The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-01-25

Politician and who is now dead di-
rected his remarks straight at us, and
MCKINLEY enjoyed his hits Immensely.
The actor brought in inpronptu points,
and so generously improvised the
speaking part that it seemed as if the
actors and audience were having an
aside" all to themselves at our ex-
pense.
A man of more generous impulse than
william Mckinley never lived. When
cases were presented to him for relief
that were beyond his ability to meet,
he would apply to me or some of his
friends for assistance in aiding the
worthy persons, and his friends were
always glad to respond to these APP
peals. He was liberal without stint.
1t gave him actual physical pain to see
any one suffering or in distress, and
on such occasions showed his great
faith in friendship, never hesitating to
go to any bounds in an appeal for 9TH
ers. Whatever he had in his pocket,
whether it was ten cents or ten dollars,
he was always ready to give it to re-
lieve distress IF the applicant only re-
quired 50 cents and the Major had SO
in his pocket, the applicant would get
the $40 He did not know such a thing
as taking change from charity.
Though he had no especial training in
music, no person was more partial to it
than William Mckinley. And his tastes
were as catholic as a child's. Anything
pleased him. 1 recall many Sunday
evening home concerts. Every one was
singing, ana he would call Tor Nearer,
My God, to Thee and Lead, Kindly
Light" The radiance on his face when
he sang those old favorite hymns, as
if his whole soul was in it. is to me
sacred memory picture of William Nc
Kinley.
He would urge me to try to sing, and
insisted I had sweet tenor voice, but
the pleasant charm to the happy occa-
sionS was never m aired by my vocal
efforts
1 knew I could not sing. but I listen
ed; the echoes of those happy hours will
linger with me as long as I live. The
little singing parties in our parlor after
dinner were always his delight.
got the closest revelations of William
McKfnley's character. I think, in our
quiet hours of smoking and chatting,
when all the rest had retired. Far past
midnight we have sat many times talk
ing over those matters which friends
always discuss-and the closer l came
to the man the more lOvable his charac-
ter appeared. Every time we met there
was revealed the gentle, growing great
ness of a 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 peo-
pie. His clear-cut conscientiousness
tallSs-friend to friend-in the calm Sc
renity of the nights quiet hours, we
felt the ties of our life's friendship
growing stronger as we simply sat and
puffed and looked in each others faces.
These home smoke-chats are the treas
ured memories of man who loved
mankind much more than he did him
self and who had conSecrated his career
to the people. He always was interest
ed in business and Industrial affairs,
and Understood them as few men did
in their relation to the home comforts
and happiness of the American people.
1t was these quiet hours together that
the splendid devotion of the man TO
high and noble ideas showed clearest. 1
think that reminiscent glance at our
smoke-chat meetings night after night
wherever we CHANGED to be. reveals TO
me most freely the great qualities in the
man which the world had so profoundly
honored- can see the Kindly, quizzical
look in his deep blue eyes under his
bushy eyebrows when he broke the 81
lence after meditating:
Mark. this seems to be right and
fair and just i think So don't your"
His don't you >" orgt'did your" always
had a tone that invited candid conf
dence, and this is a popularity that
brings back to my memory some Incl
dents of our acquaintanceship in early
years that seemed to foreshadow his fu-
ture-
Looking back over the long years of
association with William Mckinley, |
nothing seems to stand out more promi-
nently than the hearty and sunny way
in which he always enjoyed the friendly