Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31
10


earnestly that it would be far better for Mrs Mckinley
as well as for himself that she should not attempt to
take her place as Lady of the White House.
Mr. Mckinley listened with his usual gentleneSs and
patience and then said, IL will reflect upon what you
tell me- and what my friends think, and will let you
know what conclusion reach.
Some DAYS later he went to see his old friend, and
told her that after thinking it he felt 1t was Mrs
McKnleys right, his wife, to take her place as Lady
of the White House, that he realized fully her disabl
ties and all the difficulties of the position, but that he
could in conscience deprive her OF what he felt she
entitled to as wife.
Nothing more was said to him on the subject and the
President COnSCientiouSly carried out his design.
Mrs. Mckinley developed physical strength that
had not before been suspected and proved herself able
to stand great deal of fatigue She enjoyed beautiful
clothes and splendid entertainments; but at any mo-
ment liable to collapse BY the President d1rec
ton someone always stood near her with newspaper
in his pocket and at the first sign of an epleptc attack
the newspaper was opened and thrown over her face
She had attack at the very moment President NC
Kiney was taking the oath of office the grandstand
in the Plaza Of the Capitol and often had them at
these occasions he bore with noble camness and pa
tence
Mrs Mckinley became more unhappy than ever
when Mr.. Mckinley out of sight. The one thing
that coorted her to have picture OF HIM close at
hand She would often send for him at Cabinet meet
failed to 90. possible Mr. McKinleys loyalty and
mistaken devotion to his afflicted wife is of the most
beautiful chapters in his personal history Mrs Mckn
ley inability to think and act coherently involved res
thence unsuitable.
He was admirably and tactfuy assisted in the social
arrangements of the White House by Mrs. Carrot Ho-
BART wife of the Vice President. To do this required
extreme tact and dehcaCy Mrs Hobarts part, be-
the slightest attempt to supesede the Lady OF the
White House would have been most unfortunate, not
only for Mrs Hobart but for the Vice President Mrs.
Mckinley was aware of her rights in many ways, and
would have resented bitterly any infringement if she
had known it, but Mrs. Hobarts grace and intelligence
were equal to the difficult position. She forgot
for instant Mrs. McKinleys rights, and while assist
ing her always remained in the background. When
driving with Mrs. Mckinley sometimes happened,
through crowds in different Cities Mrs. Hobart
so much as acknowledged by the slightest bow the
cheers that greeted them leaving to Mrs Mckinley all
the honOrS.
Mrs Mckinley survived her husband several years,
and ceased to ask for him, forgetting, for long
intervals, that he was dead.
Mrs Washington never presided at the present White
House, which did not exist in her day The home of the
President was in Philadelphia where there veri-
table Republican Court. George and Martha were not
particularly democratic; in fact, they assumed state
that would have been tolerated in any other per-
sons, which President dared to initiate Presi-
dent and Mrs. Washington received standing on dais
think of it, T. r. and w. H. T! The Washingtons
have stood that dais since Anybody who tried
any hailfeow welnet stunts with George and Martha
would have lived to be sad and sorry Mrs Washington
little woman, but very stately. 1t is whispered
that the immortal man good deal henpecked by
his naughty little wife, and visitors, staying at Mount
Vernon, where the partitions only lath and plaster
used to hear the General getting his curtain lecture just
like any other man, and taking it like lamb.
The first Lady of the White House at Washington
was Abigail Adams. The Jefferson administration had
preceded Mr. Jefferson a widower, and, although
his married daughters visited him, and sometimes acted
hostesses for him, they not of course accorded
the place of a Lady of the White House. Mr. Jeffer
sons extreme democracy merely political protest
against the staelness of the George and Martha regime
and part of the terrific equality of the French Revolu
ton. Mr.. Jefferson as Minister to France saw much
of it. and became a good deal imbued with violently
leveling principles. Nevertheless, he lover o.
luxury and the White House it stands is a monumen
of his architectural taste The building finished