The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-03-12
HANNA WRITES OF M'KINLEY
the SENATOR TELLS "REMINISCENCES
OF THE LATE PRE- SDENT.
Chats During the Wee Small Hours he
vealed Fully His Character. Was
Fond of Plays and Actors.

Fond or rays anu PCIoTS'
The National Magazine for February
contains Senator Hanna's second pa
per on civilian Mckinley as I Knew
Him." This paper describes little
characteristics known only to Presi-
dent McIinley's intimate friends and
contains many "reminiscences connect
ed with his social rather than with his
political life. Senator Hanna says:
"When he once had joke on me, he
rung all the changes, and no one en-
joyed q joke on himself more thor
oughly than he did. In 1897, when
was a tenderfoot, recently arrived in
Washington, he asked me to give up a
dinner engagement with some gentle
men to fill up the table as an emergen-
cy man at dinner to be given at the
White House that night. | declined,
saying l had better thing, not know
/ ing that an invitation to the White
House was equivalent to a social COM
mand This joke on me was delight
to him.
He was never much inclined, l be-
lieve, to take an active part in ath-
letics, though his simple, normal hab-
its of life kept him always in excel
lent condition. 1t was as late as 1894
that he and l witnessed together our
| first game of football, a Princeton
Yale game at New York. 1t was
Il h,If ha 70,
every movement of the game from the
clubhouse with as keen an interest as
he gave to a debate in congress. When
some mysterious movement in a pile
up was made, he would turn and ask
me about it, but l had to shake my
head and confess it was my first game
and that it was all Greek to me.
"The late president was particularly
fond of a good play, and when he
would come to stay with me at Cleve-
land overnight he would always in
quire:
els there anything good at your
opera house tonight, Mark?
eve enjoyed many pleasant evenings
together. He delighted in meeting the
prominent actors and was very fond or
Joseph Jefferson. Many an hour have
they chatted together, and Jefferson
never failed to call and see him when
in Washington. Sol Smith Russell was
another friend. The drama of high
standard Was to him a relief from wor
riments OF yhe day thoroughly enjoyed
as a relaxation. He never tired of see
ing Jefferson in rip Van Wrinkle and
The Cricket on the Hearth which
were undoubtedly his favorite plays.
"'Mark. you meet as many distin-
guished men as owner of an opera
house as you do as senator he would
| jokingly remark after a chat with an
i actor.
Though he had no especial training
| in music. no person was more partial
to it than William Mckinley. And his
| tastes we're as catholic as a child'S.
Anything from a hurdygurdy to grand
| opera pleased him. He would keep his
hands or feet beating time whenever
| there was music about him. | recall!
| many Sunday evening home concerts.
Every one was singing, and he would
call for Nearer. My God, to Thee and
| Lead, Kindly Light The radiance on
his fare when he sang those old favor
tie h9.nns as if his whole soul was in
| it is to me q sacred memory picture of
William Mckinley.
"Hn would urge me to try to sing and
insisted that had a sweet tenor voice.
but the pleasant charm of the happy
occaaions was never married by my
voca; efforts.
81 got the closest revelations of Viii
larn McKinley's character, think, in
our quiet hours of smoking and chat
ting when all the rest had retired. Far
past midnight we have sat many times
talking over those matters which
4 friends always discuss, and the closer
l CAM. TO the man the more lOvable
his character appeared. Every time
we met there was revealed the gentle,
growing greatness of man who knew
men, respected them and loved them
| Never was it the personal interests of
| William Mckinley that he discussed
but those of friends or his party and
above all of the people"