The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-04
THE LIBEL ON MRS. BLAINE.
History Of the Infamous SANDER Circu-
lated by Democratic Newspapers
a Story that Has No Foundation in Fact
BIaine's Connection with the Georgetown
Schools Courtship and Marriage.

Paris (Ky) Letter in Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Mr. Blaine and Miss Stanwood both came to
Georgetown at the instance of Mr.. thornton
johnson. who employed the former to teach in
the male department of his school, and the lat
ter in the female department. Mr.. Blaine, or
Major Blaine, as he was called from his military
professorship, was handsome young fellow,
tall and we'll proportional. He was very partic-
ular in his dress and even this seemed to get
him into disfavor with few hard-handed sons
of toll Mr.. johnson, the principal Of the two
schools, was man Of plenty of energy, but lit
tie Judgment. and this, coupled with the fight OF
the Baptist sect against his sect, the Reformers,
was too much for Mr.. johnson, and be sue
cumbed. In the faculty Of the female
college were Misses Caroline, Sarah and
Harriet Stanwood. The two frstrnamed
have little to do with the story but Miss Harriet
the youngest, and the present Mrs. Blaine,
figures as the heroine. Both Mr.. Blaine and the
Misses Stanwood lived at the residence Of Mr.,
johnson, and here, as elsewhere, not suspicion
Of intimacy between them was suspected. Major
Blaine would at times come into the parlor
where Mr. Johnson's family and the lady teach
rected to no particular one During the difficult
ties of the school, Mr.. johnson received letter,
In 1848, from DIR. Noah S. Moore, OF Millersburg,
asking him to transfer his school from George
town to Millersburg, offering at the same time
the requisite sum of money. which would be
loaned without interest for period Of five years.
Mr.. johnson weighed the matter in his mind,
and, thinking it would be best to leave the scene
of his late defeat accepted the offer, and togeth
er with his family and corps OF teachers, came to
Millersburg Here he founded what is yet known
as the Millersburg Female College, and leaving
the lady teachers and his family here, he, with
Major Blaine and Bushrod johnson, afterward
noted confederate made their headquarters at
Blue Lick Springs and opened military school
In the hotel building which was an immense
affair, covering nearly an acre of ground.
At that time Blue Lick Springs was at the
zenith of success and the large crowds who
focked from the North and South filed the inn
mense place to 0verfowing. Colonel Johnsons
bonhomie served him in good place, and, know
ing many Southerners, built up the school to
large proportions Through the efforts of par
ties at Millersburg, the female college was pro-
crossing favorably, and DR.. Noah Moore, who is
my informant, tells me that the attendance was
very large The teachers of the school lived
with Mr. Johnson's family, and the circle of
their acquaintance was small indeed. One of
the few places they frequented was DIR. Moore
quently Miss Harriet the youngest of the
Misses Stanwood was of the ordinary height,
and, though comparatively plain, was better
looking than her sisters. She was typical New
Highlander, though not as angular, being slightly
inclined to flesh, while her face showed no baby
prettiness, but rather the beauty of intellect.
Yet she could not be termed ugly, for at times,
when discussing an interesting theme, her deep
brown eyes would light up, and the warm flush in
her face would soften the rigdity of the features
and make her positively beautiful 1t
was however, not the beauty of form
and features that was the charm which
attracted, but the beauty of her
intellect Hers was no ordinary one, and her
tastes were not bounded by the narrow lines of
her day. Her mind, cultivated to great extent,
needed larger scope than the circle In which
1t better than the handsome Major, who came
occasionally from the school at Blue Licks to
Millersburg, stopping either at Mr. Johnson's
residence or his friend DR.. Moore's. Here he
met Miss Harriet at times. or he might meet
her at the residence Of the principal. Their
courtship was very discreet. and, in fact no one
knew or suspected there was anything more
than friendship between them. Mr.. Blaine's
few visits to Millersburg, as well as his manner
when with Miss Harriet aided the belief. There
were no long moonlight walks, nothing that
could be construed into wrong by Mrs. Grundy.
The home circle did not widen, and with the ex-
ception of the teachers but few were admitted.
Miss Harriet though reserved, soon became the
acknowledged leader of the little circle, and here
her conversational powers showed to the best adj
vantage. Here at her home, If such it could be
called the frigid reserve wore of, and amongcon
genial companions she enjoyed the few hours of
recreation, and her charming manner and
interesting talk soon made her general favor
ite AT these reunions Major Blaine came irreg-
ularly; frequently two or three weeks would
elapse between his visits but it is not surprising
that the intellectual Miss Stanwood should at
tract the ambitious and brilliant young profess
Bor, who, though scarcely past his majority, was
at the head of the school But if such attrac-
lion existed, none but the principal parties
knew or suspected it, and their properly discreet
manner was an etfectual guard to their secret.
But though this peaceful and pleasant state of
affairs existed in Millersburg, it not SO with
the school at Blue Licks. Troubles came thick
and fast, and the students one by one began
dropping off until vacant benches stared the pre-
ceptors in the face, and pecuniary embarrass-
ment pinched the principal. In Intellectual eff
forts to rebuild his school Mr. johnson expended
money that should have been paid by him to Mr.,
Thomas Halliday, proprietor of the hotel, for
the board of the students Time passed on, and,
troubles pressing on Mr.. johnson, he was una
BILE to meet his obligations. Mr.. Halliday,
knowing that Mr. johnson was insolvent, and
that he had received the money, determined to
get it by force They expected trouble,
and John B. Halliday, his son. who
now resides in Paris. and vouches
for the truth Of this story, went over to
grocery about quarter of mile distant from
the hotel to procure pistol While at the
grocery he heard firing, and hastily leaving there,
pistol in hand, heran down the road to the
hotel. As he turned the corner he saw Bush
rod johnson coming down the circular road
which leads to the hotel on a quick trot. Mr.
Halliday matted him, but on the statement made
by some of the students that Mr. johnson had
nothing to do with the shooting, released him,
and he resumed his brisk trot, crossing the
bridge which spans the Licking. and then taking
to the fields was lost to sight. fastening up to
the house Mr.. Halliday learned that his father
and uncle Lewis Halliday had had an alteration
with Mr. Thornton johnson and Mr. Blaine at
the foot Of the stairs in the principal hall The
firing had ceased when he arrived, but he thought
Blaine assisted in the firing. johnson was
wounded in the groin, but the Hallidays didn't
know of it, but Blaine, staying with his friend
assisted him to where he procured buggy,
and with Mr.. johnson started for Millersburg.
They drove fast, Mr. Johnson's wound bleed