Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-12-05
HER LIFE is A VOID.
Mrs. Mckinley Simply Awaiting the
Summons to Join Her Husband.

for Washington it was with the un-
derstanding that he would not return
to this city as the physician of Mrs.
Mckinley unless her condition should
change for the worse from what it
then was. Her health, for her, was
then about normal That state has
continued and when her physicians
are asked now as to her health they
reply, in general. that she is doing
very well.
The statement is true. but not all
the truth. Physically Mrs. Mckinley
is about in the same condition as she
has been in for years. but there are
features about her case that make
her friends anxious for her. 1t IS
the period of Mrs. McKinley's mourn
ing and, of course, she would not be
expected to go out much even ii ply
sically strong. but it is also the per-
iod of Mrs. McKinley's melancholy.
1t is over the latter feature that her
friends are most anxious.
The widow of the lamented Presi-
dent. excepting short drives. remains
at home in the little wooden house in
North Market street, made famous by
the pilgrimages of thousands OF
voters who swore fealty to McKin
ley in 1896 and again in 1900, and
which has entertained many of the
best known statesmen of the nation.
To Mrs. Mckinley life is but void
She expressed to DR.. Manchester. the
pastor and loving friend of the Nc
Kinleys, shortly after the martyred
presidents funeral desire to die
and join her husband. This desire
is still present. She talks but little,
to her friends, but sits at HON and
spends much time weeping, as she
thinks of him who was for many
years her stay and comforter. Her
unspeakable loss is only felt
Mrs. Mckinley is constantly attend
ed by her sister, Mrs. NJ. c. Barber,
who has given up her usual home
duties and devotes all her time and
energy to making life as pleasant as
possible for Mrs. Mckinley. The
world but little knows with what love
and sacrifice this attention is given
by Mrs. Barber.
The day after the president was
laid in the vault in Westlawn Gene
terry Mrs. Mckinley was driven to the
remain for a short time besides the
casket containing her beloved dead.
This visit was repeated daily. In or
der to make the stay as comfortable
as possible for her a rocking chair
was placed in the vault beside the
casket and a rug was over the floor
to prevent dampness from causing
Mrs Mckinley any i'll effects.
Friends have at last prevailed on Mrs.
Mckinley not to enter the vault, and
her visits now are to the tomb and
to the family lot. where rest the
ashes of her children:
Callers on Mrs. Mckinley are but
lew, as she is so Respondent that
even her most intimate friends have
tailed to bring back any degree of
cheer to her. Her pleasures, if she
has any, are in the past, and mayhap
in thinking of the future when her
spirit shall commune with that of
her husband.
The close companionship and the
constant devotion Oh president and
Mrs. Mckinley need not be retold to
the American people. From the time
that Ida Saxton plighted her troth %
William Mckinley, the young lawyer,
hey constantly sought to benefit one
another. Mrs. Mckinley, the invalid.
was an inspiration to her husband,
because she cheered him in vays
that the world knows not of. Her
body was weak, but her spirit and
faith were strong. From the time
that he started on a political career
she was confident that he would some
day be president. This faith she OK
pressed to him and told her friends.
She spurred him on in that direction.
She also taught him lessons of "a
tience that served him well in later
years.
No longer does fancy work engage
the attention of Mrs. Mckinley. One
of her delights for many years had
been the working of slippers to be
given friends as Christmas and holi-
day presents. She also donated
pieces of her handwork to bazaars
and to organizations seeking to raise
money for charitable or other worthy
causesNo new pieces of her skilled
hand will be given at the coming
Yuletide. for Mrs. Mckinley has no
longer the ambition to work at her
once delightful pastime.
Perhaps at no place did the daily
companionship of President and Mrs.
Mckinley show to better ADVANTAGE
than in their Canton home SON Of
the busiest hours of the president
were spent here, but he was never too
busy to give attention to his beloved
wife. For him she was always "ida"
and to her he was always "William.
He would drop the most important
matters of state or excuse himself
from the most important caller If her
condition at any time suddenly he,
came such as to demand his presence,