Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1883-04-15
BLAINE's HOME LIFE.
The Plain House which Shsttsrs
the Plumed kuight. SCI lss
TALK ON MANY TOPICS.
The Early Traiaiag Which Developed His
. Remarkable MemoU-Biaine asa
-!i Newspaper Reporter Recollect-
ing the Roll Cali of the ~.
81 90 Maine Senate-A No .,.-.-f.l.
"si .. 10 ble-0isposition.

AUGUSTA, April IA neat frame
house, large enough to hive good
sized family and always have space
left for few friends, stands in the CEN
IRE of an acre or SO of ground at the
farther end of the chief street OF this
ouiet town. There are pretty shade
trees in the yard. Graveled walks run
through the greensward and around an
occasional bed of flowers. Ii isn't
pretentious place, by any manner o.
means, and there are mary far more
snowy houses within gunshot OF 1t. IL
has quiet, contented air about 1t, how
ever, that attracts strangers, who pass
ing more pretentions residence without
INQUIRY, are almost certain to ask when
they reach this one, "Who IlVes
there"
The flag-stones that lead to the main
entrance of the house are not barred
from the sidewalk by the 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 great mind and an eloquent tom
que.
Master of Most Men Iva the Land
In all that makes men noted IN their
generation and in the history Of pow
erfuI nation. Commander of himself
and of unbounded resources in politics
statescraft, debate, and in social quail
ties that knit men to him with steel
wire. Master of the art OF wedding
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 uwon high terrece, and almost be-
fore the place have described, the pub
lie park, that the State owns, stretches
off toward the river. The State Capt.
tol grounds on the side ana this park
with its depth of shade on the other,
set the quiet home Of James q. Blaine
in an attractive and appropriate frame.
How and why appropriate 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 degrees back upon and over the
summit of the hill as it began to rely
upon politics rather than trade and
manufacture for it growth and dignity.
Along the Kennebec.
One starts with favorable impress
sion of the capital of the Pine Tree State
when he first strikes the hennebec XIV
er, upon which it is situated, for he
| rides through thirty-three miles OF
charming scenery in coming here by
| the Maine Central Railway. There are
none of those grand landscapes with
| the bold mountain view softened by
the fertile lowlands and flowing water
that one finds in such rich confusion
along the Juniata or Susquehanna.
But there is a SORT of mellow tint to
| the scenery that is beautiful. The hills
| that slope back from the river are just
| high and rolling enough to make a
fitting back ground to the restless
waters that flow between them. Then
| there is a dark green to the foliage that
| is charming, and it seems to vie with
the river in the depth and beauty of
color. You get the best of the country
along this stream, famous for its Ice
crop, in going from Brunswick, the
place from which | last wrote, to Au-
gusta. 1t is ride through q stretch of
beautiful country, kept chilly enough
by the presence of great ice-hOuSes to
| make thick clothes comfortable on the
hottest summer day.
"There is no counting the tons of ice
taken OIL this river every year" said a
4 typical Maine Yankee, who sat By my
7 side while enjoying the ride. His nose
was sharp enough for an ice pick and
his face as cold rs an iron wedge. |
had surmised he was in the ice business
before he spoke. Pm knowL," he
continued, las the ice eater OF the Ken
nebec, and know what Pm talking
about. got that name because Pm a
boss hand, and can house n ore frozen
water in a given time than any man
on this river" And from the time he
sighted the stream until the train
reached here he told me queer stories
of the ice gathering season in Maine.
Mr.. BIaine's Home.
From the railroad station down near
the river to the place on the hill, des-
cription of which begins this letter, is
something more than mile. found
my way to the pleasant spot this even
ing, and was cordially received by its
proprietor, There is nothing snowy in
side of the house more than on the out
side. Everything is arrayed for COM
fort rather than display. Parlor, draw
ing, library, all are filled and fitted as
unpretentiOusly as though the man who
owned them was the village lawyer, or
perchance preacher. The townfolk tell
me that it was built many years ago,
before the landlord was the great man
he 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 just come in from a
drive when ! called. He spends
good part of each afternoon ION the
road" behind span of fine horses.
never saw him look in better health,
and certainly never seemed in better
spirits.
"Yes," said he cheerfully, when /
suggested his prime condition; al am
in excellent health; the climate Of
Maine always agrees with me. | can
recuperate here faster than any where
else in the world" The talk then
turned upon general topics, and Mr..
| Blaine spoke with much freedom upon
everything else except politics.
Norman in this country has ever be-
fore stepped from the highest place in
active politics into the walks of private