The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-26
DOMESTIC AER)-HORSH.P
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY'S DEVOTION
TO HIS WIFE MARKED AT
ALL TIMES
DIFFERENCE TO HER WISHES
His Powerful Influence Value to
Tiding Over Crisis in Her Ill
ness-WlII Power Akin
to HypnOt1sm.

The life of almost constant anxiety
which President Mckinley has led for
more than a quarter-century would have
broken down a man of less robust
physique and inferior self-command
Through the whole Of it he has laid his
political plans, carried them MO execu-
ton, kept in touch with the changes of
public sentiment, administered various
high offices involving in their duties
vast mass Of detail, taken part in num-
berless public functions, eaten heartily,
slept well, defed bodily fatigue. and
maintained an equipose of temper and
cheerful caImness of demeanor which
have aroused the wonder of all with
whom he has come into close contact,
writes the Washington correspondent of
the New York Post.
His invalid wife has been his COM
pan;on In everything, and her care and
comfort his first thought. No words
could overdraw the picture Of his devo-
ton, and his bitterest foes have qualified
their criticisms with the admission that,
once across the sacred threshold of his
home. he was secure from attack on any
score whatever. Nor has this tenderness
failed of appreciation. In his wifc's
eyes he has always been not only the
best husband in the world but the great
est man; and it was touching to witness
her complete absorption in his move
ments, words, looks, whenever she was
present at any ceremony IN which he
figured, or her childlike wonder that all
mankind did not share her estimate of
his grandeur of intellect and character.
The knowledge of her domestic hero
worship lends peculiar grace to the
memory of one feature of their life at
Columbus when he was governor of
Ohio. They made their home at the Nell
house, opposite the capitol, and Mr.. NC
Kinley chose their suite of rooms with
special reference to his wife's desire to
be able to look out and watch him as
he came and went. Every morning when
he left her side to go to the executive
chamber he would walk from the hotel
door to the nearest crossing, and there
halt, turn and look up at the window
in which she sat. Then the governor of
Ohio would lift his hat with a courtly
air to the most loyal of his constituents,
who would acknowledge the honor with
a delighted smile. The little comedy,
daily enacted through the legislative
| seasons of four successive years, used to
be a fruitful subject of comment, some
captious and some jocose, among that
part of the general public who witnessed
1t. But to the Subtler understanding it
conveyed a fine meaning all it's own.
The president has always eXerted over
his wife's will power akin to hypnotism.
! 1t is no secret that, during recent years
| her infrmity has caused her to be more
( like petted child than mature woman.
! in every practicable way Ter husband has
! humored her wishes; but there has been
/ times when it has been necessary for
him to decide questions more promptly
! than she would or could, and then, with
| unwavering firmness, he has announced
his purpose and held to it. This has al
! ways been done with such gentleness of
! voice and manner that she has been soon
ready to yield her preference to his.
! Never, when 1t could be avoided has he
| crossed her wishes in any way, even
| though concession might involve the ut
most inconvenience to himself; nor in