The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-13
THE NATIONS WIDOWS
PROVISION MADE FOR THEIn
 MAINTAINANCE BY CONGRESS
Mrs. Mckinley is the Fourth-Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Garfield and Mrs.
 Harrison-The Former Now
 Nearly Eighty Years Old.


 Four widows of Presidents are now iiv- ing. says the Washington correspondent cf the New York Evening Post: Mrs. Grant. Mrs. Garfield, Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Mckinley Mrs. Julia Dent Grant, who was in the White House for eight years. now lives in Washington, and gem erally shares her home with her daugh- ter. Mrs. Sartoris Mrs Grants career has been one of great Contrasts. She was q daughter of Judge Dent, and born at Whitehayen, Mo, near St. Louis. Her brother was a cadet at West Point, and 1t was through him she met her future husband. The family objected strongly to Grant. the poor young soldier. and 1t was five years before their objections were overcome. Through Judge Dents influence Grant was ordered to frontier faction that the Judge and his wife saw him go West with General Taylor. But in the Mexican campaign 1t was Grants fortune to save the life of young Dent. to favor in tho family. The wedding took place in 1si5. Grant vas made captain and took his wife to Sacketts
 Sn WSsre tbs me so pie lived in vine-covered cottage for two years. Thence they moved to Beth el, O. Meanwhile. their family had been hildren--Frederick Ulysses. Nellie and Jesse By that time Grant had become tired of army life, and retired with the grade of captain: Mrs: Grants father farm in Missouri, and the young ex-cap- tain became a tiller of the soil and at- tempted to scratch living from among raemorated in the name "HardscrabbIe." which he applied to his estate. The struggle became too fierce and Grant quilted farming to enter a real estate of- successful, and the family were partly dependent on Judge Dent for support. Finding the brokerage business unremu- neratlve, Grant, in desperation. went to Galena, H., to work for a salary of $500 a year in a tannery. His employer was a brother thirteen years younger than himself. It is recorded that in this posi- tion he was almost as unsuccessful. and from time to time, he was not able to live comfortably.
 Then came the Civil War and the turn ing point in his fortunes. While he was at the front, Mrs Grant lived at Covfng- ton. Ky. with relatives of his. but fre- quently joined him at points where he was temporarily stationed. With peace election as President. Mrs. Grant be- came the first lady of the land" Dur- ing her occupancy of the White House tainments to the Duke of Edinburgh. to the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia. to King kaiahaua and to the first Chinese Minis ter
 OuI LIE ihDt lIuEty years b. 1ta has divi1ed her time between England and Washington. She is now nearly SO years of age. but her mind is still bright and she enjoys good health, and may be seen riding in her carriage almost every pleasant day
 Mrs. Lncrrtia Rudolph Garfield sl ont but few months In the White House. she ~ went to Cleveland. and not far from tliat city she now resides. V hjle General Garfield was in the House of Represent tatives they lived in an old fashioned dwelling at the corner Of I and Thir- teehth Streets, which has since given way before the march of Improvements. Mrs. Garfield has always been known as do nestle womap. Like Mrs. Grant. she was acquainted with varied circumstances. She was born on farm at Garrettsville, O.. and 1t was while attending school at Geauga Seminary, at Chester, near her fathers home. that she met young Gar field. He went later to Hiram College, co-educational institution. Miss Rudolph followed, and, after he had risen to the dignity of an instructor, became a mem- stitution. When they were married they boarded in the college town for several years Garfield gave up teaching to be- come preacher; this profession he aoan- doned for the study of law. When the war broke out he entered the army and served with distinction.
 Mrs. Garfield Is a small. spare woman, with fine features and very brilliant dark eyes. She Is famed for her superb self control. Her husband once said of her that never in his political career had he suffered in the least from any word or act of hers. During the years spent by Mrs. Garfield in Washington she was most often found in the Library of Con- gress where she studied the subjects in which she was the special tutor 10 nef was iepcrted that his family had been left without resources. and considerabl" sum was raised by private subscription
 n-.G- HnA fPNVT Ia fund. together with a pension of 5000 year voted by Congress enabled Mrs. Garfield to live in quiet comfort and com plete tho education of her children; She Is now 6S years Of ase' ana In ihoiher-
 Mrs. Benja min Harrison did not marry General Harrison until he hal retired President his first wife was living, and the present Mrs. Harrison, her niece, came to the White House often to assist in the social and domestic duties,
 Mrs. Mckinley. the fourth and last widow of a President. was Miss Ida Sax ton of Canton, O. Her father was pros porous banker, and she acted as clerk and cashier in his institution. Her nte was struggling young lawyer in that town. He had returned from the war with little more than his military rank and earn a living While at work on Blackstone and KcEt and walking to and from his office. he had occasion to pass near the Saxton home. and It was thus that their acquaintance sprang up, un' der very sentimental conditions. young lad who had a large share in the match making is now prosperous business man in Cleveland. The McKinleys mad two children, whom they lost; this was an affliction which always bore heavily upon them The widow of the late Pres Ident resembles Mrs. Garfield In her do- nestle tastes, and has always begrudged the claims which public life made upon her husbands time. It Is stated on good authority that she heard of her husbands second election to the Presidency with positive regret, and to friends who of fered her congratulations, replied that he belonged to her. and that the country had already had more than it's share or him. 1t will be recalled that on the Cali fornia trip, before her health broke down. she told the Southern ladies that she was looking forward to the time when she and 'the Major could pass their years in the quiet of private life at their can ton home. This was her ambition.
 Dream Will Never Be Realized.
 New Orleans Picayune.
 If A governmG nt should ever become bankrupt and go out of business. its pub lie property might be sold to pay its debts But ths can never come to pass | should one for government be over | thrown another1 ct up in its place, and l the new government takes possession or