The National tribune., 1902-09-11

received an invitation from PRESIDENT Cleye-
land to dine with him. which he accepted.
Owing TO Mrs. Mckinley's fatigue. Cue to
much travelling. she did not attend the
dinner On March the President-elect
came to the White House and with Presi-
dent Cleveland rode in the same carriage
to the Capitol, where he was inaugurated,
and then returned to the White House.
After the return grand luncheon was
served and then the President reviewed
the great procession. From that time and
up until late in the night the social cali
ing was immense. The next day was the
same way. l was so busy that l could
hardly manage all the people, showing
them over the house, the private pariors
and the bed chambers above.
After the return from the Inauguration
/ mer Mrs. Mckinley, whom l had not
seen for 20 years, in the Blue Parlor. She
seemed very glad TO see me and shook
hands with me heartily.
For about 10 days there was a con-
tinuous reception by the President of dele
cations, military companies, Governors of
States with their staffs and their ladies,
whom l showed over the White House.
More particularly | remember the Gov
ernor of Ohio. Sandwiched in between
these delegations and military companies
were prominent men of all nations. The
White House at this time was the scene
of many brilliant affairs.
From about the middle uf March Mrs.
Mckinley would take daily drives, and al
ways had to be assisted In going odt or
coming in. II the President was aot with
her, one of the ushers assisted her, bring
ing her down in the elevator. Often 1t
would fall to my lot to assist her to her
carriage.
Everything went on nicely and smooth
" until Just before Christmas of that year,
when the Presidents mother was taken
very i'll. The family went to Canton. The
President and his wife watched by the
bedside of his mother until she passed
away. OF course, this produced sadness
in the White House, and all receptions and
dinner parties were abandoned. For a
long time afte-ward there was great grie1
and sorrow at the White House.
Following this sad bereavement, and
after the first shock had passed away, the
season that followed was very gay one.
with dinner parties and levees up until
the last public reception that was to have
been given. Preparations were mace anu
the House was being put in order to nave
the last public reception of that season,
when on the morning of the 18th of Feb
ruary we received the terrible news Of
the blowing up of the Maine" in the har-
bor of Havana. which cast gloom over
our entire Nation, and particularly the
White House. The President Immediately
gave orders to discontinue the decorating,
and that there should be no levee that
night. Two months later war was de-
clared against Spain. The order was
fhnncan nd tronnS and
from that time on for some months the
tramp of regiments was heard and great
numbers Of soldiers We're seen passing
through the city of Washington. There
was great activity at the White House in
the Executive Department, seeing mill
tary n,en and those applying for positions
in the Army and Navy. These were very
stirring times About this time Mr.. Roose-
welt came to the White House. He had
Just been appointed Colonel in the
Rough Riders, and was accompanied by
Col. John Jacob Astor, to whom he IN
troduced me. l got both their autographs
on that day, little thinking then that Mr..
Roosevelt would be the next President OF
the United States.
The following season, while the war
was going on, and things had settled down
to a military routine. the receptions were
again taken up, and there were dinner
parties, social gatherings and public re-
ceptioDs and during that period, l think,
there were two dances given in the state
dining room, something that l had never
seen given in that room before. Late that
season the President took trip to Lake
Champlain with Mrs. Mckinley, and 1t
seemed to be very beneficial to both Of
them. They were gone about month.
At tine beginning of the next season
New Years reception was held. After
that the President was taken sick with
the grip. and consequently all the recep-
tions and dinner parties were over for that
season. During this season the Postal
Congress of the World met in Washing
ton, and the President gave them recep-
ton. which was well attended. notable
people of all nations having gathered in
the city. Just in the midst of it Mr..
Preston, one OF the representatives from
the Hawaiian Islands to the Postal Con-
sress, fell in the Green Parlor, dangerous
" ILL., Gen. Wood, who was then Sur
geon in the Army, vas called. Mr.. Pres
ton revived enough to be taken to ms
hotel where he died 10 days afterwards.
About this time some of the troops be-
gan 20 return. One Of the first battalions
that arrived was n battalion of marines
about 500 or 600 strong. The President
stated that when they returned to Wash
ington he would be happy 10 have them
pass in review at the White House. re-
call that II was very TiihE dlleiHooH
when they arrived and there was a great
multitude of people TO see them as they
passed in review through the pOrtIco
where the President and his Cabinet re
viewed them. and they shared together the
heartiest congratulations and cheers of the
people.
Then came the campaign for McKin
ley's reelection. There was great dea
of excitement among the politicians, each
parties being sanguine that its candi
date would be elected. But President Nc
Kinley was reelected by an Overwhelming
majority.
During Mr.. McKinley's first Admins
tration John Addison Porter, his private
secretary, passed away. Also the Vice
President, Garrett A. Hobart. Of course
the death of our Vice-President brough
sadness to the Administration, for he wa
a man very much beloved.
The day of his second Inauguration wa
dismal Nevertheless, there was a grea
multitude of people in the city to view tn
procession, which was a most remarkabl
one. After the procession grand lunch
con was given. There were present MI
and Mrs. Abner Mckinley, Miss Hele
Gould. Mrs. Sartoris, Mrs Fred Gram
and quite a number Of the notable pee
ple of our Nation. The procession Taste
until almost dark, but the President stage
faithfully in the reviewing stand until a
had passed After the procession he n
ccived people until about 8 o'clock. whe
with the guests of the house, he and Mr.
Mckinley attended the Inaugural Bal
which wos grand affair given in III