The evening times., 1897-03-29
PRESIDENT MCKINLEY AT HOME

| to be not afraid OF his shadow, and when
| he walks abroad he is not attended by
! guards or detectives, and finds the COM
| pany or his secretary or other friend all
| the protection necessary. That the Presi
| dents plain everyday democratic manners,
| and his evident sincerity and honesty of
| purpose, as displayed in his daily doings,
| big and little, have made him surprisingly
| and genuinely popular there is no doubt
| All his visitors, whether Democrats, Re-
| publicans, or PopuIists, take pleasure in
| testifying to this fact
| Thine will show whether the eMcKinleyidea
of party coneii,ttion and plain, practical
| business methodss will succeed. His efforts
| TO win popular approval are commended
| on every hand, and the daily routine at t he
| White House now is lin striking contrast
| with that during he term of his immediate
| predecessor. President Mckinley is not an
early riser. The spring birds that clirp
and twittcr in the shruBbery under his
window in the morning do not entice him
| from his bed until about 8 O'Clock That
is mis- usual hour for rising all the year
| round. He is dressed and ready for break
fast about 8 O'clock, Mrs. Mckinley sell
dom takes the morning meal with her hus-
sequence of her delicate health. The Pres--
ident generally breakfasts alone, with the
morning paper by his side. Mrs. MoKinley's
breakfast is served upstairs in her sitting
room. The President joins his wife imme-
diately after breakfast, and they 90 over
their private correspondence and other do
mestic matters until the Presidents called
away to meet some urgent visitor await
1T.
of the features of President McKinlr Us
life is his devotion to his invalid wife. a
dozen times during the day he slips away
from his office to spend few minutes by
her side. The pressure OF public affairs is
never so heavy as to cause him TO neglect
these visits
lie usually takes luncheon with Mrs.
Mckinley at / O'Clock and does not re-
turn to his desk until 2 unless the demand
on his time is very pressing. During the
luncheon hour he glances over the news
papers and thus keeps himself in touch
with current events. His afternoons are
generally occupied in receiving callers by
special appointment, or considering execu-
tive business. Sometimes he takes his
work into the library, which is now used
as Mrs. McKinley's sitting-room. At 4:30
he puts aside business for the day and
goes for a walk with Secretary Porter
The President is n believer I'm plenty of
outdoor exercise and it is a pleasant re-
lief for him TO get away from the official
atmosphere, which ever fills the White
House,
His daily walks are one of the most
popular features of his AdmiDstrat ton
lie could not pay higher compliment To
the public than by thus touching elbows
Gaily with his fellow citizens His after
noon strolls are not confined to any par
ticular locality, and they generally occupy
about an hour. Sometimes he walks down
Pennsylvania avenpe and visits the busi-
ness section of the city. At other times
he takes a turn through the West End the
fashionable residence part OF Washington.
One OF his favorite routes is down to the
river front, through the Mall, past the
Washington Monument. His only COM
panon during these walks thus far has
been Secretary Porter The President
does not believe in being surrounded by Il
body guard OF armed secret service men or
metropolitan policemen In citizen : clothes
He is fond OF holding the ribbons over a
good buggy horse, and is now arranging
TO purchase a road wagon and cob, Dur
ing his prcmenades the President fre-
uuently encounters old friends and ac-
quaintances and ;stoI5s to chat with them
or give them passing salute. His genial
manner and his8easy, self-possessed and
courteous way of meeting and greeting his |
fellow countrynen has already endea aied
him to every lover of genuine democracy
When the President returns from his walk |
he throws himself down upon a couch and |
takes a nap. Most men defer their nap
taking until after dinner. He takes his |
nap first and dinner afterward. Since |
entering the White House he has invariably |
worn evening dressfat dinner, which is
served in the private dinng-room at 9 |
O'Clock, Mrs Mckinley is usually down
stairs for dinnef. Mrs. Saxton, sister |
in-law of Mrs. Mckinley, makes her home |
at the White House and assists the hostess |
in looking after the domestic and social |
details connected with the mansion. There |
are frequently friends or relatives at dinner |
If any of the guests are musically inclined /
the President insists upon having a song |
or a selection upon the piano. He does |
not care much for theaters, but he is !
devoted to vocal and Instrumental music. |
If there are no special engagements to |
receive business callers during the even
ing, the President is apt to suggest his |
favorte game of cards, siX-handed euchre. ,
Mrs. Mckinley is also fond of the game. |
President McKinley's long service in Con-
gress and his familiarity with Washington
people and local affairs give him large
circle of acquaintances, and these little in
formal gatherings at the White House are
always enjoyable. They are usually held |
In the library upstairs. The President does
not spend all his evenings playing six-hand
ed euchrc. Just now there are many per-
sons who desire to have private talk |
with him about affairs of state. Besides,
Secretary Porter has maGy suggestions TO
make and reports of the day to render, so
that he is obliged TO. spend many of his
evenings in his office, By Il O'Clock he is
ready to put aside the business of the
day, unless it is very pressing, and he is
usually in bed by midnight.
President Mckinley has frowned upon
that unnecessary display of the MetrOpol-
Itan police force which was so conspicuous
during the Cleveland administration. A
few months ago it was an every day oc- |
to see an army of police hover
ing around the front door of the Executive
Mansion. The Cleveland carriage would
draw up in front of the door Suddenly
three or four stalwart officers would
emerge from the house, one bearing lap |
robe, another carrying one of the Cleveland
babies, and third escorting the children's |
nurse Several other policemen were in
The mean time guarding the portico to pre-
vent sightseers or casual passers- by from
approaching the carriage to get peep at
the little children OF the White House.
Ii was dlurin q one of Mrs ClpyeIan nd 8 La st |