The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-03-17
POLITICAL.
The Mckinley Regime.

Cling for the spoils of office the turn to
the softer incidents of social life is
grateful, which, nevertheless has some
times its conflicts no less renowned
than politics:
1T never takes the photographers of
publicity long to secure an accurate
picture of family group at the White
House, particularly one so little complex
as that for which the McKinley's pose.
An excellent husband and father, a de-
voted semi-invalid wife, a mother OF
the President, and a few picked and
preferred relatives out of the retinue of
cousins and aunts-what could be more
simple or more quickly OWNED by the
court gossipers of the capital? Even
court gossipers may, none the less, be
brought to acknowledge that the pro-
vincial coterie which surrounds the new
administration, may know the real Mrs.
Mckinley not at all, and that McKin-
ley, the man, is as little understood by
the social prophets as by the politician.
The world thus far in these alternate
days of gloom and sunshine, has but
scanty opportunities of making the &C.
quaintance of the first lady in the
land. Still Washington swarms with
residents of Ohio, who learned to
know Mrs. Mckinley - or thought
they had learned to know her-while
she was occupying the position of gov
ernor's wife. These loyal Ohioans are
the first to confess that as the first lady
in the land, Mrs. Mckinley has sur
prised her friends by the almost pas
siOnate effort she is making faithfully
to discharge the duties Of her high po
sition. She is evidently resolved to be
the mistress of the White House, in
fact as well as name, if by outstanding
her strength for vital occasions she can
appear in public and preserve the ira
ditions of the White House. Too ia
tigued by an all-night journey TO ap-
pear at the dinner "in small commit
tee "given by the Clevelands and, as is
conjectured by the gossips, unequal to
the task of meeting 80 accomplished
hostess as Mrs. Cleveland for the first
time while thus exhausted, Mrs. McKio-
ley was so reposed as to participate in
the events of inauguration day, includ-
ing progress across the room at the
ball, and has since been driving and
entertaining her intimates at dinner
with no indications of collapse.
There are already those who assert
that Mrs. Mckinley is neither equal in
health and strength, in the long run, to
presiding over the White House, nor
disposed to share or abdicate in favor
of any one else. Thus there was no allu-
sion in the ,luckless Chauncey Depew's
Club Con the occasion of the entertain
opk rvsua hx,T Mro in,
honor of Mr.. and Mrs. Hobart) that
caused more annoyance than poor
Peach's direct reference to Mrs.
Hobart as the lady likely, in view Of
Mrs. McKinley's disability to do the
honors of the White House. This ex-
traordinary discourse, which, in all
probability, cost DR.. Depew the ap-
pointment of ambassador at the Court
of st. James, since it incidentally ridi-
culed the honorable poverty of the Nc
Kinley's-" that library without
book; that sitting.room without
chairI'-this alleged humorous effort is
understood to have reached Canton by
grape vine telegraph, and to have re-
suited in strained relations, in spite of
Hanna's "jollying."
In brief, inspired alike by devotion to
her husband, and by patriotism, Mrs.
Mckinley has not the smallest idea OF
being placed on the shelf-even in the
White House. 1t was touching spec
tacle, that of her slow and painful, and
yet surprisingly graceful, progress across
the floor at the Inauguration ball on the
way to the supper room. The Spartan
boy immortalized in song could scarcely
have made greater effort. The pho
tographers can scarcely convey correct
idea of Mrs. Mckinley as she really ap-
pears. 1t is not that they flatter her,
but that in making her seem much
younger woman, with classic head, in
short, curling locks, they miss alike the
outer shell and the soul of the subject.
The shorn locks are rather flowing than
short, and their iron gray softens the
face OF woman OF greater presence
than the idealized cameo type would
indicate. The countenance is as indie
alive of thought as of suffering, and is
sweetly serious. AS she bowed to the
people while her carriage sped along
Pennsylvania avenue on the hurried
return from the Capitol, and again as
she smiled down on the gay throng
from corner of the gallery at the in
augural ball, Mrs. Mckinley looked in
every respect fitting mate for the
man of destiny; it is only when she is
half led, half supported, that the ex-
tent of her invalidism is apparent.
But she is brave woman, and she is
inspired to great effort.
The artist who perpetuates Mrs. Nc
Kinley on canvass, so that her portrait
may hang in the White House along
side of that of her old friend, Mrs.
Hayes, ought to be an American, and it
should be Porter-whO understands
the American character-rather than
Carolus Duran, or Madrazzo, or Benia-
min Constant, or Hullert Vos, or even
Chartran, all of whom are more or less
apt to Parisianize their subjects. Ca
banel himself could scarcely do Mrs.
Mckinley justice. Sargent would get
at the soul of the subject, but Porter
from Boston via New York-is the
man. AS her colors are blue, in the
more delicate shades, white or mauve,
these hues will appear in her draperies,
together with the violets which are her
favorite flower. Though the reverse
of woman of fashion. IL ia evident