The herald., 1897-08-23
Special Correspondence 20 The Herald

Is daily object lesson in simon pure
American democracy which it does ones
heart good to see. Drop in to the dining
room of the big hotel at dinner time any
day almost and you can see the presi-
dent of the United States sitting at one
of the tables having jolly good time
and apparently faring o better than any
of the chance hotel guests who are sat
isfying appetites at the same time OF day.
I never was particularly Mckinley
lite. Frankly speaking, I do not THINK
most women take to the president OIL
hand. To be sure, he has nice race ana
is a thorough gentleman, but you know
women as rule like more than that
A man may be the pink of politeness and
gentility and yet not be companionable
at all. 1 have watched President Nc
Kinley and his family for two weeks
now, and the best thing l can say o!
him is that he Is woman's man. Strong.
sturdy, self-reliant, gentle and exceed
ingly magnetic, when he takes your hand
YOU are glad of it. You know you are
shaking hands with man whom any
woman might trust.
Ever so much has been printed about
the presidents attention to his wife.
always thought it was greatly exagger-
ated. Not so. She is his best girl now
Just as much as she ever was, and that's
more than you can say Of the wives of
most men. Not that the president OBJ
jects to a pretty girl. Oh. dear, no. l
have watched him as he sa on the veran-
da and looked out at the people as they
etroled about. When the girls looked
up at him, as they always did, he had a
kindly, pleasant smile for every one of
them. In fact, he always smiled back
at them as If he liked it, and not as Il
he was the president of the United States
showing a favor. So far he has not
danced, and I expect he thinks it is not
dignified, though have seen him watch
ing the dancers at the hops as if he
would like to go on the floor himself
He has very EXPIRE ssive face. 1t is
interesting to quietly watch him through
the different events which transpire.
day in and day out. When he leaves
the people whom he has been talking to
In social way and meets others who
have official business with him, the
change is just like when the clouds pass
over the sun. The pleasant look deepens
into one Of care. and the duties of the
office which he has temporarily put aside
are again full upon him. saw the other
Gay when Whitelaw Reid took him off
to conference about some state matter.
When Mr.. Reid came the president was
in conversation with several maids and
matrons. He looked jolly enough then
but the minute he saw Mr.. Reid his ex-
preston changed at once, and he looked
the president of the United States, every
inch Of him.
With all his democracy, this man of
the people-for that is what he is-dear-
ly loves his personal comfort. cannot
say that he is to blame for that, but he
has frankness in indicating it that a
good many people in high places whom I
have seen might initiate to their advan-
tage. Mr.. Mckinley Is no hypocrite. I
saw him the other day, when he went to
Burlington, VT. 1t had been understood
that the steam yacht Washita, owned by
Ex-Governor Urban A. Wood bury of
Vermont, was to convey the president
and party to Burlington, but instead Of
that one of the smaller steamers of the
Champlairl Transportation company
was delegated to the service, making the
trip as a regular passenger boat, per-
mitting any one who would pay their
fare to ride.
There was nothing for the president t
and his party to do but to go aboard and
plant themselves down among the other
people. That is not nearly as pleasant a
way of taking trip as aboard a we'll
appointed steam yacht, and the presi-
dert said so in very plain language, and
heard it. At first he said he would not
go aboard at all, because the promise
that was made him should have beer
kept. But finally he consented to go,
and to the delight of the passengers
aboard the steamer made the trip. I
suppose that if he had been like some
officials. he would have covered up his
disappointm but that is not McKin-
ley's way.
The president does not like golf. That
may be the unpardon able sin in the eyes
of a great many persons, but it true. He
said just that to me when asked MIN
He said that he supposed, golf was very
good game for the people that liked il,
and he had no objection to everybody
else playing it if they wanted to. hut he
thought if he had to do one of two things
he would prefer swinging basebal Dat
to a golf stick. He intimated that there
was far more joy in knocking he ball
after the fashion of the milknaid 5
three-legged stool. galleywest and crook
ed, than in teeirg any golf ball that ever
was made. Add to this the fact that the
president likes to play croquet and YOU
have enough to stamp him as unusua.
The president does not go fishing. He
is not looking for deer, although the
close season for the latter ended August
is and begins for the former Septemt el
!. He told me the other day that he
liked to eat the trout much better than
10 catch them and that fishing was not
his way of getting rest. 1t is very evi-
dent that the president is no Nimrod,
also, any more than he is a disciple of
Izaak Walton.
If any one has an idea that the presi-
dent does nothing but enjoy himself,
they are greatly in error. Secretary
Porter is here. also Secretary Alger, al
though the, two secretaries occupy
slightly different positions Other mem
bers of the cabinet are constantly COM
ing and going, and their example is fol-
lowed by various public men. There Is
a full staff of clerks from the White
House, for unless the president takes q
lighthouse tender and goes to sea- he
can never get away from executive busi-