New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-23
hv Hannah Mitchell

PH(k pNdluo Sdt VII d 1oot-
4 n stool gazing into the fire.
Chin on hand, apparently she was
dreaming.
But one glimpse into her snap
ming black eyes which are raised for
. moment and the impression given
Nv her quiet body is contradicted.
lllusive and superficial pictures in
the dancing flames were not holding
ber attention. She was distinctly
alive and interested in more vital
things than visions in the glowing
Goals.
Looming above her in the fire
eow. two men were talking. One
was large and vital, showing plainly
his Irish ancestry. He had the
same twinlling black eyes that
snarkled in the raised face of the
little girl. and in his speech there
was the warmth and impulsiveness
Characteristic of his ancestry. His
face reflected a shrewdness and
foresight that one usually does not
associate with the enthusiasm re-
Aected by his voice.
An Opposite Type
The other man was gentler and
more quiet of manner. His low, we'll
advised sentences acted as a spur
or brake, as the case might be, to
the others impulsive ordinations.
IN sharp contrast to the other man,
he was Of the Scotch type, carefully
weighing every phase Of a question
before he made a decision and
sCdHulilS IlIln dlCeI Hc Hdu IuduS
1t. As he talked, his rather delicate
hand gently stroked the shining hair
Of the little girl at his knee.
little pitchers" sometimes gather
knowledge that is of great value. And
the little girl drinking in the words
Of the two big men was learning po-
itical wisdom which she would later
turn to the advantage of the women
of an entire nation. For history
was being made in front of that open
fire. The affairs OF a nation were
the things the two men discussed. in
tricate political problems and saga
cious methods of handling men and
swaying events.
Little did Mark Hanna and Will
liam Mckinley, as they talked OFT.
nnmindful Of the little girl on the
footstool, realize that they were fill
Ing a receptive mind with political
science that would be used for the
benefit Of the party to which they
belonged years after they we're dead.
For Ruth Hanna, now Ruth Hanna
Mccormick, wife of Senator Medill
Mccormick, of Illinois, literally
learned politics at her fathers knee,
learned it from one of the greatest
masters of the greatest American
game. AS she herself told me:
My father and William Mckinley
discussed politics continuously. Many
Of their informal conferences were
held at each others home. And l
usually was there-;ust Hstening."
Was Frail Child
Ruth Hanna was frail child and,
like Theodore Roosevelt, had to
build for herself body that was a
Mt home for her active mind. The
extent Of her success in accomplish
Ing her ambition to have a strong
body is shown by her skill in sports
as she grew up. She is an accom-
pushed horsewoman and plays a
good game of tennis.
The compensation so often meted
10 persons who are shut out from
the normal school life and energetic
games Of other children has been
hers. She studied at home the
things she liked and learned them
thoroughly.
And her companionship with Will
nam Mckinley and her father
eroved to be the greatest training
Epool for politics that any one could
nave attended.
what marvellous tales she could
ct,