The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-11-21
BLAINE's RESIDENCE.
A WashingtOn Residence That
Grew into q Tiree)me
Elephant.

A Washington Residence That
Grew into q Tires3me
Elephant.
None of the latter day houses built
In Washington are very expensive
ones. There are but few of the so
called palaces built in the commer-
cial cities. The average house does
not cost over $40. 1000 0 ! $4,000.
The house most talked about is the
one begun by Mr.. b aine when he
was secretary of state. This house is
called palatial because it is large and
cost much nor than any of the mod
ern houses Of Washington. 1t cost
$50, 900. including the lot upon which
1t stands, facing the wide Dupont
circle where Senator Stewart built
his castle several years age. The cir
Gle was long known as the honest
mans camp, for Stewart. when he
built here, went far beyond the then
fashionable locality, and mis- house
stood alone for some years. Stewart
found the very next year that he
could not afford to live in his house.
1t has been shut practically, for a
number of years, the moths making
high havoc with the imported blue
sa%tin-covered furniture.
Blaine's house is nearly in the
shadow Of this Inflated castle. 1t.
stand on a high terrace about six feet
above the street. 1t is built for show
and comfort at the same time.
There are twenty-fOur rooms in it,all
pig as if made with the view OF enter
tanning large companies When this
house was planned Blaine was q
great figurer in American politics.
His was the dominating will CT the
Garfield administration. In all im-
portant matters he welded the pow
er of the Chief Magistrate. With
his pasionete love of power and great
ambition Blaine resolved to call to
his advantage all the aids of social
life. He said he would build for
himself q splendid house where tie
brilliancy of the receptions and the
gifts of the talented host would over
shadow even the White House,
Clouded by the small means of the
Garfield family and the active dis
like of Mrs. Garfield to anything
like social display. In everything
Blaine is a keen Spectator. He
bought land quietly about the place
where he intended to build, and
then permitted it to be known that
he was going to build q great house
there. Skillful real estate agents
blew this fact through large horns,
and the lots around about went up
rapidly, 80 when MI. Blaine came to
sell out he was able to clear the price
of his own lot.
Guitean's bullet found him with
his house on his hands. Blaine at
first resolved to sell it outright but
the social ambition of his wife op-
posed the eale. She thought it would
IoOok as IT they were hit with disap-
pointment If they should give up the
house about which so much had
been said and written so soon after
his retirement from the cabinet.
Blaine 500 went into the new house.
The family soon found that it was
too prominent and too large. They
were overwhelmed with visitors
from all parts of the world, The
family had no official engagements
to protect their pivacy. Nine SER
wants were requird, and they were
TOO much for ever Mrs. Blaine, who
who had q positive will of her own.
Mrs. Blaine, when spring came. said
she was tired of keeping a hotel. If
her husband had some official posi-
ton to sustain. the social prestige
might have compensated her. She
A0Sd IN Mr. RvoSnn fh0f oh0 urnc ,,n1
of the whole thing. 1t was an ele-
plant. The game was not worth the
candle. The family vas small, and
there was no reason why she should
work like q galley-slave to keep the
hotel and servants in order 10 sustain
merely a private position. Every
thing in social life in Washington
runs after the people in power.
Mr.. Blaine ranked as a worry citizen
and a member of the. ha.s society
none NJ the secivty leaders ran after
him. Tne great house did not make
VI, TO Il e Rlaines the loss OF their Of
fetal position. This was another
disappointing element to Mrs. Blaine
In the new house. When he went
away this summer Mrs. Blaine had
resolved to give up tine house abso.
lutely. Mr.. Blaine. who was hard
at word on his book, and consequent
ly ready to do anything for q quiet
life, consented readily enough. Then
the shrewd s%peculator left his books
long enough to rent his place to Lei |
ter, the Chicago millionaire. The |
Letters are going to do what is called |
1.-The social act" and as he has $780,
voc, 1000 to do it with he was a good
customer tor MI. Blaine. The latter |
has rented the house for $ll 600 and |
the pa. yment of the taxes. This is a
good pecentage on his original in
vestment. Furniture and all inside !
must be inside of 500, 600.
He is certain to make a very hand
some some of money on his history
of "From Linconln to Garfield"
The book is to be sold by subscrip-
ton. Blaine is to have 81 on each I
volume at the very least. As Mr..
Blaine has other works on the stocks, |
Of a historical character, it Will b,
seen that he il not very near starv-
whatever may hahpen to what !
he has already acquired Wushing-
fnAn y1Jfe.. /: