The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-27
ABOUT MRS. MCKINLEY.

Imagine woman of the middle height,
with q clear sweet and firm face, lighted
by great dark eyes under level brows
Short, curling brown hair clusters about
q small, eXquisitely shaped head such a
head as one would choose for a medallion.
The figure is erect and well proport oned.
There you have the likeness of Mrs. Nc
Kinley. Only in a certain pallor OF the
face do you have any indication that she
is an invalid 1t is full, rather than ema-
eiated, and the features, attractivein their
entirety, bear analysis. The eyes are that
unusual shade of blue-gray that appears
black under the lamp light. The nose and
mouth are delicately modelled. A firmlittle
chin completes face that set he hearts
of Canton's young men fluttering in the
years following the war. In the days Of
her undisputed beileship Ida Saxton's 5 man
ner had liveliness about it, with just
dash, perhaps. OF coquetry. There is still q
charm about 1t that all her friends have
felt.
MIS-. Mckinley is daughter and grand
daughter OF two distinguished Ohio men.
Her grandfather, John Saxton, was for
sixty years editor Of the Ohio Repository.
James Saxton was his son. He was o
banker and capitalist Of Canton, and Ida
Saxton was his daughter. James A. Sax
ton thought that every girl, no matter
what her station, should be able TO earu
her own living, The tangible application
OF this theory was the appearance of his
young daughter a S an emplOye in his own
bank. Her aptitude was uncommon, and
soon she was installed at the cashiers
window. The tradition is that visions of
that pretty head, framed in the dingy sur
roundings of country bank used to prove
strangely confusing TO the young busi-
ness men OF Canton, who handed in their
balances at the window. And there were
many Of them Among them was William
Mckinley The courtship eventuated In
marriage January 20, 1871. The cere-
1nony took place in the Presby terian church
that had been built largely by her grand
father Miss Saxton had been a teacher
in its Sunday school, and hers was the first
formal ceremony to take place in it After
marriage she joined her husbands church.
Two chilcJe en- Were born to Mr.. and Mrs.
Mckinley. The elder was named Kate.
Before the younger, Ida, was born MIS-.
Saxton, Mrs. McKinley's mother, died.
The blow was follow ed by the death of
Kate, then a child Of between three and
four and by the death of Ida, who had
lived only few months OF a sensitive
and high-strung nature, Mrs. Mckinley's
health gave way under these Affections.
With her husband she left their little house
andfor time livedin the SaXton homestead.
She has never been a well woman since.
although her health is better now than it
has been for years.
The new mistress Of the White House
will bring to it more diamonds than any
Of her predecessors, at least in recent adj
ministrations She has some very pretty
settings of these stones in side combs,
rings, brooches and the like. They are
mainly the gift of her father'sfanily She
has also a notable collection OF valuable
lace, particularly of pocket handkerchiefs,
the nucleus of which was formed I'm her
girlhood's trip to Europe. Another thing
she will bring to the White House, and
that is experience. Mrs. Hayes and she.
like their husbands, were intimate friends,
and at one time, In the unavoidable alb
sence of the former, Mrs. Mckinley was
for fortnight mistress OF the Executive
Mansion Boston Herald.