The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-24

Continued from First Page)
made in the treatment unless we
shall decide on it at consultation"
Weeks of Mental Darkness.
For weeks curtain of mental
darkness has been closing down on
Mrs Mckinley. Shade by shade it
has fallen. Now, as the gentle
woman lies here facing death in the
old home of the dead President,
only glimmer of consciousness re-
mains to her.
All about her are the things he
knew-pietures, books, and chairs
in which he sat. The sight of them
tore at her heart strings when they
brought his body home from
Buffalo. Later on they brought to
her a tender consolation in the
memories they recalled. But now to
her they are without meaning.
Illusions About the Major.
She has had hallucinations. At times
she has seemed to see 1.-THE major" as
she always called Mckinley, seated
there by her bedside. She has stretched
out her wasted hand toward the hand
that has been still and gone for six
years now. And when the illusion has
faded and she sees the chair empty as
II Is she has still been spared mercifully
the aching sense of loss that has never
before left her mind.
She would sigh lust a little. then soon
would sink back, smiling peacefully
AT times her mind has been filled with
dread that she has gone from home
and Is In strange house. Then her
nurses have led her to the windows and
pointed out the familiar trees and the
houses of her neighbors all about.
Cheered by DR.. Portman.
Then 1 am home" she would say
and suffer herself to be led back TO her
chair. The visits of Dr. o. E. Portman
have never failed 10 revive her. He has
been her physician since the death Of
DIR. Phillips. who attended her for years.
When Mckinley was living in Can
ton lie called on DR.. Portman. He
asked that IL Mrs. Mckinley should be
left a widow and DR.. Phillips, then an
old man, should die, that Dr. Portinan
would care for her. DR.. Portman prom
ised
And when Mckinley was dying in
Buffalo the fate OF his invalid wife
was on his mind. Through Surgeon
General RiXey ne sent word to r)rI..
Portman reminding him of his prorIise.
Years of Nervous Troubles.
This last illness is a development of
the thirty-four years of nervous troubles
that kept her always an invalid.
For the last two years Mrs McKin-
ley was better than for many years be-
fore. Following an attack OF bron-
chitis early this spring II was seen
that her mind was failing.
II was then that she was, for the first
| time. relieved OF business cares. She
rallied. Another and then a third at
tack set her back each time. The third
was about two weeks ago. Since then
! the FAILURE OF her brain, exhibiting it,
SELF In periods OF hysteria. has become
marked The attack Of paralysis In her
! left arm was forcasted weeks before
| in GOODNESS there.
Last Drive on Tuesday.
Tuesday Mrs. Mckinley had her last
| drive. Her nurses we're out with her
| for an hour. They drove seven miles
/ into the country. She seemed to enjoy
the air, but said little during the drive.
\ few days before she visited the
vault where soldiers of the regular
/ army still stand guard over her bus-
Dands body She carried flowers. The
last time she was inside the VauIt was
last fali, when Secretary CJ-telyou aC-
cOmpanied her.
Until yesterday the patients heart
was strong. Then II began 10 fail. II
missed It's seventh and each twentieth
| beat She lapsed into Inconsistencies
An alarm was sent 10 Dr. Rixey. Mrs.
| Sarah Duncan and Mrs Helen McEfn-
| ley, or Cleveland, and other relatives
were summoned.
Last evening the patient revived some
what. She opened her eyes. and those
| about thought she gave them some
slight sign of recognition.
-Four Nurses Present.
-Four nurses are attending Mrs. Nc
Kinley. Her sister. Mrs. Barber. spent
last night with them. DIR. Portman left
the house soon after o'clock. He saw
no real change in her condition.
Mrs. Ida Sexton Mckinley was born
in Canton, Ohio, June S. 1917. the
daughter of James A. and Catherine
Demalt Sexton. She was educated in
Cleveland and at Brook Hall Seminary
Mdeia, Pa, but because of her delicate
health she retired from the seminary at
the age OF seventeen. She became the
wife Of Mai. William Mckinley January
=, lS1, after an almost lifelong friend
! snip. The happiness Of their married
lie was marred only by the death Of
their only children Kate and Ida.
During her husbands administration
as governor Of Ohio she was prevented
from appearing in public functions bv
invalidiSm, but during his career as
% "a In IL,