Evening journal., 1901-11-07
HOW MRS. MCKINLEY Is BEARING
UP UNDER HER CRUSHING SORROW

ok weeks ago unOSe falnlllar With
the peculiarly beautiful relation be-
tween President and Mrs. Mckinley
would have said: Were TIE President
dead, Mrs. Mckinley could not live a
day."
SHE was his first and dearest thought,
Daily he performed for her a Thousand
tender services, says the Kansas City
World. His nearness was the only de-
termining factor of her happiness. AT
his approach she frightened; as he lef;
her0always reluctantly-Iher eyes grew
dun. Literally he was her world. And
ne more than justified her tender faith
I'M him.
When DEATH separated them, it was,
to millions Of people, an intense per-
sonal grief. To one woman 1t was an
initiation Of a world.
Naturally Those who know Mrs. Me
kinley best are amazed at her present
! fortitude
Mrs. Mckinley is progressing bravo
ly. She submits readily to the
suggestions of her physician and fam
ily and is keeping up far better than
we had dared hope. There Is every
reason for her friends to fee. encour-
aged"
Only few days ago this statement
was made at Mrs. McKinley's home
by one OF Those who had supported her
Through the binding desolatiOn cf her
early widowhood. An information, both
authoritative and casual, as to her
condition is of the same reassuring
character Frail and suffering as she
is, lher Saxon grit" as her friends in
Canton will tell you, is enabling her
to fight successfully the most devas-
tatlpg experience that could have come
to her. The thousands to whom for
a MONTH past she has been an object
Of deeply affectionate solicitude may
safely believe that Mrs Mckinley is
going to get wen.
Ait no time since the President
death has Mrs. Mckinley succumbed to
the prOstratiOn that has so nearly
overcome her. Instead, she has adopt
ed a daily routine which she carries
through courageously. She is attend
ed by two Canton physicians, DR.. Port
man and DIR. Phillips, but she hardly
requires greater care than ordinarily.
DR.. Rixey, her Washington physician.
thought it safe to leave her some time
ago.
Briefly. this is summary Of Mrs.
McKin,ey's life at present:
She rises at her usual time. break
fasts with her sister, Mrs Marshall
Barber who now lives with her, and is
her constant companion, and
IS ready shortly after 10 O'Clock for the
morning drive that is now become a
sacred pilgrimage.
A comfortable covered carriage with
two hOrses-the same carriage and
horses with which President Mckinley
liked best to drive-takes Mrs. McKin-
ley and Mrs. Barber a mile or more out
side the city to Westlawn Cemetery
1t is the drive that President and Mrs
Mckinley took together regularly and
often, for in the Mckinley lot stand
the stones that for quarter Of cen
tury have marked the graves of their
two little daughters. and which have
rarely in all that time been bare OF
blossoms.
1t is within a great vault, however
that the Presidents body lies And as
the well-known carriage draws near
the four silent, rigid guards at the door
separate and fall back.
It's Mrs. Mckinney" somebody
whispers. and groups of visitors to the
martyrs tomb draw reverently away
Bearing always her fresh wreath OF
flowers for her hero, a b,ack-veiled
black -gOwned woman, supported firmly
on each side by her two companions
walks the few steps necessary to reach
the vault Once inside, they are left
alone togetIher-the lovers OF life.
time This is a mourning upon which
nothing may intrude.
Noon is the dinner hour In Canton
and the McKinleys are loved, among
other things, for never having made al
innovation in matters OF daily custom
THAT might seem to suggest Ostenta
tion or parade of opportunity
After dinner ii usually happens tina
cne OF Mrs. McKinley's friends Of
neigihbors runs in" TO see how she il
getting on. Every effort is made b,
distract her. to get her to talk OF com
mon. everyday things. Sometimes sh'
is willing to join i'm the chat in a list
ess way. More often she sits silent
as II dazed with the tumult OF her in
ner experience.
Later in the afternoon SHE takes ne
second drive. this time into the coun
try, where there is hardly a stretcl
Of road that does not recall some driv
she has taken with the President
e