Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-03

oNci Aoa AHc AdiI 10 tne mower Oh tHc
gods. 1t meant everything that these
plants should blossom into profusion
and beauty. and to that end Mrs. Nc
Kinley spurred on the gardeners.
MIR. Deister. who is in charge Of the
Executive garden, grew enthusiastic
over the victory of his plants as Mrs.
Mckinley for the victory Of her hus-
band. She walked out daily from plant
to plant during the long hot days of
the first Of September and watched
with an eye that knew for the sign Of
a coming fruition.
Then she and the President left for
Canton. and that day she predicted
that when the President came back TO
Washington he would get bloom
from an outside plant. Her prophecy
came true. Mr.. Deister and the Presi-
dent knew her enthusiasm and fell
with her all the significance behind
the prophecy; that the perfect early
flower was prediction of success in
the November election.
Day by day the gardener watched
the plants to see which would bring
first blossom to the master: they set
lISu pu pht pioht "S thN hoS 1'N' -
and watched with the eagerness that
an awestruck, botany-lovinS audience
waits for the opening of Il century
plant; the afternoon came down
and unfolded its petals, and
perfect carnation lifted its proud head
into the yellow sunlight against the
blue Virginia hills AS if it knew the
part il played in the history of
campaign.
II was clipped lovingly from its
mother stem with a few leaves to give
il beauty. and then ii was given to
the President of the United States. FOR
whose second victory il had blossomed
into the world and TO lead the way
for million others.
1t is to be hoped Mrs. Mckinley
keeps this little blossom all her life.
The story behind the first days
wearing of the flower was full Of love
and a sentiment that did a man JUS
tice.
The man was Major Mckinley, then
young politician of Ohio, who had,
earned a good name. Won fair wife.
carved a brilliant reputation for one
in the morning hours OF life. He bad
been elected to Congress; life was to
open broad and bright down the ne"
pathway: he was to sit among the
leaders Of the nation; he was TO try
his mentality in the great battle where
mind. not steel, was the sword.
He wanted 20 take with him some sig
nificant souvenir of the old life II Can
ton with its hopes and hard work and
dear friends. His mother gave him
pink carna;ion from her garden; not
n where wealth and
luxury are bu; Il pretty country-toN-n
garden. where Powered the blossoms
Mother Mckinley" dearly loved.
She had read years before that those
who succeed in cultivaung perfect car
nations understand the true science OF
flowers. Happy is the florist or owner
raised six perfect blooms Of these beau
.iful blossoms" So Interested did she be-
come from this sentence that she de-
six peTfer, blooms. Mother McKin-
ley'S'' carnations were 4 byword of Can
ton On the anniversaries OF her init
mate friends and children her gift was a
perfect carnation. swee; as Glove. pink
as a sunrise cloud. perfect as Asa Gray.
the great botanist, would have II. The
dead went 70 its grave with a carnauon'
So on the day that her great. ueil-be-
loved son went East 10 try his life in a
new atmosphere. Mother Mckinley gave
him perfect pink carnation.
On the morning tina, he entered the
halls of Congress for the first time be
wore his mothers gift on his black coat.
Ohio was neva- laughed out OF his pink
carnation by the older Congressman who
called him d dude
His mother always kept him supplied
during those early days from The garden
in Canton. and II was Mrs. Mckinley's
pleasure 10 see that the flowers were kept
fresh over night and that the .Maj0r-
blossom laid on his dressing table in the
When the President went to The execu-
sisted by his mothe had the White
House gardens laid out in carnations
pink and white. The. great skill OF
assisted the gardener in what was best
10 do to raise those six perfect blooms.
It was tho keeneSt pride Of her life hat
crs for her sons sake in the gardens Of
the greatest house in the nation. These
flowers were her chief"St JOY until she
died. Then III. wife. Who rad learned
and loving care TO the plants. Every
morning and every night q tray Of carn..-
lions Was brought her by the garden"..
and from these she selected the mos,
perfect to SO in the buttonhole of the
Presidents coat for morning and eve
ming She kept a few in water. for she
tic Of giving away. the blossom to some
child that pleased him.
Little by little the people of the coun-
try found out this custom OF their Pres
ident, which he had observed without
comment or ostcnt1tion since he began
public lite: so when he was a guest at a
hotel or a great house, carnations were
ready 10 greet him in his room. on the
table and for his coat. On his official
visit to Boston. when he stops DIT the
Touraine the whole suite of rooms is dec
GRATED with the most beautiful carnations
the florists can get together: ard when
his coming Is announced beforehand the
bead gardeners Of greenhouse, here are
told TO nourish the pink into glory and
perfection.
Hundreds Of children have been brought
10 the formal receptions on more than 4
half dozen occasions for the simple pur-
pose OF attracting the Presidents atten-
ton that he might give them his carna-
ton.
For three years .ne President has be-
slowed il where he wished. and that has
been 50 frequent that many hundreds of
small children in America treasure these
flowers as souvenirs of happy days when
they met the President
Some Of them are humble in station.
even little street children and ragged
newsboys that have done or said a bright,
sweet. generous thing. Some are half
grown men and women. who have gone
out Of their way to make life better for
some one or created happy moncn{
when the President was around or OF
which he heard.
a carnation chain might be started in
this country during the campaign and
n do. svS%r t1, . IT, 4