Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-08-23
Mr.. AND MRS. BLAINE As SCHOOL
TEACHERS IN KENTUCKY.

pTluc1pai Oh tie Tciilaic SOIleglaIe III
stitutc in Georgetown, Kentucky
from 1910 to 1850, and during that
time he was assisted by Mrs. Blaine,
then Miss Harriet Il. StanwoOd. and
her two elder sisters, Misses Caroline
and Sarah Stanwood, as well as by
other ladies.
Mrs. Blaine was engaged in George
town in 1S49, and at Millsburg in 1850,
her sister having been engaged at an
earlier date These sisters came ont
from Augusta, Maine, and were with
wears. They were all ladies of high
standing and finely educated; well
qualified rs teachers, and much re-
spccted by all who knew them. We
were much attached TO them on Miss
Caroline more as relative than as an
assistant teacher.
Mrs. Blaine was the brightest of the
three sisters, mentally and otherwise,
and was much admired by all ac-
quaintances, pupils and associates.
She was u great reader of English lit.
crature, II fine writer and brilliant
conversationalist Her readings well
remember were extensive and select,
among the very best of the English
classics and current literature, Car
lyle, MacaIlay and Goldsmith being
her favorites, and her library con-
tanned many valuable books. While
her elder sister, Miss Caroline (aflcc-
tionately called by us Miss Caddy) was
more authoritative and commanding,
Miss Harriet was more pleasant and
popular and Il universal favorite among
the pupils who looked upon her as
friend.
happen 10 have two notes written
by Miss Harriet in 1850, one from
Georgetown and the other from Mil
lersburg, and i'm one she requests me
to send her Goldsmith's "Citizen of
the World" in the other she asks that
Mr. Blaine will return BOswell's "Life
of Johnson" that he had taken 10
Blue Lick with him. This only incl
dentally shows her literary tastes.
Alice Strickland's "Lives of the
Queens of England" Hannah Moore.
Mrs. Opie and Miss Edgeworth were
among her favorites, but Cariisle's
Starter Resartus," and his Life of
Frederick the Great" were also her
choice readings, and "McCauIey's His
tovy of England she knew almost by
heart.
My father organized The Western
Military Institute at Georgetown.
Ky, in 1S47, and | think in 1913 Mr..
Blaine came out from Washington
College, Pennsylvania. and took the
position of assistant professor of Ian
guages Latin and Creek. the senior
professor being Mr.. Newell, gradu-
ate of Oxford University, England.
Mr. Blaine was then about 10 years of
age, and came highly recommended as
scholar and a gentleman. and soon
proved his title to both. In 1919, up
on Prof. Newcll's going to Clarksville,
Tenn, Mr.. Blaine succeeded TO his
chair of languages, aud was associated
with the institute in 1850, nj Blue
Lick, and in 1851 and 1852 ut Drennon,
both in Kentucky. Mr.. Blaine was the
youngest member of the faculty, but
soon assumed an important influence
and control, and was always after
ward acknowledged as the leader of
the body of professors, and my father.
as principal of the institute, always
him.
was grounded in the classics and
fed on Greek roots and Latin verbs by
Prof. Blaine, and never think of him
but what remember the many warm
afternoons at Georgetown, Blue Lick
and Dreunon, where | used to pore
over Caesar, Virgil, Horace, Tacitus,
etc. and puzzle my brains over those
tiresome ''parasa-sangs" of Neno-
phon's Anabasis, and those battles of
Homer.
Mr.. Blaine was patient rs teacher.
and pleasant TO those who tried to |
learn, but was quick to detect laziness |
and scornful TO triflers. Out of the |
classroom he was genial, cordial and |
social, the best company in the world
a general favorite and sought by all |
VINO loved to listen to his conversation,
sparkling with wit and anecdote:
quick at repartee. great ut argument.
4 rapid talker and full of fun. He ex-
celled as a lecturer or an essayist, a,d |
rs q debater had no equal He was
also No. mathematician. and used /
10 put us through Bourbon and e.
gendre, aud believe also took up the
lass on rhetoric and belcs-Icttres, and
the class on history. lie
was a ripe scholar, an iucessant reader
with tenacious memory. and could
quote HISTORY page after page. have
now q book OF his in which he COM
nenced TO compend the genealogv of
he English sovereigns from Egbert in
s27, a. d.. down to Queen Victoria in
1851.
think in politics Mr.. Blaine was an
of Henry Clay, of Kentucky,
md Tom Ewing, of Ohio, aud in re-
igion he was Catholic in that con-
of the word which means,
mot scctarian; not exclusive. but lib
,ral.' He was handsome man Mt
hat age, well built. walking aud NOV.
ng with a quick, impulsive action, de-
ioling energy and determipai ion: was
| good eatcs, and judge o; a julep.
think he was too impatient for chess.
,ut Just right for quiet game of
'raw poker, not that ever SAW him
,lay card. We were all fond of him.
md my parents relied upon him in
rying times and critical circum-
tances.
Among the pupils Of his at the West
'ru Military lnstituc Mt Georgetown
n lSi9, nj Blue Lick in 1850 and Dren-
ION in 1851 were cadets from every
outhern state. many Of whom shed
heir blood for the ''lost cause" but
IN certain that the survivors feel
'roud Of their old professor aud of his
uccess in political life.
Prof. Blaine was fond Of buggy rid
ng. and WAS a rood W:rhin I we'll