Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-09-26
Mckinley Quite Like
Our Own Little Boys.

julius Chambers, a special cor.
respondent of the New York Journal,
met Mrs. Mckinley, the mother of the
PRESIDENT after his first election as
the chief executive of the United
States, and obtained from her an &C.
count of her sons early career, rs she
viewed it, which was published in the
Journal of December 81, 1896, as fol
lows
The Mothers Tale.
Don't think nay bringing up has
much to do with making my son, VIII.
liam, the president of the United
States | had six children. and l had
all my work to do. | did the best
could of course, but could not devote
all my time to him,
William was naturally a good boy,
but he was not particularly good
baby He began to take notice of
things when very young He was a
healthy boy.
We live in village and he had
plenty Of outdoor air and exercise.
He was good boy in school and his
teachers always said he was very
bright He had his little sQuabhes
with his brothers and sisters, like all
other children do. | guess | never
paid much attention TO that He
was always obediont, however affcc-
Tomato and very fond of his home
His Sport Never Curbed.
We were Methodists, though we
never went to the extent of curbing
the innocent sports of the children.
William was taken to Sunday school
about the same time that he began
his studies in the village schoolhouse.
He continued faithful attendant
every Sunday till he went away to the
war. brought up all my children to
understand that they must study and
improve their minds
My ideas of an education were
wholly practical not theoretical
put the children into school just as
early as they could go alone to the
teacher, and kept them at it, ! did
not allow them to stay away, As you
may imagine | had little time to
help in their studies, though / kept
track of their work in a general way
through the reports Of their teachers
did most Of the household work, eX-
ccpt the washing and ironing and made
nearly all the childrens Clothes but
saw that the children were up in the
morning, had breakfast and were
promptly ready for school.
That was the way the days of every
week began for me ours was a hard,
earnest life. My husband was always
an early riser and off to his work !
am now speaking Of our life in Niles.
At Poland he was away from home
most of the time, and the whole bur
den Of the family cares fell on me.
Happy in Going Barefoot.
We moved to Poland when William
was about eleven years Of age. We
went there because the schools were
better. My husband was a foundry.
man and his work kept him at Niles.
William was a great hand for
marbles, and he was very fond Of his
bow and arrows. He got so that he
was a very good shot with the arrow
and could hit almost anything that 'e
aimed at The thing he loved besl VI
all was kite. 1t seems to me never
went into the kitchen without seeing
a paste pot or ball Of string waiting
TO be made into kite He never
cared much for pets I don't believe
he ever had one
We did not own morse, so he never
rode or drove. He vas always teas
ing me 10 be allowed 10 go barefoot
the minute he came home from school
la going barefoot when he stubbed
q toe or bruised his foot, he vas as
proud as king in showing the injury
to the other boys When summer
came he always had stone brulse.
His shoes came of before the snow
had left the ground
Fond Of Swimming.
Although William had no taste for
1shing. and rarely If ever attempted
the sport. be vas fond Of swimming
Id the deep pool % Yellow Greek. d
little way above the dam. The swim.
ming hole was reached BY the lef.