The Mena weekly star., 1907-06-13
''IDA''
Henry Watterson, in Louisville Cour-
 ier-JournaL

in the arms Of mdn-l SFSi flower grew into woman-,na' star and that flower was Ida Sex ton Mckinley. There was an aroma of sweetness and grace ID the very name. Her husband never addressed her, never re- ferred to her, except as Ida.
 By an interpolation little short of divine tbe full knowledge of the supreme tragedy which des- cended iuto life yet in its noon, was spared her; the angels drew a veil as of tears between her and it's full realization.
 God had given it to Ida Sexton to be 6tly mated. There were many beauties and virtues in the character of William Mckinley; his career was abundautly full filled, and the crown of glory he wore with such consuming mod esty was studded with jewels both rich and radiant; the soldier, the civilian, the man Of affairs and the party leader; but the rarest of all that shone in that priceless diadem was his devotion simple, constant, uuerring-to Ida" It seemed a strange q most mysterious, inexplicable decree of Providence that ordained the death by the assassin's hand of such men as Lincoln, Garfield and Mckinley; each so unotfend ing, so filled with the love of hu- man kindness, so gracious and generous.
 Of the three Mckinley was the Ileast aggressive. Lincoln lived in deadly times, and Garheld's very ,ntellectuality raised up both enemies and enmities. Gar field, lovaDle as he was, had a rough side to him, and Lincoln, big of heart and of brain, vas outwardly even as gnarled oak. Mckinley lived primitive l Christian man. He emulated St. Paul in the desire to be all things to all men. It gave him pleas ure to give pleasure. It caused him pain to inflict pain. No man ever grew as fast as he in the executive office both in men, tai stature and in breadth.
 He came 10 power during moy ing times. Immense responsi- bilities descended upon him. War, which he had religiously opposed, and for which the coun- try was ill-prepared, was sudden Ily thrust upon him. The White House became an armed camp. There was not an hour of the day, or night, the president could call his own. But night or day, there came never moment when that sweet voice mig htnot summon him to the side of the wife whose peculiar affliction had imposed upon him the care of nurse for child-none other nurse than he. It was the knowledge Of this in those who personally knew and loved them which gave to the awful fnality at Buffalo and added an inexpessiblc poign- ancy of grief.
 The people of the South especially will ever hold the memory of William Mckinley deep in the heart of their hearts. He it was to whom 1t was given to complete the sublime intention of Lincoln with respect to the disunited sections of the Union. He was quick to see the meaning and the opportunity of the Span- lsh war. The last eternal treaty of peace between the North and the South was written by the pen that signed the commissions as generals iu the army of the United States of Joseph Wheeler Fitzhugh Lee and John Breckin- ridge Castlemau, and never did statesman and patriot perform an act greater in reach and more benign in effect than did William Mckinley when he restored those Confederate soldiers to the service of a once more united country, literally turning gray to blue, and giving generations