Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-11-10

complaining md intensely loving soul
at his side-Eis wife Ida Major Nc
kiI ey's respect, his admiration for
and his belief in woman is part of his
creed, and for her advancer- 1T, her
education, her protection in labor, her
wages as bread winner, which he,
like all just men, holds should be the
same as mans when the same amount
of work is equally we'll done, and for
the sanctity of her home is an earnest
advocate. But his sentiments towards
the sex have never been better ex-
pressed than in his response TO the adj
dress ne received on behalf of the
women of Cleveland last July, in the
course OF which he said:
at is in the quiet and peaceful walks
of life where her power is greatest and
most beneficial One of the tenderest
passages TO me in the works of John
Stuart Mills beautifully expresses this
thought 1t is recorded in his autobi-
Ography, when he paused to pay high
and deserved tribute to his wife, OF
whom he could not speak too much
he said: She was not only the author
of many of the best things | did, but
she inspired every good thing | did,
Every one knew who the major had
in mind at that moment, and 1t recall
ed little incident that perfectly Illus
trates the life in that home upon which
the eyes of the world are Just no"
fixed with intense interest.
1t was about the time OF the silver
wedding, on the night which w
also a sort of ouse-warming, 81 wh.c"
the major and his wife welcomed thc-i
old friends into the same modest AID
CHEEKY home in which they began
housekeeping twenty-five years ago.
Everybody enjoyed then elves i'm
mensely, for real hospitality reigned
and the guests were tempted to stay
late. But at last the final merry fare
we'll had been said, the 'ging of the
sleighbells and the crunching feet
in the crisp snow outside had died
away, and there reigned that sudden
silence that follows a festivity ended.
The major strobe to the open hearth
and glanced over the Chez room
with it's wreaths of holly ana family
pictures in their Christmas garlands of
green, at the baskets and jars of beau
tiful flowers that had come from all
over Ohio, at the great flags, which.
soldier-like. he will have draped from
the windows and piano. Then he
looked at his wife; there was love and
pride in his eyes, and in tone OF al
most boyish satisfaction. he said:
well, we did have good time to-
night, didn't we. dear?"
Mrs. Mckinley leaned back against
the dark red cushions. She was in her
wedding gown of ivory satin and point
lace. the very same gown and lace that
she stood up in" and looked fair
woman indeed. Always pale, her COM
plexion seemed transparent, and only
the color in her lips. the depth in her
eyes and thick soft waves oil hair, sug-
gested any latent strength. Above all,
she looked thoroughly happy, and that
does more for a womans looks than
cosmetics. clothes or even, some say,
clear conscience. She answered her
husband with glance and single
endearing word. 1t was all so natural,
and so comforting TO see two people, in
this world full of married misery, so
completely satisfied with each other
that an aspiring young novelist who
had been overdosed on Ibsen, Nordau,
ct al. and who still fingered, said,
wishfully, II wish l could put You and
Mrs. Mckinley in a book, Major"
BLESS your soul. my dear boy" an
swered the Major, there is nothing in
the world to be said about us. We are