The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-09-20


mother and to his wife.
While his mother was alive he scarce
ly allowed Il day to pass without send
ing hS~Solnc message to let her know
that all was well with him. His solici
tudc for his invalid wife was equally
touching. He even went so far Mt times
when she was suffering more than usu
al to attend TO some Of the little de-
tails OF the household management I'm
order 10 relieve her as much as posi-.
ble from the strain and anxiety of such
duties. Very frequently during the
time he was ut the White House even
when some important conference was
being held, he would excuse himself
and run up stairs to spend few mo
montS with the invalid woman whc
was so thoroughly in sympathy with
him. And no matter how dark or
threatening the situation may have
seemed to him he invariably presented
to her only the most cheerful side.
Perhaps the most pathetic part Of II
all was that man Of such tender de-
votion to his family should have so lit.
tie real home life. For the last twenty
years or more his efforts were given
so entirely to the service of his country
and he was forced to move from place
to place so continuously that there has
been little chance for that domestic
happiness which man Of his nature
SO covcts.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS.
Mr.. Mckinley was a plain liver. He
smoked moderately, but did not use In
toNicating liquors. He was clean of
speech rs he was of character. He was
q model husband, q devoted son and
brother and in all the walks Of life so
carried himself as to leave the impress
of noble character. He was strong
mentally and physically. He had no
physical weakness. He walked with
decided and energetic step. While
his face had certain pallor under ex-
citcm"nt, 1t habtually wore the fine
glow of man in rugged health. He
was frequently seen upon the streets
of Washington and was not hcdgcd
about by the usual pride and circum.
stance of rulers. He was the most
reasonable, the most accommodating
OF men. No citizen was too lowly, no
cause too poor to enlist his sympathy,
but with all this he was a business
man. He knew the value Of time He
would have been unable to accomplish
the work for which he was chosen If
he had failed to husband his resources.
and SO it was that he got out Of every
man associated with him the best an;.
most that was in him. He did nothin::
himself that others should do for him
His cabinet officers were appointed for
pNrpoSc-to administer the affairs of
their great departments. He required
or them strict account of. steward.
ship: he did not interfere with them
In the discharge of their oncrous du-
ties: lie called them into consultation;
he required showing Of their books;
he drew upon them for strengthening
OF administrative policies; he relied up-
on them for material and support: his
Office was model in the dispatch OF
public business. a keen judge Of men,
he surrounded himself with efficient
helpers. From an ordinary government
establishment with very Indifferent
methods, the executive mansion he.
came ono of the most practical and
helpful Of public offices. A position In
the office Of the president OF the United
states is today post Of signal honor.
highly priced among the thousands OF
such places in the federal service.
Only the sterling qualities Of his
character helped him in the dark hours