The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-02
Gen. BENJAMIN HARRISON
LOUIS It. MICHENER CONTRIBUTES
SOME RECOLLECTIONs.
Incidents Showing the Sympathies of
the Late Presidential superb Pol
itician and Party Organizer.

last lueSudy. MT. Mlcnener was formerly
attorney general of Indiana, and was long
a close personal and political friend of
Benjamin Harrisons. At the time OF his
death Mr.. Kitchener was too much grieved
to give any recollections OF the ex-Presi-
dent. but this week he related TO the
Transcript correspondent some interesting
incidents which throw considerable light
upon the phases of General Harrison's life
that have not always been understood.
II have often been asked began Mr..
Kitchener, IF General Harrison was not
very proud of his ancestors, especially his
grandfather and great-grandfather, and If
he were not the sort of man to lay great
stress on the deeds of his family. always
answer that 1 never knew him TO talk
about his family. except when obliged TO
answer questions which were put TO him.
Indeed, 1 have always fancied that he felt
himself handicapped in his early career Dy
the weight of his lineage, and that he was
determined to rise in spite of it. / recall an
incident in point, which also SHOWS the
wonderful memory or James u. Blame II
will be recalled that Mr.. Blaine, In the
campaign of 1884, swung round the circle
and made speeches in most OF the North
ern States. He spent five days In lndlaha
in the month of October and was General
Harrison'S guest from Saturday night un-
til Monday morning. AT breakfast some
Harrison arose from the, table and returned
with two which she showed TO Mr.. Blaine
The first was of gold. given TO Gen. VIII
of Congress, in honor of his victory over
the British under Proctor and the Indians
Thames, on Oct 5. 1913. Mr.. Blaine read
the Latin inscriptions on the mccall I'M
mediately translating them into English;
discussed the details OF that battle, ana
spoke in eulogistic terms of William Henry
Harrison as a soldier and statesman. Then
Mrs. Harrison handed him a silver medal
which had come through her family, ana
which had been struck off in commemora-
ton of the victory won by the Christian
forces under the command OF John Sopies-
XII, King of Poland, over the Turks, sept.
y, 1853. under the walls of Vienna, when
the MOslem tides were turned back and the
Christian lands saved from destruction
Mr.. Blaine again translated the Latin IN
scription, gave the date of the battle and
spoke of its momentOus character. He then
related that Immediately following the bat
tie in the cathedral in Vienna, a bishop.
whose name he gave, preached sermon IN
honor of King John and his victorious
army from the text, There was a man sent
from God whose name was John, To all
this, ana especially TO the words in praise
of his grandfather. General Harrison was
attentive, but remained a silent listener.
HIS LOVE FOR CHILDREN.
General Harrison's devotion to children
was always a notable characteristic. He
not only loved children but he made him
talk with them on the street, show
marked interest in their games and amuse-
ments, 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 an
noyed his mother that she told him that
he must take the superfiuous ones to the
creek and drown them. She put them in a
sack, gave him explicit instructions, and
started him on his way. Presently she no.
ticed that he had turned in another direc
ton. Overtaking him she asked what II
meant. He replied in a voice choked with
tears, Il know you told me to drown the
kittens, but [ couldn't do it. 1 going to
take them to General Harrison, for j know
he'll take care of them Some day the let
son for his grandson will be published, il
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 to delight and instruct them.
General Harrison was not only fond Of
good stories. but few men have surpassed
him in telling them. Many people are sur
prised to learn that he was master of this
art He told stories only when his mind
was free of care. and when the company
was small and exactly to his liking. Now
and then he told one to Illustrate a point
in an argument or discussion, but usually
only for good fellowShip's sake.
General 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 dogs as he did
are always tender-hearted. More than
once L have seen tears come to his eyes
because calamity had overtaken an old
time friend. He had taught himself 10 hide
his emotion from the world, and evidently
believed in the right of man to have feel
ings and thoughts which he need not bla-
zon upon the skies. He was no gusher His
choicest and most generous emotions were
for those entitled to them. He did not take
the public into his confidence concerning
his private affairs or feelings nor did he
assume that the public had. could be
IeA 20 how
He generous with his money and with
acts of thoughtfulness, but without the
slightest display. He had sense OF respon-
sibility which was abnormally keen. I new
er knew one upon whom its weight rested
more heavily. Until thing was done he
of the feeling of care. This was true of
him in both his professional and his pub
SOME CHARACTERISTICS
while to this characteristic was largely
due his able and conscientious perform
ance of duty, it also had considerable to do
with the popular opinion that he was of
irascible or uncertain temper, cold or aus
tere. Those who approached him. or had
anything TO do with him, while he was la
boring under the responsibility of a great
duty yet unperformed, were frequently sur
prised and panied to see apparent indiffer-
ence to what they had to say or, perhaps.
exhibitions of i'll nature, and many of them
left his presence feeling that he was either
bad-tempered or coNhearted. Had the
same person seen him a few hours later
when the task had been finished 10 his sat
isfaction they would have found a cheer
full and gracious man, anxious TO treat well
all who came in contact with him. / have
known two men who saw him in the same
hour; the first one came away complaining
because of the almost unciVil treatment
which he had received, while the second
one came away charmed with the cordial
ity of his reception. Between the visits of
the two men troublesome question had
been answered, a difficult problem had
been solved-the first visitor saw the
clouds the second saw the sunshine.
General Harrison was a superb Doli-
tician and party organizer in a broad wav
dealing with men in bulk and with the ex-
pressons OF great principles lie never
mistook dead for living issues nor did he
select weak man for an important com
raand. His judgment of the men he knev,
was remarkable He no place for the
unclean or the unlawful and every sten
which he climbed a politician was the
result of honest effort. When the liftle
| band of friends, having particular charge
of his campaign for the nomination in 1SSs
| left Indianapolis for the convention ne
said TO them: i want the nomination IL a.
can be obtained honestly and fairly
would not receive it in any other way I
| know you would not be parties to getting
| il for me in any other way You may bs
asked 70 make promises of places and pre-