The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-07-26
THE M,KINLEYs IN WASHINGTON
Mrs. Mckinley an Invalid and Her
Husbands Constant Care for Her.

S9"u |OhSGant care TOR t1er.
When Mrs. Mckinley came to Wash
lngton as the wife of the president
there was naturally an intense inter
est in the social official circle, and in
TACT among the people of the capital
generally, as to her personality AL
though she had spent the sessions of
congress here while her husband was
a member of the house of representa-
yves, she was little known, her ply
slcal condition preventing her from
participating in social functions. APP
parently she had no desire to shine in
social way, preferring the company
OF her husband and a few intimate
friends to more general associations.
The devotion of the McKinleys to
each other and particularly Mr.. Nc
klnley's constant cGS. of his invalid
wife, was known to a small number
OF people only at that time. 1t was
not until they took up their residence
at the White House that loving care
and regard of the president for Mrs.
Mckinley and her great affection for
MIN and pride in the greatness he had
attained became known even to many
OF those who had been acquainted per-
sonally with them during the presi-
dents career in congress.
Nearly every White House family
has been subjected to more or less adj
verse criticism by Washington gossips.
Most of this has been unfounded, and
nearly all the scandalous stories that
nave been circulated about the private
habits of those who resided in the
executive mansion have been utterly
untrue. But no word of scandal ever
touched the McKinleys. Everything
that the curious world heard of them
and their ways dealt with an ideal
family life, and people began to appre-
clate something of the nobility Of the
presidents personal character and the
beautiful fortitude which Mrs. Nc
K1nley bore her sufferings.
For more than 20 years Mrs. McKin-
ley was an invalid. Since the death
OF her children she had been afflicted
/
almost constant attention. In all that
time her husband had been constant
in his devotion to her, sacrificing
many pleasures to give her comfort
and caring only for her welfare. To
her intimate friends Mrs. Mckinley
never tired of praising these traits of
McKinley's character. He was to her
the perfect man and husband. Her af-
lection for him was manifest to all
who came in contact with them in the
was that of a lover
1t was ecident to all who saw Mrs.
Mckinley that she had suffered Her
face showed that, but her physical dis
abilities had brought to her counten-
ance that sweetness which comes
from trials bravely borne. Despite her
bodily troubles, however, she persist
ed in performing as far as possible
those duties which the public expects
from the first lady Of the land. At the
White House receptions she sat in a
chair at the left of the president and
on the right of the line of standing
women Of the cabinet circle For all
who came to these affairs she had a
bright smile, with the addition of a
pleasant word to those she knew per-
sonally. She did not follow the hand
shaking custom of White House social
functions, and a glance at the deli
cate, fragile hands, usually folded in
her lap, explained why.
Perhaps the most decided trait of
Mrs McKinley's character was her
love for children. She showed this in
every occasion presented, whether
driving or walking through the White
House lobby for her carriage or when
friends brought their little ones to see
! her. At noon, when she usually re-
turned from her morning drives the
White House was, as a rule, pretty
well filled with visitors. Many of
these would stand in the lobby to
watch the frail, sweet faced woman
pass through to the residence portion
of the mansion, leaning on the arm of
an attendant. If Mrs Mckinley spied
a child in the crowd she would in
variably stop and call the youngster
to her, sometimes attempting to coax
the bashful ones by offers Of flowers.
On several occasions, when Mrs. Nc
Kinley was particularly attracted by
child in the lobby, she would have
him or her brought to her apartments.
No little boy or little girl ever went
away without some present.-Wash-
ington correspondence Of the New
York Sun.