vein of sarcasm in his voice as he read the lines, but he evidently thought of the matter and instructed an architect to prepare plans by which the drafts might be obviated. This was successfully done, to the great relief of all who were cognizant of the real condition of his wife. Few social functions, aside from those demanded officially, have marked the four and a half years at the Executive Mansion. The great thought seemed to be the avoidance of ostentation and the preservation of the sweet domestic relation which has endeared the McKinleys to all thinking people.

Mother McKinley's Faith in Her Son.-An incident is related to illustrate the simple faith the mother of the President reposed in her great son. It was on the evening of his first election to the Presidency. A party of friends were expressing their confidence in his selection, when one, to guard against the possible disappointment of a defeat, said:

"Of course, he may be beaten."

Drawing herself to her full height, the mother of this great man said simply, yet authoritatively:

"It makes little difference. He will still be my son."

And she would have been satisfied to have him as her own, without the honor of Chief Magistrate.

Notwithstanding the great simplicity of the home life and small social functions of the President's private household, the American people have never had a President who so ably acquitted himself at the great social receptions and dinners that the exalted position of the Presidency demanded. Upon the occasion of brilliant official dinners, no amount of form or display was omitted that would add to the beauty and appropriateness of the occasion.

Not even Washington, who instituted many customs which prevail to this day, knew better or appreciated more what the American people expected and admired in the President than did William McKinley.

The manner in which the diplomatic guests were entertained and

seated at table was often at the personal suggestion of the President. He never failed to visit the dining-room in company with Mrs. McKinley before the guests arrived. Even at the last moment he has been known to change the location of some diplomat at table on account of some small disparity of opinion or a personal dislike that he knew existed as to the affairs of the countries represented.

When some noted guest, the representative of a foreign nation, was to be entertained, the President especially had as formal an array as possible with the somewhat limited facilities at the White House, that the true dignity of the position bestowed upon him by his countrymen might be appreciated.

In meeting the public at receptions, again the simplicity, but great dignity, of the President asserted itself, and while affable and agreeable, extending to all a wholesome, hospitable greeting, he never once lost his sense of the lofty position to which he had been exalted, and those who met him never forgot that he was the President.

XVIII.

HIS LAST SPEECH.

On Thursday before the fatal day the President delivered an address at the Buffalo Exposition which is so significant in many ways that I cannot refrain from quoting it here in full:

Timekeepers of Progress.-"Expositions," he said, "are the timekeepers of progress. They record the world's advancement. They stimulate the energy, enterprise and intellect of the people and quicken human genius. They go into the home. They broaden and brighten the daily life of the people. They open mighty storehouses of information to the student. Every exposition, great or small, has helped to some onward step. Comparison of ideas is always educational, and as such instructs the brain and hand of man. Friendly rivalry follows, which is the spur to industrial improvement, the inspiration to useful invention and to high endeavor in all departments of human activity. It exacts a study of the wants, comforts and even the whims of the people, and recognizes the efficacy of high quality and new prices to win their favor. The quest for trade is an incentive to men of business to devise, invent, improve and economize in the cost of production. Business life, whether among ourselves or with other people, is ever a sharp struggle for success. It will be none the less so in the future. Without competition we would be clinging to the clumsy and antiquated processes of farming and manufacture and the methods of business of long ago, and the twentieth century would be no further advanced than the eighteenth century. But though commercial competitors we are, commercial enemies we must not be.

"My fellow citizens, trade statistics indicate that this country is in a state of unexampled prosperity. The figures are almost appalling. They show that we are utilizing our fields and forests and mines, and

that we are furnishing profitable employment to the millions of workingmen throughout the United States, bringing comfort and happiness to their homes and making it possible to lay by savings for old age and disability. That all the people are participating in this great prosperity is seen in every American community and shown by the enormous and unprecedented deposits in our savings banks. Our duty is the care and security of these deposits, and their safe investment demands the highest integrity and the best business capacity of those in charge of these depositories of the people's earnings.

A Broad and Enlightened Policy.-"We have a vast and intricate business, built up through years of toil and struggle, in which every part of the country has its stake, which will not permit of either neglect or of undue selfishness. No narrow, sordid policy will subserve it. The greatest skill and wisdom on the part of manufacturers and producers will be required to hold and increase it. Our industrial enterprises, which have grown to such great proportions, affect the homes and occupations of the people and the welfare of the country. Our capacity to produce has developed so enormously and our products have so multiplied that the problem of more markets requires our urgent and immediate attention. Only a broad and enlightened policy will keep what we have. No other policy will get more. In these times of marvelous business energy and gain we ought to be looking to the future, strengthening the weak places in our industrial and commercial systems, that we may be ready for any storm or strain.

A Mutual Exchange of Commodities.-"By sensible trade arrangements, which will not interrupt our home production, we shall extend the outlets for our increasing surplus. A system which provides a mutual exchange of commodities, is manifestly essential to the continued and healthful growth of our export trade. We must not repose in fancied security that we can forever sell everything and buy little or nothing. If such a thing were possible, it would not be best for us or for those with whom we deal. We should take from our customers

such of their products as we can use without harm to our industries and labor. Reciprocity is the natural outgrowth of our wonderful industrial development under the domestic policy now firmly established. What we produce beyond our domestic consumption must have a vent abroad. The excess must be relieved through a foreign outlet, and we should sell everywhere we can and buy wherever the buying will enlarge our sales and productions, and thereby make a greater demand for home labor.

The Pressing Problem.-"The period of exclusiveness is past. The expansion of our trade and commerce is the pressing problem. Commercial wars are unprofitable. A policy of good will and friendly trade relations will prevent reprisals. Reciprocity treaties are in harmony with the spirit of the times; measures of retaliation are not.

"If perchance some of our tariffs are no longer needed for revenue or to encourage and protect our industries at home, why should they not be employed to extend and promote our markets abroad? Then, too, we have inadequate steamship service. New lines of steamers have already been put in commission between the Pacific Coast ports of the United States and those on the Western coasts of Mexico and Central and South America. These should be followed up with direct steamship lines between the Eastern coast of the United States and South American ports.

Need of Direct Commercial Lines to New Fields.-"One of the needs of the times is direct commercial lines from our vast fields of production to the fields of consumption that we have but barely touched. Next in advantage to having the thing to sell is to have the convenience to carry it to the buyer. We must encourage our merchantmarine. We must have more ships. They must be under the American flag, built and manned and owned by Americans. These will not only be profitable in a commercial sense; they will be messengers of peace and amity wherever they go. We must build the Isthmian canal, which will unite the two oceans and give a straight line of water com