Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-26
MRS, NJ KINLEpS LIFE
STEPPED in Pain, But One of
Great Devotion.
FLOWERS AND CHILDREN.
She Was Devoted to These Two
Through Life.
A ROMANCE OF HER YOUTH
Her Father Encouraged the Suit OF
William Mckinley to the Exciu-
sion of Dancing Youth. =, :
FLOWERS AND CHILDREN
ROMANCE OF HER YOUTH

Special Dispatch to The Star. @
CLEVELAND, Ohio. May Pa romance'
in the life of Mrs Ida Mckinley, published
tonight for the first time was recalled to.
day by John d. Lang of the Boston and
Montana Mining Company. For more than
ten years Lang was in the employ of Mrs.
McKinley's father, and thus became intt7s
mately acquainted with the girl who was
destined to become the first lady OF the
land. =,
Lang started his career at the bookkeep-
er's desk and continued in the confidence
of his employer until the latter's death.
AS the daughter Of the towns richest
banker, Miss Ida was the recipient Of at*
tentions of the young men. but In genera1
she held herself aloof from those who
sought her hand in expectation of OBJ
tanning fortune with it. i
Among the recreatioEs dear to the heart
of the bankers daughter was dancing,
Miss Ida at that time gave evidence OF the
extremely affectionate nature that charac-S
terZed her later life. Whenever she would
meet an urchin the street it was net
unusual for her to stop and give him
kiss.
Letter on the Scene. ga
About this time there appeared young
DiOtu Dy TIE HdHtc VI SHoi ASo L~SAeSA'
was noticed that he was pouring out his
devotion on the bankers daughter. and
naturally the gossips banded the story
about until it reached the ears of tho
hard headed financier. Letter was the son
of a congressman. He appeared to have
no serious purposes in life, and as FAR as
known had no avocation, and. young and
handsome it seemed as If his suit would
prove successful, when the father de-
cided that it was time to interfere. From
that moment Letter never had a chance
to take the daughter buggy riding, as.
was customary in those days, and when
ever he called at the house Miss SaxtoR
was constantly under chaperonage
Whenever party was announced at
the home of distant neighbor young
Lang, the bank employe,ewas called upon
to assume the duty of accompanying the
girl. s.
Never Openly Opposed Her.
While Mr.. Saxton never openly opposed
his daughter in anything, it was soon
noted that his influence was producing the
desired effect. The young wooer, Mr.. Sax
ton said, had no regular occupation. and
this to his mind was an objectionable
crime. The good people were still dis
cussing the probable futures OF these two,
young people when William Mckinley ap-
peared on the scene. His legal talents
were beginning to attract the favorable
notice of his townspeople, and 1t was
not long before he became acquainted with
the rich mans daughter.
From that moment all thoughts of her
former admirer vanished from the girls
mind, and the rising young lawyer became
her ideal. Old Mr.. Saxton was also pleased
at this turn of affairs. and always sup
ported the attorney in his battle for tho
girls hand. When Mckinley was sug-
gested for prosecuting attorney the banker
promptly offered all the financial assist
ance required. In the days that followed
"a VT nf aTV1a a n
piness. Her entire life became wrapped up
In the young attorney who was making his
way in the world.
The early married life of the couple was
but forerunner of the happy years that
were to follow. The rich mans daughter
became the ideal wife.
Her Beautiful Life.
The peculiar pathos that was attached
to Mrs. Mckinley in the eyes of the coun-
try at large has It's root in a love story
that will take its place among the classics.
On the part of President Mckinley it was
a sngle-minded devotedness, that gathered
an ever-increasing tenderness from the deli
cacy of the wife. whose hopes of mother
hood were buried and whose mind, as If
arrested on the threshold Of that deepest
experience of her womanhood, was still
held in the thrall of youth.
On her part it was a love Of absolute de-
pendence and childlike trust Through all
her life her eyes retained the clear
unshadowed softness Of the girl; the charm
ing pink of her cheek was that usually
known to the dawn of maturity. Her gen.
tie smile, the righteousness of manner, the
nodulated voice. all gave President Nc
kinley 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 affection the bereayed
wife vOtcad the whole craving 0f her no
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, she lies dying, the national me-
mortal to her husband is nearing compile
ton. she turned her thought to what she
might do forf him. Daily she visited the
tomb to stay while In thought, and to
leave her beloved flowers for her beloved
dead.
Loved Flowers.
Next to children Mrs. Mckinley always
has loved her flowers. She used to mingle
the two fondnesses by giving her blossoms
from the White House conservatives in
splendid largesse to the little ones, and she
had proteges Of all kinds in the hospitals
and other institutions, and among her per-
sonal friends. When Easter time came the
first lady would sit all day at the window
to watch the eggrollng on the lawn and
laugh as gleefully as the youngsters them
selves.
Denied much effort, she busted herself
about little things. She made purses Of
Melted 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 manufacturer the keenest delight.
She said once during the White House days
that she had made 1900 pairs of slippers
for somebody to wear" The Christmas
after her loss she did not forget her friends
In the cabinet circle, but the remem-
brances fashioned by her delicate fingers
were all of black and gray. The women
who had chung so persistently to beautiful
coiors could find relief only in the somber
shades.
Tainted in Husbands Arms.
One of the last expressions Of President
McKinley's care of her occurred when they
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