The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1884-09-10

a size street or alley for nearly 100 feet. A
row of pine trees lined the sidewalk and
shaded the rather handsome front door, with
its carved frame and side lights" Major
Blaine was there to renew, or rather to con-
tinue, an acquaintance which begun three
wears before at GEORGETOWN, where as youth
of eighteen, Just graduated with high honors
from Washington College, Pa, he had been
employed as Professor of Languages IN the
MALE and Female Academy of Professor
Thornton +. Johnson. This academy was
the of shoot of Baptist Theological SEMI
nary, which had been established In George
town, in 1926 and in which Johnson was
professor up TO that time, in 1916, when, as
a result of discussions, he withdrew
and established his own school. The
school was one year old when ne
came to it, on the accommodation OF
Squire Boulton, of Maysville, who was
relative of his. He found there Miss Caro-
line StanwoOd, a Yankee schoolmarm,"
who had aided Johnson in establishing the
school, and her two younger sisters, Misses
Harriet and Sarah, whom Miss Caroline had
imported from her Maine home to act as
teachers. A strong friendship developed.
The school did not grow as had been hoped,
and in 1919 Johnson determined to move.
He was full of the idea that military feat
ure would make his boys school popular, so
he canvassed that region till he found at
Blue Lick Springs, then, as now, a quite
popular health resort, large frame hotel,
which would in winter season serve well as
barracks for his boys. This he rented from
its owner, Colonel Tom Holiday. Looking
further he found that the people at Millers-
burg, thirteen miles from Blue Lick, were so
eager to have an educational establishment
that they would go on his note for $4,000 if
he would Just give them his girls school.
He let them 60 on his note and stay on 1t.
So Major Blaine and the boys went to Blue
Lick, and the Misses Stanwood and the girls
-, TOf 1raco
took up his family residence. Blaine knew
nobody in Blue Lick, so when relieved from
school cares on Friday afternoon ne rode
over to see the ladies, with whom he had
previously been associated. And he kept
riding over every week and staying as long
as possible, and within year a scandal
grew which, however charitable the world
may be to him, will echo in his ears till
death stiles il. When few weeks ago this
unpleasant chapter Of history was revived,
THE BUUE GRASS PEOPLE
deprecated it, and it would soon have been
again cons gned 10 the archives, but for the
fact that Mr.. Blaine himself made the issue
by denOunring as an infamous lie that which
these peC pie Il ought they knew to be true.
While no. justifyIng the publication OF this
old story, they had affirmed its truth, and
hence they were put upon the defensive by
the course of the man who had thus been
attacked. This set the tongues of gossip to
wagging at great rate, and great many of
the old settlers who bad Heretofore held
discreet silence. joined in the declaration
that Mr. Blaine had acted very indiscreetly
in preoipitsting this issue.
II can't understand what Mr.. Blaine
means" said Squire JOS. VIII Miller, Justice
OF the Peace, and Acting Police Magistrate of
the town, who has lived there all his life,
by so boldly declaring that the published
story of his career here is false. He certain
lt,,e r-rNka rrnA ,eol
before any court, for don't believe were he
himself put upon the stand he could escape
admitting the truth"
30 yG;s include the shotgun feature of
the story2'
mo; l don't know anything about that. !
speak merely of the Millersburg part of it.
III a shotgun figured, it was after he left Mil
leTsburg. 1 don't think anybody in this town
knows anything about anybody having used
q shotgun in that affair. There was vague
sort of a rumOr that came back here after he
had left, and as there was nobody to deny II,
became to be generally believed. The report
was, that the shotgun of young man named
Stanwood was one of the features of the we'd
ding scene. But il always appeared to me
that that was a matter of logic rather than
knowledge. You see the people reasoned
that if man intends to marry young lady,
he will not defer the marriage until her con-
dition brings her into disgrace and makes
condition is as apparent to him as to any
body else. III, therefore, he does not show
enough respect for her to save her from that
sort OF disgrace, it is argued that he will not
marry her after that, except there be some
very powerful inducement."
1T is claimed, however, that they were
married secretly in Millersburg long before
there was any talk. but that they kept that
fact from the public because he was not max
ing sufficient to support a wife?"
Yes, l know. But don't think there
will be any endeavor to substantiate that.
In the first place there would be less dis
grace, 1t seems to me, IN letting the public
know that she was earning her OWE living
sffer marriage, than in letting the public IN
derstand that she was an erring woman.
One was matter of little false pride, the
other was matter of lifetime reputation.
No woman. with her pride and excellent
sense, would have ever allowed herself to be
put in that false position. In the next place
the law then, as now, required that all mar
riages be under license from the State, and
be recorded in the records of the State. You
yourself know that no record of Mr.. Blaine's
wedding exists in Bourbon County"
ibid YOU KNOW HIN?"
KNEW him well, and liked him. / at
tended his school, and found him a kind
teacher, brilliant but painstaking, proud, but
always approachable. He was a splendid
fellow socially, and always full of wit and
fun. The boys liked him well, and so did
the people"
did you know the lady?1
"By sight and reputation only. She was
said to be q woman of refinement and excel
lent education and reading. All three of
the sisters were of lively, rollicking disDo-
sItioD, and they uoed TO nave royal times on
Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. You
see the young ladies used 10 board with Pro-
fessor Johnson's family in the seminary. and
when Blaine came. he used to have a room
there too. OF course that place was not ia
vorable for having very lively times. as the
family was somewhat strict, and then some
degree Of dignity had to be maintained in
the presence of the pupils. DR.. n. S. Moore
was living at that time in a large house near
the seminary, and William NJ. McKim lived
only few yards further up the street. Nc.
Kim had married Moores sister, but both
men were widowers at that time, and very
gay. Moore conceived quite liking for one
of the Slanwood young ladies, and McKim
for another. Todd Batterton, bright young
| fellow in McKim's store, was at the same
time counting q Miss Ray, who was also q
| teacher in the institution. In the evening
| these four gentlemen and their ladies would
| leave the parlors of the institute and proceed
| to either Moores or McKim's house. where,
| free from all restraint, and without any
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