The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-08-24
THE VIEWS OF HARRISON.
TENDER TRIBUTE TO THE FOR
MER PRESIDENT.

MEh EhESIDbNIs
Louis It. Kitchener, of Washington
His Personal Friend. HonOrs His
Nfemory-TeIIs of Incidents i'm His
Career-A Politician without a
Peer and a Statesman worthy OF
Honor Didn't Want RenOmina-
tfon.
Washington, Aug. 23.-"Gen. Harri-
son would have been sixty-eight years
old to-day, had he lived" remarked
Louis T. Michener. of this city, last
Tuesday Mr.. Kitchener was formerly
attorney general of Indiana, and was
long a close personal and political
friend of Benjamin Harrison. At the
time of his death, Mr.. Kitchener was
too much grieved to give any recollec-
tons of the ex-President, but this week
he related to your correspondent some
interesting incidents which throw con-
siderable light upon the phases of Gen.
Harrison's life that have not always
been understood.
1T have often been asked" began
Mr. Kitchener, 'if Gen. Harrison was
not very proud of his ancestors. espe-
cially his grandfather and great grand
father, and if he were not the sort of
man to lay great stress on the deeds
of his family. / always answer that I
never knew him to talk about his
family except when obliged to answer
questions which were put to him. In
deed, 1 have always fancied that he
felt himself handicapped in his early
nv he fernt af III
and that he was determined to rise in
spite Of 1t. recall an incident in point,
which also shows the wonderful mem
ory of James G. Blaine. 1t will be re-
called that Mr.. Blaine, In the campaign
of 1894, swung round the circle and
made speeches in most of the Northern
states. He spent five days in Indiana
in the month of October, and was Gen.
Harrison's guest from Saturday night
until Monday morning. At breakfast.
something was said about medals, and
Mrs. Harrison arose from the table
and returned with two which she
showed to Mr.. Blaine. The first was of
gold, given to Gen. William Henry
Harrison, pursuant to an act of
Congress, in honor of his victory
over the British under Proctor and the
Indians under Tecumseh at the battle
OF the Thames on Oct. 5, 1873 Mr.
Blaine read the Latin inscriptions on
the medal. Immediately translating
them into English, discussed the details
OF that battle and spoke in eulogistic
terms of William Henry Harrison as
soldier and statesman. Then Mrs
Harrison handed him a silver medal
which had come through her family
and which had been struck in com
memoration of the victory won by the
Christian forces under John Sobiesk.
King of Poland, over the Turks. Sept.
IL, 1888, under the walls of Vienna,
when the MOslem tribes were turned
back and Christian lands saved from
destruction. Mr.. Blaine read and trans
lated the Latin inscription, gave the
date OF the battle, and spoke of its
momentous character. And then said
that Immediately following the battle
in the Cathedral in Vienna, a bishop
whose name he gave preached a SER
mon in honor of King John and his
victorious army from the text, There
was man sent from God whose name
was john To all this, and especially
to the words of praise of his grand
father, Gen. Harrison was an atten-
tive, but silent listener
Harrison Fond of Children.
Gen. Harrisons devotion to children
was always a notable characteristic.
He not only loved children, but he
made himself their companion He
would stop and talk with them on the
street, show a marked interest in their
games and amusements, and Join them
in their walks to and from school.
Three or four squares away from his
residence lived a little fellow whose
basketful of kittens so much annoyed
his mother that she told him he must
take the superfiuous ones to the creek
and drown them. She put them in
sack, gave him explicit instructions and
started him on his way. Presently
she noticed he had turned in
another way Overtaking him, she
asked what it meant. He replied in a
voice choked with tears: L know you
told me to drown the kittens, but l
couldn't do ii. am going to take them
to Gen. Harrison's for know he'll take
care of them Some day the letters
and stories written by Gen. Harrison
to his grandson will be published, it
is to be hoped, and then the world will
know not only of his affection for
children, but also of his ability to
write in such way as to delight and
instruct them.
Gen. Harrison was not only fond of
good stories, but few men have sur
passed him in telling them. Many peo-
pie are surprised to learn that he was
master of the art He told stories only
when his mind was free of care, and
when the company was small and ex-
actly to his liking. Now and then he
told one to illustrate a point in an ar
gument or discussion. but usually only
for good fellowships sake.
Had "A Tender Heart.
Gen. Harrison was a tender hearted
man. The popular impression of him is
to the contrary, but the fact is that
he was kind, generous and responsive.
Men who love children, horses and
NTO NrJrrryETOnU