The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1902-04-24
MRS. M kINLEY AT HOME
Life, OF the Dead Presidents
Widow at Canton.
SHE HAS BUT ONE COMFORT LEFT


Her Daily Visit to the Tomb of Her
Well Beloved Husband-No Plans
For the Summer, but Friends Hope
to Persuade. Her to Take a Trip.
Her Health Good.
"Her one comfort is her daily visit to
the tomb Of her husband. She seems
to be living only in his memory and for
the purpose of honoring him. These
words were spoken of Mrs. Mckinley
by an intimate friend of hers. They
tell in nutshell the daily life of the
woman who has not recovered and new
er will recover from the effects Of the
shock occasioned her by the assassin's
bullets that cost the life of her illus
trious husband at Buffalo.
Mrs. Ida Mckinley, whose life was
wrapped up in every action and word
Of William Mckinley as he received
the plaudits, of his fellow man as con
gresham, governor, candidate and
president, lives in the past more than
in the present. Her one desire is to
pay homage to her dead husband. To
that end she has daily made visits to
the vault in Westlawn cemetery, at
Canton. O., which holds the body of
her husband. says the New York
World
For her convenience at the vault a
rocking chair has been placed in the
house of the dead near the Mckinley
casket. A heavy rug on the floor pro-
tects her from dampness. When she
enters the tomb, she is always clothed
In heavy wraps, SO as to prevent any
cold from getting hold on her system.
The guards Of national soldiers on
1uty have come to regard her daily Wis
1t to the vault as sacred, and they ex-
tend to her the most profound sympa-
thy and attention. Visitors to the Gem
etery who witness her enter the vault
bearing with her daily her offering of
flowers. which she bedews with tears
ere she lays them on the casket. stand
In silence and utmost respect.
Her daily visit of love and honor to
the cemetery is not completed at the
tomb of her husband. She drives far
Their into the cemetery grounds proper
and lays tribute Of lowers and sheds
tears over the graves of her two infant
daughters All her hopes and her best
friends lie moldaring In Westlawn GEN.
etery.
The home life of Mrs. Mckinley In
general does not differ now from what
1t has been for ten or fifteen years past,
save. Of course, that part which con,
nected her in word and deed with her
husband, who shared his time With
her as much as possible. Her habits of
rising and retiring when she feels at
all well are systematic. The members
of her household follow everything on
schedule time. All meals are prompt
~ served at fixed hour. Her wants
are cared for as closely as possible.
Her bosom companion and attendant
now is Miss Mozer. Mrs McKinley's
sister. Mrs. Barber. has practically de-
voted all her time to Mrs. Mckinley
since the late presidents death. If
Mis-. DdEDCI ID OlupClACQ W DC an OJ
for day or more, Miss Mary Barber or
some other member Of the family re-
mains at Mrs. McKinley's home,
In diversions MrS, Mckinley's chief
pastime, as the people in general know.
has been making fancy slippers. Mrs.
Mckinley reads considerably herself,
but has more read to her. She occa-
sionally writes a letter in her own
hand but that is rare. Faithful attend
ants do the work for her.
Mrs. Mckinley is not always able to
see all visitors, but when she is able
she is as courteous to stranger as to
friend of long standing. Her health,
according to statement made repeat
eddy by her attending physicians, Is as
good now as it has been at any time in
the last ten years. Her mind is keen
and active. Her sensitive nature, of
course, still feels poignantly the grief
that SO suddeG..y- came ca me to her IN the loss
Of her husband last September and at
times she gives way to her emotions
and seems unable to control herself.
But constant friends seek to prevent
such emotions as much as possible. Her
daily drives are continued by her own
desire and by the advice of her ply
sician Her interest In people and
things seen during her drives has In
creased in recent months to marked
extent.
OF plans for the summer there has
been no great discussion at Mrs. Nc
Kinley's home. 1t is we'll known
among her intimate friends aid the
members of her household that she de-
sires to remain in Canton. Indeed 1t is
Doubtful whether she could be made
,ontented to remain away from there
my length Of time. Her one great
.onfort consisting in a daily visit to
he vault which contains her husbands
,ody, she would, her friends know,
line for return.
It may be that later In the summer
n experimental trip will be arranged
or her. Her intimate friend. Mrs.
sarret A. Hobart Of Paterson. N. j..
) anxious to have Mrs. Mckinley visit
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