Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1868-11-18
Old Mr.. and Mrs. Blair as they Ride
into Washington.

/ \ friend describes to us the appearance of
old Mr.. and Mrs. Blair as they ride into
| Washington city. He is now seventy.eight
years old, and his wife is seveuty-sx. They
live six miles from Washington, at country
seat in Maryland, known as Silver Spring
Nearly every day they ride into Washington
on horseback and when they do not come
to Washington they ride as far in the oppos-
ite direction. Mr.. Blair wears broad-brim-
med, slouched hat, and looks like the relic Of
a century ago. He is very thin his legs are
hardly larger than common mans wrist
and, by the time he gets into the city, his
trowsers have slipped half way up to his
knees. Mrs. Blair, who is a robust stout,
fine-looking old aky, wears broad Quaker
sun-bonnet, made of pasteboard slips. so that
she can gather it ali up together in her hand,
and white dimity short dress.
Mr. Blair always rides about length and
half of the horse ahead Of her. He rides
up to the steps in front of Montgomery
Blair's house, throws the reins down on the
horses neck, dismounts, and proceeds direct
| ly up the steps. The horse droops his head
and stands still Directly Mrs. Blair rides
up, switches her husbands horse out Of the
way, gets off her horse and follows her hus-
band into the house.
! One end of this house is occupied by Mont
gomery Blair, MIR. Blair's eldest son, grad
uate of West Point, once judge in Missouri,
an olficehodcr under Buchanan, Postmaster
General under Lincoln, friendly man, first
rate hater, and very virulent politician and
stump speaker and the other end is occupi-
ed by Rear Admiral Lee, who married the
only daughter Of old Mr.. Blair and made
ninety thousand dollars prize money before
he stopped the rebels from running the block
ade at Wilmington during the late war.
The mansion where Montgomery Blair
lives, and where old Mr.. and Mrs. Blair
alight as they ride into Washington, is the
one in which Senator Benton formerly lived
1t is situated across the street, in front of
the White House, and nearly opposite the
War Department
Old Mr.. Bkir was originally engaged in
banking in Kentucky. He was brought to
Washington by General Jackson, between
whom and himself warm and lifelong
friendship ubsisted The old Globe, edited
by him, and published by Blair & Rives,
was the great organ of tho Democratic party
in the days of Jackson, and was power in
the land.
The Blairs and the Fremonts were strong
friends until the separation which took place
between them at st, Louis during the war,
and which proved injurious to both parties.
Probably there is no other man living who
has held so many important interviews with
Presidents in the White House as Francis r.
Blair, Sr. II was be who looked out, at the
request of General jackson, suitable place
in which to interlne in one of Old lliekory's
messages the memorable words
| take the responsibility"
Old Mr.. Blair is certainly remarkable
man, and has li~ed a remarkable career us
politician. lie hasbeen, as friend, faithful,
bold, and powerful, and as an enemy, mallg-
nant and formidable II is among the least
of Mr.. Blairs merits that he is the iather Oh
Francis P, Blair, jr., the Democratic candid
ate for Vice President.--Nec forS oan'