The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-09-25
THROUGH FOG and MUD.
Presidents Drive To Lenox Rather
Disagreeable.
SCHOOL CHILDREN GIVE HIM AN
OVATION IN PITTsFIELD.

Breaks Over His Resolution and Address
es the Youngstsrs-Rain Fell In Tor
rents As Party Left Shire Town of
Berkshire In Carriages-view of Hills
Hidden BY Fog. upsaa
Lenox, Mass, September 24.-President
Mckinley with his wife and other men,
pers of..the party, which for the past four
days have been visiting in Adams. reached
this Newport of Massachusetts at 2
O'Clock this afternoon. They left Adams
on the regular train at 1880 and reached
Pittsfeld, at LIS. There was an immense
crowd about the station to meet them
and the enthusiasm was unbounded.
Cheer after cheerswas given for the Presi-
dent and his wife when they appeared
whose guest they will be until tomorrow
noon, welcomed the President as he
stepped upon the platform and escorted
him and Mrs. Mckinley to his own finely
equipped Victoria, driven by handsome
dark horses in silver mounted harnesses.
wife of the Presidents host at Adams,
then entered Mr.. Sloan's yellow topped
blackboard. When they were seated two
of Mr.. Plunkett's four drags, which had
come over the road from Adams, were
driven to the platform and the other
members of the party entered them in
order as follows: On the first drag,
Miss Mckinley and Miss McKenna, on the
front seat; Secretary and Mrs. Alger and
Mayor Walter f. Hawkins of Pittsfeld
on the second seat, while Attorney Gem
eral McKenna with Mr.. W. B. Plunkett,
were seated in the rear.
On the second drag Mr.. Sinclaire, the
White house steward; Mr.. George E.
Cortelyou, executive clerk and the maids
of Mrs. and Miss Mckinley. The drive
and led through the business portion Of
the town. Although the horses were
driven at rapid gait, the crowd followed
the party to the park and soldiers monu--
ment. The Presidents Victoria was
driven for quite distance up the street
and was then turned and he came back
to the square. The crush Of children
around the carriage was tremendous.
One brave little youngster juml ed upon
the step beside Mrs. Mckinley and the
lady of the White house was Obliged to
hold him in for he would have fallen
under the wheels had it not been for her.
The carriage was stopped directly in
front of the park which was filed to the
last inch with a struggling mass of young
Americans who were not only anxious,
but bound to see the first and only Presi-
dent who ever did the town the honor to
come within Its borders. Major McKin-
ley, as he said afterwards, never received
such joyous reception from thu rising
generation as he did at this time.
He stated.emphatically when he received
an invitation from Mayor Hawkins to
simply stop the carriage for moment
at the park, that he would not under
any circumstances make any remarks.
The tremendous enthusiasm of the
school children, coupled with his well
known love tor children in general, were
too much for the President, however,
short address to them. He was intro
duced by Mayor Walter +. Hawkins The
President then responded as follows:
"Eellow citizans-In a single wordsI
desire to express my appreciation of the
gracious welcome extended by the citi-
zens Of Pittsfield through Mayor Hawkins
as we journey to Lenox. One of the
most gratifying conditions noticeable in
every part of our country Is the spirit of
amity and good will, unity and fraterni.
ty. All are united in love and loyalty
for our institutions.
These boys and these girls
whom have seen around me in such
while must take upon themselves the
great duty of citizenship.
1--WE have today Union, stronger and
better and firmer than it ever was before
and if these young people continue the
lives of morality and virtue practiced In
their youth, they will be prepared to
carry forward this great nation to still
greater glories. | thank you and bid
you all good morning"
The drive was then resumed. It was
just beginning to sprinkle as the carri-
ages were entered and the moisture in
creased gradually until within about two
miles from Lenox, when the rain fell
in torrents and made the roads decidedly
unpleasant. The beautiful view of the
Berkshire hills was entirely hidden by
thick banks of fog and no one cared to
do anything but to avoid getting very
wet. Great haste was made on this ac-
count, but just as the main section of the
town was entered the rain ceased and
the sun shone. The fog was not gone,
them could be obtained. A rapid trip
was made through the town and to the
magnificent residence of Hon. j. w.
Sloane
The coaches were driven past several
beautiful places to the grounds of Mr..
Sloane. The party were met at the door
by Mrs. Sloane, and Miss Evelyn Sloane,
and ushered into the spacious and luxu-
riously furnished reception room where
the ladies' were given light refreshments
and President Mckinley spent few
minutes in warming himself at the open
fireplace.
Immediately after the ladies had be-
come warmed from their wet and cold
ride, q closed carriage was taken for the
links of the Lenox golf club, where the
President was Just in time to greet the
! AL .-1.., reta elea.ntl, !