New-York tribune., 1902-01-20
WILLIAM M'KINLEY AS | KNEW HIM.
THE SECOND OF SERIES OF PERSONAL "REMINISCENCES
OF THE LATE PRESIDENT
BY SENATOR MARCUS A. HANNA

put into the study and presentation of public
questions. He was, of course. interested in the
notable athletic contests that the college boys
held But it was late as 1894 that he and
witnessed together our first game OF football-a
friRceton-Yal game at New-York.
1t was drizzing. cold day. but he watched
every movement of the game from the club
house with as keen an interest as he gave to
debate in Congress
When some mysterious movement in pile
up" was made, he would turn and ask me about
it, but had to shake my head and confess it
was my first game, and that it was all Greek
to me.
He told me how he felt like the country bow
VINO went to a college football game for the
hrst time, to see the real thing" When asked
now he liked it, the country boy na1vely replied:
They didn't have no game they got into
scrap and kept fghtin' all the time when they
ought to have been playing ball"
AT this football game there little to fore
shadow what was written in the political hori-
zon two years later, but I do recall that he
seemed to be especially popular with the sturdy
young collegians, one of whom remarked to his
companion as they passed by us:
Who is that distinguished looking man-tbe
one that looks like Napoleon"
Inc late President was particularly fond of a
good play. and when he would come TO stav
with me at Cleveland overnight he would AL
ways inquire:
Is there anything good al your opera house
tonight, Mark"
we enjoyed many pleasant evenings together.
he delighted in meeting the prominent actors
ana was very fond of Joseph jefferson. Many
an hour have they chatted together and Jeffer-
son never failed to call and see him when in
washington Sol Smith Russell was another
TREND The drama of high standard was to him
d leheI from worriments of the day and thor
ouehly enjoyed a relaxation. He delighted
10 discuss with these play folks their art and
no" actors, like men in public life, had to cater
TO public wishes and how much their influence
meant in producing plays of healthful purpose
and moral teaching. Mrs. Mckinley was also
very fond of the theatre; he ALWAYS deIiebted
10 indulge her, and they spent many happv
evenings together witnessing the best plavs that
We're on the boards
he never tired of seeing jefferson in Rim
Van Winkle" and The Cricket on the Hearth :.
which were undoubtedly his favorite plays.
Mark. you meet many distinguished men
as owner Of an opera house as you do as Sena
tor. he would jokngly remark after a chat
with an actor. He always seemed 10 have =
keen scent for talent in any profession. and
was quick to recognize genius. The psycholog-
ical study the actor made in portraying human
nature before the footlights was to him fas
cinating. The personality of these men on the
stage he believed had a potent influence on the
public mind. He never tired of high class
dramas; he was especially fond Of Shakespeare's
plays, and always attended thoroughly read
up He would often chide me for not being
more thoroughly posted on the original Shake
spearian text, but was more concerned in the
play staged.
T
Messing the play entitled The Politician" dur
ing his second campaign for Governor OF Ohio.
We sat together in box. Roland Reed who
played the Politician" and who is now dead
directed his remarks straight at us and Nc
Kinley enjoyed his hits immensely. The actor
brought in impromptu points. and so generously
improvised the speaking part that 1t seemed as
If the actors and audience were having an
aside" all to themselves at our expense