The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-04-09

Her Daily Visit to the IOmb Oh her
Well Beloved Husband-NO Plans
For the Summer, but Friends Hope
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 a 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 assassln'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
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
duty have come to regard her daily Wis
it to the vault as sacred, and they eX-
tend to her the most profound sympa-
thy and attention. Visitors to the GEN.
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 a tribute of flowers and sheds
tears over the graves Of her two infant
daughters. All her hopes and her best
friends lie moldering in Westlawn GEN.
etery.
The home life of Mrs. Mckinley in
general does not differ now from what
it 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 we'll 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
sister, Mrs. Barber, has practically de-
voted all her time to Mrs. Mckinley
since the late presidents death. II
Mrs. Barber is compelled to be away
for day or more. Miss Mary Barber OF
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 letter in her own
hand, but that is rare. Faithful attend
ants do the work for her.
Mrs. Mckinley is not always able tc
see all visitors. but when she is able
she is as courteous to stranger as te
friend of long standing. Her health
according to a statement made repeat
eddy by her attending physicians, is a:
good now as it has been at any time IL
the last ten years. Her mind is keer
and active Her sensitive nature, OF
course, still feels poignantly the griei
that so suddenly came to her in the loss
of her husband last September, and a
times she gives way to her emotion:
and seems unable to control herself
But constant friends seek to preven
such emotions as much as possible. Hel
daily drives are continued by her owl
desire and by the advice Of her ply
stefan. Her interest in people an(
things seen during her drives has in
creased in recent months to a marked
extent.
OF plans for the summer there ha
been no great discussion at Mrs. Nc
Kinley's home 1t is we'll know
among her intimate friends and tn
members of her household that she de
sires to remain in Canton. Indeed it i
doubtful whether she could be mad
contented to remain away from Their
any length of time. Her one grea
comfort consisting in daily visit t