Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-16
BLAINE At HOME.
How the ES-secretary Livcs ana La
bots ni His Maine Country Palace.

l.J
This little city creeping down of the hill
along the banks Of stream, will in itself
command only the mcrcst mention in this
letter. The old fashioned State House from
the highest point near the city, ovctlooks 1t |
and all the surrounding country. Almost
under Its shadow sits an unprctcntious frame
house, which for years has been the most
important building in the place. 1t is the
home of j. q. Blaine. 1t is quiet place,
outside even of what little hustle there is in
this country town. Before it there arc on
the opposite side of the road, beautiful groves
of shade trees, and beyond broad fields
stretch away for miles, through which, with
gentle curve, sweeps the beautiful river,
the kennebec that will soon yield its frigid
crop TO Tempt next summer the palatcs OF the
parchcd millions weo live many miles sou,h
Of this cool, bracins, healthy climate. Mr..
Blainc's house is large enough for comfort
sits in good-szed yard and has very pleasant
surroundings. 1t is simply neat country
home, such as gentleman in fair circum-
| stances can afford TO keep. 1t was fashioned
and built long before its owner became a
power in the nation; and, therefore, repre-.
sents only the ambition and accumulation of
| his carly life. As it was good enough then,
| 1t is held to be sufficient now, and there is
no display of wealth or accumulated hon
ors.
| To-day Mr.. Blaine sat in his pleasant home
an extended me an old fashioned, hearty
welcome. Mr.. Blaine now leads perfect
aud methodical home life. have rested here
for day, just long enough to observe the
wonderful changes in the mans life, and the
new methods he has established since he so
suddenly dropped out of the glamour of pub
lie acclaim.
The new life has made him fresh man.
He looks to-day twenty years younger than
when last saw him, just free from the du-
ties OF his position in Mr.. Garfcld's Cabinet.
Ills complexion is clear, his eyes bright, his
mind as strong and responsive as when he
first aroused the country with his genius for
winning public favor and meeting the
highest demands Of the most exalted official
| life.
''IIow your life has changed" / suggested,
after seeing the exact way in which he now
disposes of his hours and the wonderful
change it has made in his physical con-
dition.
| 'Yes. No more late hours OF severe strains,
mental or physical. am now rarely out of
bed at 1880 o'clock. or in bed at 8 in the
morning. was never in better health"
| "lloy do you like the changer"
| More than eau tell you. There is great
satisfaction nit; rest for both body and
mind. This climate of ours, too, is great
rcstorer. Half the year it is the best in the
world but go South with the birds"
Mr. Blaine seems to be giving all his
energies to his book, Twenty Years of Con-
grcss.' After his breakfast, at 8 in the
morning, he goes to his workroom, and from
| nj 4 "a a bod L., g.,
hours he writes what will make three and n
half printed pages of his work, aud rcvises it
as it is to go on record. This is his self
imposed task each day between these hours
Ills publishers say he furnishes good fair
manuscript and docs not rcwritc upon the
proof sheets. lie docs not use private
secretary for his daily task, but writes with
his own hands. At o'clock he goes for an
hours walk over the fields and along the
4 kcnnebec.
To-day Joined him for the stroll, and it
is curious to see with what zcst be speaks of
his new life and new work. II one may
judge from his talk, and that is the only way
you can gather un opinion of lis scope, he Is
to have no friends or enemies applaudcd or
piuioned in the pages of the work now COM
mandng all his time and superior talents.
His life, his words aud his acts show that he
has entirely put aside the mantle and temper
of partisan and found, instead, the calm,
judicial quality of commentator upon men
and events in the midst of which he was
leader.
While going down over the fl,lds there
was lull in the absorbing conversation, and,
struck with the dcarth OF politics in his words,
| said:
Don't you ever long for the hurry -burly
of political life asain3'
| I h.u of -
easily and completely that | can now look
back over the politics of the last twenty years
as sort of h Vanity Fair, of which was a
part"
| There was quiet emphasis in these words
that impressed me, and did not again in
trudc political subjects. He soon took the
conversation up again and went on speaking
of men and affairs, evidently having refer
| ence to his literary work, into which he
seems to have carried all the enthusiasm OF
his intense nature. The walk was long and
pleasant and his words intensely interesting.
Ii there is tipge of partisan in Mr.. Blaine
now, have not been able to find even symp-
| tom of it. There is now no singing criticism
OF the men who played upon the same stage
with himself that was always heretofore
such feature of his brilliant words. The
passed seems entirely lost in the present, and
the politician in the judge.
This radical change is the best evidence OF
his great powers What other public man in
all our history has ever dropped out of the
glare of high official position to be plain
citizen without showing his temper? l do
not recall one who willingly gave up, even
when his waning powers and feeble grip
upon the seat CT power made people wonder
when mans ambition died, or was even
satisfied. But here is one, who, after sitting
~ n hiuhpef f1r a ~ a
fury, aud having his fingers ends upon the
Presidential chair twice, gives it all up at the
age of fifty-one, when his powers are at their
best and his resources strongest, drops out of
the dazzling flame of public life without
regret, and wonders why other men stay
until they get burned. lie is the first PresI-
dental candidate with following who has
given over his ambition without getting for
it a crab-appe disposition.
"Superiuous lays the veteran on the stage
can never be truthfully applied to this man,
who has go suddenly and so willingly given
up politics for literature and is happy.
After the walk comes dinner, and then the |
balance of the day and evening is given to
the reading of current events and the society |
OF friends. No more work after the four |
morning hours and The 1900 words have been |
prepared for the publisher. This is the daily |
life of this brilliant man as have seen and
heard it while visiting here for day.
Who is there who has known or read much
of the man of whom ! am writing, who eau
reaizs the change in his daily life and occu-
patton since one year agof While speaking |
of II to him asked:
GLOW do you like your new work ~
very much; but object to the word
new. You forget that almost began life
here in Augusta MS n reporter, and aftcrward
edited newspaper. Writing is really a
second nature to me now. find it an easy
and pleasant work"
AS he spoke looked out at the little State
House upon the hill and saw that, from the
window where he is now building perhaps
the greatest work of his life, he could see the
spot where he began his career by reporting
the legislative proceedings for pittance.