The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-31
1HE REAL aEn HARaIsoN.

General Harrison would have been
siXty-eight years old last Tuesday. had
he lived" remarked Louis T. Kitchener
Of Washington. this week. Mr.. Niche
ner was formerly attorney general Of IN
diana. and was long a close personal and
political friend OF Harrisons.
Il have often been asked he added.
IF Gen. Harrison was not very proud
of his ancestors. especially his gra1G
father and sreat-grandfather, and II he
were not the sort Of man to lay great
stress on the deeds OF his family.
never knew him 20 talk about his fam
iiy. except when obliged 70 answer cues
tions which were put 10 him. Indeed.
have always fancied that he feli him
self Handicapped IN his early career by
I the weight Of his lineage. and that he
was determined 70 rise in spite Of Il.
recall an incident in point. which also
shows the wonderful memory OF James
G. Blaine. It viii be recalled that Mr.
Blaine, in the campaign Of 1SS4 swung
round the circle, and made speeches in
most of the northern states. He spent
five days in Indiana in October and was
| Gen. Harrisons guest from Saturday
night until Monday morning. AT break
fast something was said about medals,
and Mrs Harrison rose from the table
and returned with two which she showed
10 Mr.. Blaine. The first was OF geld,
| given by congress to William Henry Har-
| Tison, IN honor Of his victory over the
British under Proctor and the Indians un-
der Tecumseh at the battle OF the
/ Thames on October >, 1913. Mr. Blaine
1 read the Latin inscription on the medal.
/ Immediately translating it into English
discussed the details of the battle, and
| spoke in eulogistic terms OF William
/ Henry Harrison as a soldier and states
man. Then Mrs. Harrison handed him
a silver medal which had come through
| her family, and which had been struck
/ in commemoration OF the victory Won by
/ the Christian forces under the command
| Of John SobesI. King Of Poland. over
| the Turks. September u. loss. under the
walls Of Vienna, when the Moslem tides
were turned back, and the Christian
/ lands saved from destruction. Mr.
/ Blaine read and translated the Latin in
/ scription save the date OF tie battle
and spoke OF its momentous character
and then said that Immediately following
! the battle. in the cathedral IN Vienna
/ the bishop preached sermon IN honor OF
( King John and his victorious army from
the text, There was a man sent from
I God, whose name was John. To all this
| and especially 10 the words in praise OF
/ his grandfather, Gen. Harrison was an
I attentive but silent listener.
Gen. Harrison's devotion 10 childen
was always a notable characteristic. He
I nv NAAAS ipffA AA+tAAis hAl ne mace NliG-
! self their companion. He would stop and
/ talk with them in the street, show q
marked interest in their games and
amusements and join them in their walks
10 and from school. Three or four squares
away from his residence lived a little
| fellow whose basketfu Of kittens 50
much annoyed his mother that she told
| him that he must take the superauous
ones TO the creek and drown them. She
started him on his way TO the place OF
execution. but presently she noticed that
! he had turned in another direction. over
taking him, she asked what IL meant He
replied, in a voice choked with tears.
1 know you told me to drown the kit
tens, but I couldn't do it. I am going
10 take them 20 Gen. Harrison, for ]
know he'll take care of them Some
day the letters and stories written by
Gen. Harrison 10 his grandson will be
| published, it is to be hoped and then the
world will know not only of his affec-
ton for children, but also OF his ability
J to write in such a way as to delight and
| instruct them.