The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-27

ftermdnuS Baer tMdDel MChlnltyD - the
daughter and heir OF Abner Mckinley.
PATHETIC STORY.
The peculiar pathos that was attached
to Mrs. Mckinley In the eyes OF the coun-
try at large has its root In love story
that will take its place among the clas-
sizes. on the part OF President Mckinley
II was a single minded devotedness, that
gathered an ever-increasing tenderness
from the dellcacy OF his wife.
on her part IL was a love OF absolute
dependence and trust. Through all her
life her eyes have retained the clear, un-
shadowed softness OF the girl: the charm
ing pink OF her cheek was that usually
known TO the dawn OF maturity. Her gen.
tie smile her soft voice. the ingenuousness
OF manner the modulated voice, all gave
President Mckinley the sweetheart OF his
boyhood, who, II she could not share the
cares OF the state and must be protected
from every alien look or word, could yet
win him from all other consideration to
make her happy.
In the hour of her affliction the be-
reaved wife voiced the whole craving OF
her nature in that one pathetic sentence:
II want TO see the major" But when she
had seen the major for the last time,
when they had placed him In the vault at
Canton, where now the national memorial
to her husband is nearing completion, she
turned her thought TO what she might do
for him. Daily she visited the tomb TO
stay awhile In thought, and 10 leave her
beloved flowers for her beloved dead.
LOVED FLOWERS
Next to children Mrs. Mckinley always
has loved her flowers. She used TO MIN
gle the two fondnesses by giving her bios
SONS from the White House conservator-
les in splendid largesse to the little ones,
and she had proteges OF all kinds In the
hospitals and other institutions and
among her personal friends When Eas-
ter-time came the First Lady would sit
all day at the window TO watch the egg
rolling on the lawn and laugh as glee-
fully as the youngsters themselves.
Denied much effort, she busted herself
about little things. She made purses OF
netted silk and fashioned slippers OF wool
by the hundreds. They went for Christ
mas gifts. as souvenirs. They brought
large prices at charitable fairs and they
gave their manufactures the keenest de-
light She said once during the White
House days that che had made 1000 pairs
of slippers 'for somebody to wear" The
Christmas after her loss she did not for
get her friends in the cabinet circle, but
the remenbrances fashioned by her deA-
cate fingers were all OF black and gray.
The woman who had clung so persistent
ly to beautiful colors, could find relief
only in the sombre shades.
TENDER CARE OF HUSBAND.
One OF the last expressions of Presi-
dent McKinley's care OF her occurred
when the train entered Terrace station at
Buffalo on that fatal trip The salute OF
the artillerymen drawn UP to await their
arrival broke seven panes in the forward
car. The crash and shock were too much
for Mrs. Mckinley TO bear. She fell faint
ing into her husbands arms. He laid her
back on her pillows. soothing her gently
before he stepped out TO acknowledge the
planIdits OF the crowd.
When she shrank back later in sight OF
all at the shrieking OF the engines and the
confusion. the president gently put his
arms about her, smiled reassuringly and
drew the lace wrap up about her ears,
shutting out the uproar
He lifted her down in his strong arms
and at the carriage door turned to call for
another wrap and carefully folded II
about her.
When Mr.. Mckinley welded Ida Saxton
she had been given not only all the advan-
tages that education and travel could of
fer-she was fresh from a six months
stay in Europe when they met-but had
learned seM-reliance as well. for her
father. James Saxton. had installed her
as assistant cashier in the bank 10 teach
her to cope with the world. She came TO
her husband brilliant with health and
ambition. When she had laid her two ba-
bies to rest In the Canton cemetery she
was the wreck OF her former self-the
spirit Of her youth and her love alone re-
nSained untouched.