Evening star., 1901-08-24
characteristics of the Ex-President
Recalled.
NEVER BOASTED OF Els LINEAGE
His Devotion to Friends and Love
for Children.
OTHER SALIENT
POINTS
Written for The Evening Star.


General Harrison would have been sixty
eighty years old today, had he lived" re-
marked Louis T. Michener Of this city last
Tuesday. Mr.. Michener was formerly at
torney general Of Indiana and was for
years close personal and political friend
of Benjamin Harrison. At the time Of
General Harrison's death Mr.. Michener was
too much grieved to recall recoilections Of
the ex-President but he talked interesting
ly the other day upon number of things
that throw considerable light upon phases
of General Harrison's life that have not
been understood.
II have often been asked" began Mr..
Michener, 'if General Harrison was not
very proud of his ancestors, especially his
grandfather and great-grandfather, and IL
he were not the sort of man to lay great
stress on the deeds of his family. l always
answer that / never knew him to talk
about his family except when obliged to
answer questions which were put to him.
Indeed, l have always fancied that he felt
himself handicapped in his early career by
the weight of his lineage, and that he was
determined to rise in spite of 1t. l recall
an incident in point which also shows the
wonderful memory of James G. Blaine. 1t
will be recalled that Mr.. Blaine, in the
campaign of 1884, swung round the circle
and made speeches in most of the northern
states. He spent five days in Indiana in
the month of October and was General
Harrisons guest from Saturday night until
Monday morning. At breakfast something
was said about medals, and Mrs. Harrison
arose from the table and returned with
two medals which she showed to Mr.
Blaine The first was of gold, given to
Gen. William Henry Harrison, pursuant
to an act of Congress, in honor of his VIC
tory over the British under Proctor and
the Indians under Tecumseh at the battle
of the Thames, in Canada, October 5, 1913
Ia hn in nc riniin inyS
the medal, Immediately translating them
into English, discussed the details of that
battle and 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, and which had been struck off
in commemoration of the victory won by
the Christian forces under the command
of John SobiesEi, king of Poland, over the
Turks September -, 1853, under the walls
of Vienna, when the Moslem tides were
turned back and the Christian lands saved
from destruction. Mr.. Blaine read and
translated the Latin inscription, gave the
date of the battle and spoke of it's mo-
mentous character. And then said that
Immediately following the battle, in the
cathedral in Vienna, 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,
especially to the words in praise OF his
grandfather. General Harrison was an at
tentive but a silent listener.
Love of Children.
General Harrison's devotion to children
was always notable characteristic He
not only loved children, but he made him
self their companion. He would stop and
talk with them on the street show a
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 much
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 noticed
that he had turned in another direction.
Overtaking him, she asked what it meant.
He replied, in voice choked with tears, 1
know you told me to drown the kittens. but
l couldn't do 1t. l am going to take them
to General Harrison, for l know he'll take
care of them. Some day the letters and
stories written by General Harrison to
his grandson will be published. it 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 a way as
to delight and instruct them.
Told Stories Well.
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
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 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
kind, generous and responsive. Men who
love children, horses and dogs as he did
always tender hearted. More than
once | have seen tears come to his eyes
because calamity had oyertaken old
time friend. He had taught himself to hide
his emotion from the world, and evidently
believed in the right Of a man to have
feelings and thoughts which he need not
blaZon 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
nor did he assume that the public had. or
could be persuaded to have, any interest
in them. He was generous with his money
and with acts of thOughtfulneSs, but with
out the slightest display. He had sense
Of responsibility which was abnormally
keen. / never knew one upon whom its
weight rested more heavily. Until thing
done he could not relieve himself for
one moment Of the feeling of care. This
was true of him In both his professional
and his public life.
while to this chara cteristic was largely
due his able and conscientious performance
of duty ii also had considerable to do with
the popular opinion that he was of irasci-
BILE or uncertain temper cold or austere.