always calls him the major, everybody in Can ton does. to Ee sure-''shou1d be chosen president of the United States, 1 would give up the joys and the privacy which l have experienced in this little home dur ing the past year because it is my duty to do so. l would pack up my few things and move to Washington again and take up the life which destiny may have called upon me to live. I would not be able"-and there was q break in her voice as she said this-"to perform many of the duties which are in the pro vince of the mistress of the white house, but in my own way I would do what my strength allowed me to do. 1t tWould not be proper for me at this time to even dis cuss, it seems to me, the possibility of my becoming the wife of the president. Fortune is fiellle and politics uncertain and if it should so happen ttat the 4th day of next November sees the ma jor elected to that exalted office, it would be ample time for me to learn what it is the wife of the president must do.
 T am not an old woman," said Mrs Mckinley, suddenly. But I have suf- fered, and I cannot tell you how grate- ful I was when the majors term of office expired and came back here to Canton expecting and believing that long life of uninterrupted quiet was before me. 1 will not say that regret this sudden change, and yet somehow 1 wish that my neighbors and my dear old friends would look upon me as Ida Saxton again and not as the wife of 8 man who may some day be president. They are all kind and good and sweet, and yet somehow I feel as if the con spieuousness of our position before the l world to-day makes them more deferen- tial and less confidential than they were before this convention at St. LouiS may be wrong, 1 probably am wrong, for I know and I believe that there is not a man, woman or child in Canton who would wound me or wound my feelings for anything in the wide world l know that they like me because I have always been one of them. They have been part of my life and part of theirs. We were playmates, school mates and companions for years, and it seems to me as if I know every man, woman and child in this community. and think that every man, woman and child knows me, and I am sure that there is a bond of affection between us which nothing can change; and yet this impression that gulf, undefned and yet sometimes distinct, has come between us, will not down and there are moments when it affects me un- pleasantly.
 "There is little about mys life" con- tinued Mrs. Mckinley, more cheerfully, which would interest you. It has not been like the lives of most of the wives of public men owing to the feeble state of my hanlth I hava not I,aa,, ,l,1o