Evening star., 1897-04-03
MRS. M'KINLEYS DAY
F,,me Life of the Mistress of the
White House.
OBLIGED TO REFUSE AUTOGRAPHS
Her Health Reported as Daily Grow
ing Stronger.
THE PRESIDENTS DEVOTION.

Autograph seekers will be disappointed in
sending to Mrs. Mckinley for her sigma
ture. She has not written her name in an
autograph album in long time-only once
in five years, and then it was to oblige an
intimate friend. That was exception
which she has never made since and which
she may not make again soon.
Hundreds of letters are received every
week at the White House asking for the
autograph of the first lady of the land and
albuins sent by visitors to the city with
the same request The writers of these let
ters are not by any means majority of
those who write to Mrs. Mckinley. for she
gets letters on all kinds of subjects and
containing the most curious of pleas. which
in itself would make good story. The au-
tograph seekers. however. like all others
who write letters, get answers, but they are
not written by Mrs. Mckinley. They are
formal in their nature, and are written by
typewriters employed on the regular force
at the White House, who are assigned to
that duty.
Does Not Send Autographs.
1t Is not from any dislike of writing her
name that prevents Mrs. Mckinley giving
her autograph. 1t is because her health
will not permit the work which that kind
| of business would entail if she once broke
| the rule she has fixed. When her husband
became governor of Ohio, Mrs. Mckinley
| found that she would be unable to supply
autographs for all who wanted them and
| not do herself Injury. Not desiring to dis
crimnate in the matter she decided that
she would gently and politely refuse all re-
quests. No one would more willingly Gblige
| friends than Mrs. Mckinley. 1t is her earn
est desire to be able TO do all the things
which are supposed to be in the list of
duties OF the first lady of the land. She
| keeniy feels her inability to perform some
of these duties.
| 1t is not unlikely that if her health con-
tinues to improve, even If slowly, she Will
undertake many duties now abandoned.
| The truth Is that Mrs Mckinley is feel
ing much better than when she came here.
! Her face is beginning to have a fresher
| look. Even these small signs of improve
! ment in health are watched with the closest
| interest by the friends Of the mistress OF
| the White House. The attaches there are
| also gratified at these signs, for they al
| ready love Mrs. Mckinley as dearly as
| Mrs. Cleveland, and that is saying great
| deal. They watch her closely when she
| starts out for her morning drives. If there
| Is more energy IN her walk than usual
| they are gratitied. She must feel gratitfed,
| too, fer she can see in their faces If she
| looks. these unmistakable sigrs Of afec-
| tfon.. Mrs. Mckinley never goes out the
| front door of the White House to her car
| riage without bowling and smiling to each
| one she sees. 1t is a sweet, gentle smile
| which carries love with 1t. If the President
| goes cut with his wife they together extend
| the friendly greetings which both think
! are due to the employees.
| Her Morning Drives.
Mrs. Mckinley goes out in the family
| carriage every morning that is fair and not
too cold. Up to this time she has been
| going IN q closed carriage, but when the
| weather gets warmer she will probably
| use an open vehicle. Often since the &C
cdent to Gen. Hastings, the friend of the
| Mckinleys, she has had the coachman to
| drive her to Garfield Hospital. She takes
with her bunch of flowers of some kind
ana sends them in to Gen. Hastings with
her best wishes. She loves flowers. When
she has them gathered for herself she has
| so far shown partiality for vloletS. Mrs
| Mckinley is usually accompanied on hel
| morning rides by Mrs Saxton. The latter
| is also her companion at the house. WhcI
| Mrs. Herrick Of Cleveland was at the w hitt
| House she went out frequently with Mrs
| Mckinley.
The McKin ,ys breakfast at $50 O'CLOCK
| in the morning. and Mrs. Mckinley Is al
ways beside her husband. 1t is quiet. lit
tie party, and conversation between th'
| President and his wife Is free and full dur
| ing the meal. When it Is over the presi
dent and his wife stroll to the upper hall
| way of the mansion, and there talk ove
| household matters. She takes almost a!
much interest in everything as If her hea,tl
| permitted her to personally supervise tn
minutest matters. If there arc to be an!
, guests at dinner she consults with the Pres
ident as to who they shall be. She Is al
adept in forming congenial parties. and he
advice on these matters Is generally takel
, | by the President. He loves his wife yer.
! dearly and his consultations with her ol
subjects of this kind are pleasant to him
He gracefully bows to her judgment.
After these pleasant talks the Presiden
| goes to his room ready to receive the rus
| of politicians. Mrs Mckinley makes read
| and goes for her drive. Returning to tn
house, she goes to the big room next ives
, to what is known as the cabinet room.
3 | The latter is at the head of the main hall
/ | way and Is where the President sit
around the official table and talks with tn
members of his official family. The mex
| room to the east Is the office of the Pres
dent. A door opens into Mrs Mckinley
= sitting room from the cabinet room. Th
room is appropriately fitted up with sol
chairs and lounges. Mrs. Mckinley read
| or does fancy needle work. She likes needl
r | ork and does a great deal of 1t. The de
/ | votion of the President to his wife. his cor
q slant thoughtfulness Of her, is. prettily l.
lustrated right here. Notwithstanding tn
swarms of visitors Waiting in Secretar
t Porter's room, the President walks acros
y the cabinet room into the room where HI
d wife sits. stealing a few minutes ava
from his business to see how she feels an
e to talk with her. These little trips are nc
often made If the President Is hard presse,
r but he manages to take minutes this wa
occasionally.
The Lunch Hour.
d About noon Mrs. Mckinley lies down
p her bed room and refreshes herself with
3 short nap. She next prepares for luncl
h which is supposed to be at l o'clock, b,
a the patriots pressing for Office frequent
It keep the President In his room longer tina
that hour. II the President has importal
i | business with a cabinet officer, the no,
x of goes by without his thinking of lunc
e Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley and Mrs Saxto
~ ~ compose the party at lunch. unless II
Z. President has seen fit to invite an intima
y friend to be with him. He does this occ
:. sicnally.
70 In the afternoon. when the President r
oe ~ turns to his Office, Mrs. Mckinley res
y again. Then, between and o'clock
- the afternoon she receives friends or tho
- bringing letters of Introduction fro
j., friends. These callers are what the ou
~ ~ | slider terms Official people," Mrs. M
~ y, Kinley could not undertake to hold a ge
- eral reception each day.
II The White House Dinner.
At o'clock dinner 10 served. Mrs. NJ
Kinley is always neatly attired on these o
casions, and is, as everywhere, most gr