V.

CHOOSES A WIFE.

The most prominent young man in Canton was William McKinley. It would have been strange if he had not fallen in love with the belle of the town, who, everybody agreed, was not only beautiful but possessed of all the virtues which adorn her sex. Ida Saxton was the daughter of James A. Saxton, a successful banker of Canton. She was born in 1847 and received every educational advantage to be obtained in that day. After graduating from Media Seminary, she was sent to Europe for an extended tour. A recent visitor to Canton says that the people all remember the home-coming of Miss Ida, and agree that she was a young lady of unusual beauty, bright and winsome, although it is said at times a little capricious, but the embodiment of healthy, happy girlhood. She appreciated the advantages which she had received, and was conscious of the duties of her position. That she was a woman of fascinating personality and unusual force of character is indicated by the fact that no one in Canton who knew her at that time but can now recall some incident illustrative of her charming character.

A Real Love Story.-A friend of the Saxton family said that after her return from Europe her father lived in constant dread that she would soon marry and leave him, and in consequence planned all sorts of methods to keep her admirers, with which she was bountifully supplied, at a safe distance. It was his hope that she might remain single and always live for his own comfort. Although a man of large means, he believed that every one should know how to make a living, and he therefore taught his daughter the banking business, and in a little while she was stationed at the cashier's window in his bank. Here he fondly hoped that she was truly caged, but he reckoned with

out his host. As a writer has said, "it was the old sweet story, and if to the life romance of Mr. and Mrs. McKinley there was added a little early opposition, the necessity for some few innocent manœuvres to secure a coveted interview, surely the world is more interested in the story. For although all the world loves a lover, it loves best one who owns a stout heart to win his 'faire ladye.'' Mr. Saxton yielded to the inevitable as gracefully as a man could yield when he found it inevitable, and consented to the union of his daughter with Major McKinley, who was then the most popular young man in town. A Philadelphia lady is still in possession of a memento of the union in the shape of a faded invitation to the wedding.

Early Sorrows.-Their first child was born on Christmas Day, 1871, and was named Kate. The second daughter was named for her mother. Before her birth Mrs. McKinley's mother died, and so great was the shock as to cause a long and severe illness, resulting in such prostration that she has never entirely recovered. The second child was taken from them when it was six months old, and shortly afterwards their firstborn died. It was a common remark in the community that although they were overwhelmed by their bereavement they did not rise from it with a particle of bitterness or melancholy. Indeed, their sorrow had such a mellowing effect that it seemed to cast a halo about them, and people who met them said that even a trial so great. might have its compensations in this life. With no child to whom their hearts might go out, it is not strange that two natures as affectionate as they were should be drawn even closer together, and that their love should have become a lifetime devotion that fell little short of idolatry. The story of the President's affection for his invalid wife will long be remembered as one of the sweetest stories of our domestic life.

Mrs. McKinley.-Mrs. McKinley was perhaps as abundantly supplied with affection as her husband, although her love was not so remarkable to the world as his own. She never made any concealment

of her pride in her husband. She always believed in him with all her heart. She believed that he was the greatest power for good in the country. She believed in his opinions and in his statesmanship, and she loved him so intensely that she could not keep from disliking any one who passed the slightest criticism upon him. No one could ever joke about Mr. McKinley in her presence with safety. She was never surprised at any of the honors which came to him. To her thinking they came as a matter of course. She knew what he had in him when she married him, and she believed that the world would sooner or later find it out. While she appreciated the honors which came to him, they never made any difference in her feeling toward him. To this day he is what she called him when she first knew him-simply "the Major."

VI.

CHOSEN FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.

McKinley's success at the bar, his marked ability as a speaker, and the charms of his personality soon brought him into public notice and he began to be much in demand.

"A Coming Politician."-The story is told that on one occasion he was sent for to fill the appointment of a prominent politician who had been canvassing the county, and who was detained at home by sickness. He was so youthful in appearance and so modest that when he was introduced to the chairman of the meeting, Michael Bitzer, that gentleman could only ask:

"Can you make a speech?"

This rather blunt remark quite took the breath from the young man for a moment, but on being assured that no offence was intended he soon regained his composure and his pleasant face and went to his task.

One of His Early Efforts.-When he arose and looked at his audience there was not a sign, it is said, of the emotion which usually attends a young man's early efforts. "But," says Mr. Bitzer, “as I remember him the same strong characteristics which have been so notable in his public life within the last few years stood out forcibly on that night." Every one was impressed with his strong personality and his kindly manner, though his audience could only see him dimly in the glimmer of the street lamps. "His hearty handshake and his pleasant smile were all there only waiting for opportunity to develop them." It is said that while he spoke the silence would have admitted of hearing a pin drop. The night was clear and his voice was distinctly heard by those who stood a hundred feet away on the store steps. He did not once refer to his notes, and his vocabulary never failed him.

"Could he speak?" said Mr. Bitzer the other day, recalling the memorable scene. Michael is now eighty-three years old but he remembers it all as if it happened yesterday.

"Could he speak? Well, I should say he could; everybody was simply dumfounded. For nearly an hour he talked as no young man in Stark County had talked before. I told Judge Underhill who accompanied him after the meeting, that McKinley did a blamed sight better than he could, and the Judge, too, pronounced him a coming politician."

Mr. Bitzer said he was greatly surprised when the Judge introduced the young strip of a boy, saying that he had come to make a speech in place of another judge who was unable to be present.

"Of course I only asked McKinley in a joke if he could make a speech. I spoke to him much as I would to a boy, but I really did have my doubts about such a young man doing justice to the occasion." He introduced him as "William McKinley of Canton."

"Introduced Into Politics."-The old man is naturally very proud of having "introduced the President into politics," as he puts it. One day he drove to Canton and on the street met Mr. McKinley and ex-Postmaster-General Heath.

"Here," said the President to his companion as he put his hand upon Michael's shoulder, "is the man who introduced me into politics several years ago."

Several years before that, Mr. Bitzer had called at the Governor's office in Columbus when Mr. McKinley was Governor. Introducing him to the dozen people who were at the time in the room the

Governor said:

"This is the man who first introduced me into politics."

Elected to Congress.-In 1877 Mr. McKinley's friends proposed his name for Congress. In his own county delegates to the Congressional Convention were elected by a popular vote. McKinley carried every township in the county but one and that had but a single dele