Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-09-05
BLAINE'S HOME LIFE.

'Piam.d Knsght'-An Evenfue's Talk
On asny Topics-The Ex-Senator's Early
Training and latter Lille.
Boston Herald
A neat frame house, large enough to
hive good-sized family and always have
space left for few friends. stands in the
center of an acre or so of ground at the
further end of the chief street of this
quiet town. writes IF. A. B." from Au-
gusta, Me-, to the Philadelphia
Press. There are pretty shade trees
in the yard. Gravelled walks run through
the greensward and around an occasional
bed OF flowers. It isn't a pretentious
place, by any manner of means, and there
are many far more snowy houses within
gunshot of it. 1t has quiet, contented
air about it, however, that attracts stran-
gers who, while passing more imposing
residences without inquiry, are almost
certain to ask when they reach this one:
'.Who lives there?" The fiagstones that
lead to the main entrance of the house are
not barred from the sidewalk by a gate
and the latch-string that swings from the
door knob, like the open entrance, seems
to beckOn all who come within reach of its
charms to the masters presence. Yes;
master, not only of this home, but
of a great mind and of an elo-
quent tongue. Master of most men in the
land in all that makes men noted in their
generation and in the history of
powerful nation. Commander of HIM
self and of unbounded resources in politics,
state craft, debate, and in social qualities
that knit men to him with steel wire. Mas
ter of the art of welding friends to his
fortunes by audacious courage and power
of thought and statement that is at once
sublime and convincing.
Just across the street the little granite
state house, where he began public life,
sits upon a high terrace, and almost before
the place I have described, the public park,
which the state owns, stretches off toward
the river. The state capitol grounds on
one side, and this park, with its depth OF
shade on the other, set the quiet home of
James G. Blaine in an attractive and APP
propriate frame. How and why appropri-
ate will appear further on.
Augusta is not the most attractive Or
busy place in Maine. 1t seems to have
been begun along the banks of the river
for business, and to have crept by slow de-
the hill, as it began to rely upon politics
growth and dignity.
MR.. BLAINE'S HONE.
From the railroad station down near the
river to the place on the hill, a description
of which begins this letter, is something
more than mile I found my way to the
Il
ally received by its proprietor. There is
nothing snowy inside OF the house more
than on the outside. Everything is ar
ranged for comfort, rather than display.
Parlor, drawing, library, all are filled and
| fitted as unpretentiously as though the
man who owned them was the village law
yer, or perchance preacher. The townfolk
tell me that it was built many years ago
before the landlord was the great man ne
now is, and that he loves to keep it and its
surroundings as they were when he made
| it his home all the year round.
| Mr.. Blaine had inst come in from drive
when I called. He spends good part OF
each afternoon ION the road,' behind a fine
span of horses. l never saw him look in
better health, and certainly he never
seemed in better spirits.
YES" said he cheerfully when [ sug.
gested his prime condition. Il am in ex
cellent health, the climate of Maine al
ways agrees with me. I can recuperate
| here faster than anywhere else i'll the
world The talk then turned upon gener
al topics, and Mr.. Blaine spoke with much
| freedom upon everything else except poll
tics. He evinced great interest in the con
test in Maine. and he said that he should
begin his work in it at Portland on Mon
day night. He believes that the Re
| publicans will carry the state
by fair majority. He will take
no part in politics this year, except
in his own state, and has nothing but g
speaking part there, as he is not on the
state committee, and has no part III the
management of the campaign. had seen
Mr.. Blaine many times before tonight il
the same surroundings. No, not in the
same surroundings, for then he was over
whelmed with the work of a political cam
paign. The little Office back OF the parlor
his private workroom was then the scene
of busy hustle. Clerks were at work, tele
graph messengers were coming and going
men were calling by scores, and, with hi:
hand on the party helm, he directed it with
matchless force. Now there is none OF
this. The Office is quiet and does not veal
the air of politics. Headquarters have
been moved to Portland, and Senator Frye
has his
HAND ON THE PARTY PLOUGH.
Blaine seems to enjoy the change, strange
as it may seem. He speaks well of hi
young successors and believes they viii
win.
No man in this country has ever before
stepped from the highest place in active
politics into the walks of private life with
out losing his temper on the way. Mr.
Blaine evidently has. There isn't sig1
of regret or reproach in his speech or &C
tons. He has no hard words for those mel
who have stood between him and the presi
dency. He seems to have settled down tx
enjoy life and to do his duty by the party
that has honored him as he has honored it
as it shall be asked of him.
The loss of the presidency soured Clay
as it did Seward, but Mr. Blaine certainly
presents to friend and foe alike perfec
good humor and far more cheerful view
of the future than many public men who
| have lost much less.
While talking with him tonight, almost
in the shadow of the state house, where he