The herald., 1897-03-21
MRS. M'KINLEY'S FRIEND
A Clever Woman Who Will Be an I'm
portant White House Factor

"A Slldll, pump WOIndu, Will DlB DldCk
eyes, black hair drawn tightly back from
the square forehead, strong white teeth,
a face indicative of will and pertinacity.
manners br-usque and tinged with the
awkwardness of a provincial-such is
the lady who, unless all signs fail, will
be powerful factor in the makeup of
the Mckinley household for the mex.
four years.
Mrs. Heistind is the wife of an army
officer, who will be an attache of the
White House. 1t is not by virtue of her
husbands brass buttons, but by her own
cleverness push and zeal that Mrs. Heis-
tind has made herself indispensable to
the wife of the president, and in getting
close to the throne has elbowed, away
many of Mrs. McKinley's older friends.
Bitterness corrodes the hearts of many
of Cantone we'll known ladies, who, for
years, have been close friends of the Nc
Kinleys, when they see themselves,
showed back and dominated by this
young woman who is a comparatively
new conner in that town.
Mrs. Heistind is today the most inti-
mate personal friend of Mrs. Mckinley
outside her family. So intimate are
these ladies that Mrs. Heistind runs in
the back door of the Mckinley house
without knocking and up the Mckinley
stairs without even coughing to an
nounce her advent. She is sent for to
stay all night when Mrs. Mckinley is
feeling rather worse than usual. She
assisted in packing up the Mckinley
household goods, ran on the Mckinley
errands, and, in short made herself use
full in all fashions and directions.
In her bright scarlet cape ard some
what passe black hat, with her ungloved
fingers encrusted with rings, carrying
parcels, books and papers, she was a
bustling and familiar figure on the
streets of Canton during the last few
days before the McKinleys left for
Washington. At the inauguration cere-
monies and at the ball, respondent In
brocade, she was here, there, every
where, permeating and dominating the
entire official party. 1t is safe to say that
at all the functions of the White House
Mrs Heistind will stand very near to the
head in the receiving line. and that the
bejeweled hand of Mrs. McKinley's fac
totum will be felt in the running of af-
fairs in that household.
Mrs. Heistind's personality is go de-
cided and aggressive that she will doubt
less encounter marked opposition in
Washington society. 1t will be interest
ing to watch the progress of this little
busting western woman, who was born
and reared in a small Ohio town and
has passed the most of her married life
at army posts on the frontier. That she
and all uncharitableness in Washing
ton it needs, no keen eye to foresee. But
the lady has gone into Indian skirmishes
with her husband, and pitched her tent
among bloodthirsty Sioux. Mrs Nc
Kinley's factotum will come out all
right at the end Of her engagement with
her glossy black topknot undisturbed
by the falling of a single hairpin.
Mrs. Helstind Is a remarkable little
woman in many ways, and more re-
markable in her reticence than in any
other way. She is one of the few women
in this world who know how to hold their
peace. For weeks Mrs. Heistind has
been besieged by questions concerning
the plans of the McKinleys, the cut and
style of Mrs. McKinley's gowns, wraps
and other garments. To all she has
had to be excused" her stereotyped
phrase of getting rid of troublesome
questioners.
How has it been possible for a COM
para lively unknown little woman with
out great and powerful influence to at
tain the position of conf1dante, aid and
general factotum to the first lady of the
land?
When Mckinley was governor of Ohio
he and his wife lived al hotel in Co.
Iumbus Captain and Mrs. H. o. s. Heis-
tind also lived at this hotel Mrs. Nc
Kinley was i'll and necessarily very
much alone. Mrs. Heitind devoted her
self to Mrs. Mckinley, and a strong
friendship sprung up.
There was another factor. Mrs. Nc
Kinley Is pasyionately fond of children.
Mrs Heistind has little niece, bright
and precocious to degree. This child,
little Mary Kobe. is wonderful mimic
and recitationist She recites long, diff
ficult poems, such as Searching for the
Slain and 'Parrhasius and the Cap
tive"-for the latter effort dressed in
the costume of an Italian painter. This
tiny recitationist was brought into re-
quisition to entertain Mrs. Mckinley
during illness, and the lady conceived a
great fondness for the child. Every day
the little girl was brought to the COVER
nors apartments in Columbus, and eve
ry day her voice raag out in these quaint
selections, infinitely beyond her years.
Since the McKinley's returned to Can
ton little Mary has paid them several
visits, and she was one of the invited
guests on the inaugural train.
It will be readily seen how useful,
necessary and entertaining companion
Mrs Mckinley has selected in the per-
son of Mrs. Captain Heistipd. And
though the heather may rage and fash
ienable society danes IN Washington
may snub this enterprislng little wo-
man, 1 say unto you Watch" The ca
reer of Mrs. McKinleys protege will be
an interesting study in Washington So
ciety history.
As Mrs. Heistind has had sole charge
of all social functions at the Mckinley
house in Canton last summer, and. fall,
it is quite safe to assume she will run
the state dinners. decide on the list of
guests, possibly even dictate the style
of dress to be worn. At all events, Wash
ington will certainly have a unique fig
ure in the person of Mrs. Captain Heis-
tind of Ohio, who may develop into a
feminine Ward McAllister. We shall
see.-Edith Sessions Tupper in the New
York Journal