The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-25
M'KINLEY AS
| knew HIM. !"
Sen. Hanna's Touching Reminis-
cence of Martyr President.
Private Life Reviewed by Init
mate Friend.
FOND OF GQOD PLAYS.
High Opinion of Joseph Jeffer-
son and Sol Smith Russell.
When He Saw His First Foot
ball Game.

ticle in the February number of the
National Magazine of Boston by Sem
kinley As L Knew Him. 1t is the
second article of a series written by
Senator Hanna reviewing the life and
work of the martyred president.
The following is from Senator Hanna'S
article:
There is nothing that he enjoyed more
than social time with friends at din
ner. He always entered into the spirit
of the occasion and contributed his full
share of merriment. And once aroused
he showed a side of his character that
few were acquainted with. He enjoyed
jokes to the full measure. and was a
pleasant tease. When he once had a
joke on me he rung all the changes:
and no one enjoyed a joke on himself
more thoroughly than he did
In 1897, when / was tenderfoot, re-
Gently arrived in Washington, he ask
ed me to give up a dinner cement
with some gentlemen, to fill up the ia
bic, as an emergency man, at dinner
to be given at the White House that
night. l declined, saying had better
thing-not knowing that an invitation
to the White House was equivalent to
a social command. This joke on me
was a delight to him.
When he a guest at my house for
several days, or a member of a house
party, his flow of genial spirits began
at the breakfast table and continued
uninterrupted all day. He seemed to
feel as if he were on a vacation. and
had the joyous spirit of a. big boy home
from school, always looking after the
comfort of others, with never, appar-
entity a thought for himself An ideal
home-body was William Mckinley, and
the American fireside was q shrine of
worship with him.
At one of our house parties we had
flashlight photograph taken of the din
ner guests. He was particularly fond
of this dinner picture. because it con-
tanned a splendid likeness of Mrs. Nc
Kinley.
When Mckinley laughed he laughed
heartily all over, and was perfect boy
in his enjoyment In all the social
visits to my home it was inspiration
to me to see the way he could throw off
the cares of the day. 1t always made
me feel 20 years younger to spend
social evening with him, and cannot
begin to measure the depth and value
of this friendship to me, entirely aside
from his public career.
He was never much inclined, / believe,
to take an active part in athletics,
though his simple, normal habits of life
kept him always in excellent condition
physically and mentally He proved
the enduring SturdineSS of his frame by
his hard service in the civil war, and
by the tremendous amount of labor
which he afterwards put into the study
and presentation of public questions.
He was, of course, Interested in the
notable athletic contests that the col
lege boys held, but 1t was as late as
1884 that he and l witnessed together
our first game of football-a Princeton
Yale game at New York.
watched every movement of the game
from the clubhouse with as keen an
interest as he gave to debate in con-
gress-
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.
He told me how he felt like the coun-
try boy who went to a college football 4
oar for fret a
real thing" When asked how he liked
it, the country boy naively replied:
They didn't have no game; they got
into a scrap and kept fghtin' all the
time when they ought to have been
playing ball"
AT this football game there was little
to foreshadow what was written in the
political horizon two years later, but
1 do recall that he seemed to be espe-
cially popular with the sturdy young
collegians one of whom remarked to
his companion as they passed by US:
who is that distinguished looking
mantle one that looks like Napo-
q leon ?''
The late president was particularly
fond of a good play, and when he would |
come to stay with me at Cleveland over |
night he would always inquire:
rs there anything good at your opera |
house tonight, Mark?"
We enjoyed many pleasant evenings |
together. He delighted in meeting the |
prominent actors, and was very fond |
have they chatted together, and Jeffer- |
son never failed to call and see him |
when in Washington. Sol Smith Rus
sell was another friend. The drama of |
high standard was to him a relief from |
wOrriments of the day and thoroughly |
enjoyed a relaxation. He delighted |
to discuss with these play folks their /
art, and how actors, like en- 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 theater: he |
always delighted to indulge her, and |
they spent many happy evenings to- |
gether witnessing the best plays that |
were on the boards.
He never tired of seeing Jefferson in |
rip Van Wrinkle" and THE Cricket on |
the Hearth" which We're 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 |
actor. He always seemed to have a |
keen scent for talent in any profession, |
and was quick to recognize genius. The |
psychological study the actor made in /
portraying human nature before the |
footlights was to him Fascinating. The |
personality of these men on the stage |
he believed had a potent influence on /
the public mind. He never tired of |
hfgh-class dramas: he was especially /
fond of Shakespeare's plays, and al /
ways attended thoroughly read up"
He would often chide me for not being
more thoroughly posted on the original |
Shakespearean text but 1 was more /
concerned in the play as staged.
How we'll remen Der how he enjoyed /
witnessing the play entitled 1.-The Poll |
tician,' during his second campaign |
for governor of Ohio. We sat together /
in box. Roland Reed. who played the