Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-06

Blaine began work upon his hook di.
rectiy aft.-r the marriage of his dauob.
ter. IN February, 1s63, writes II. G.
Crawford FROM Washington. He frs,
made a visit to New York, where he
had an interview with his Com ecticu,
publishers. TIE plan of the book in.
volved the publication Of two volumes
of 6O pages each. There are also in
the neiXhbOrhoOd Of FIFTY steel enorav-
lnRs of public men. Mr. Blaine WAS
offered what appeared tn be liberal
terms. Before he touched his Den Ia
paper be Vas offered $4,000 for his
share In the ownership. He was offered
Ills choice between this limp sum and a
royalty. A number OF statements have
been printed about the price Mr..
Blame Is to receive for writing this
work. / have il from the author that
he Receives eighty CENTS upon each vol
ume sold, and has never been paid any
specified sum. he preferring a royaliy,
As stle of 10000 volumes is already
ordered, this insures. the writer $50 900
tor his years work. The publishers
expect 70 sell at least 30, 600 copies of
the book. IL they should succeed in
this, Mr. Blains's nimble pen will have
earned for him this last wear nearly
$4,000. This il probably as satis-
factory years result as any of the
statesmen In active public life can have
accomplished.
Mr.. Blaine has worked very steadily
ON the first volume. and IN this work he
has found great contentment and re-
stored health. He has simplitied his
manner of living to that of the routine
OF college professor. He rises at =
O'Clock, has his breakfast, and tn. n he
works with his secretary until o'clock.
The rest of tn day he deyotes to general
reading, riding or visiting. He is never
out OF bed after ii O'Clock in the even
lug. The regularity of his life, the alb
seuce of excitement and the real inter
est he has In his work have accomplished
the magic of restoring his health. | had
the pleasure Of seeing Mr.. Blaine the
other night, and heard from his owu lips
the story of his book and his methods
of work. Mr.. Blaine, in one or two WAYS,
has changed, and Tor the better. He
looks clearer. more robust than at almost
any time within the last ten years of his
life. his eyes have regained their old
sparkle and fire. His long, peaceful
nights rest have cleared out many of
the lines from his face. His color is AS
fresh aud good as that of a young,
healthy man. His short, crisp mus
tache, full beard and hair have now a
color of soft gray white. The
streaks of iron gray winch used to shade
In and ut OF the silver of his beard
and hair aro all gone. But for ali this |
change of color Mr.. Blaine looks much |
younger than when he Was in the Sen |
alta. He has apparently severed all eon- |
d
orally regarded AZ a candidate for the |
Presidential nomination this year. Dur |
lnR the time since he lett the Senate he |
has never been in either legislative |
even for visit, except the |
day when he delivered the Garfield eu
logy. When he WAS in Congress he had |
Il perfect horror of the OK Senators and |
who were ia the habit of hang.
ing about, lolling on the sofas, having /
the appearance of lobbyists. whether /
they we're 81 or not. He has never tax
EN- his seat among this band of discard
cd brethren, but has gone steadily |
ahead, working each day upon his new
task. He has only taken vacation
during the year Of three weeks. This
was in midsummer. Much Oh the book
IL written with his own hand. Although |
Mr.. Blaine is one of tue most ready of i
extemporaneous speakers, he has pre-
ferred to write the earlier portions of
the book instead of debating them. He
has bestowed great care upsn the style
Df his writing. He has employed the
greatest simplicity, and the result Is
,learuess which is absolutely brilliant. |
He has bestowed as much care upon
what he calls the duller chapters OF bis
book as he has upon the relation Of the
most stirring incidents.