The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-09-20
BLAINE AS 4 BOY.
Modest and Clean Mouth-A Natural Apti-
Jude for Politics.

Modest and Clean Mouth-A Natural Apti-
Jude for Politics.
George Alfred Towsend, in a letter
written from Washington, Pa, to the
Boston GloJe gives this sketch of a talk
with one Of Mr.. BlaiLe's relatives:
| called on Mr.. John Ewing at his com.
Portable home between the main street
Murdoch, long the United States mar
shall here, assembled at his Office num-
Der of the citizens, and from these en-
dcavored to ascertain the character and
surroundings of Nj Blaine in his college
days.
Among others Gen. James Ripple was
tions in the county. lie said
"BIaiAe had nothing eventful in his
life here, he was not boisterous boy,
and not much engaged in athletic games;
never at variance with the authorities of
the college, and he has kept the good
Will of his schoolmates; and although
with some regret that any of them cast
vote against him.
''Ore thing was noticeable about him
through his youth. If nybody would
tell all immodest story before him,
blending blush and frown Of Indignation
wonld come 20 lis face. He has been a
clean mouthed boy and man too.
'IIe was moderately neat; that is to
say, his clothes were not expensive, and
often of rather cheap material; but he
kept them neat. He was not a rover, and
there is no recollection here of his going
cunning or fishing.
Gle was always politician. When he
was a very young fellow it was COM
mon thing to hear him discussing with
the other boys issues and election proba-
bilities. There seems to have been plant
ed in him from some source a genius tor
pclitics-ani his father was pretty poor
politician
Mr.. Murdoch said: Il rccollect once
when Blaine was good deal nonplussed
in his political predictions. The wing
headquarters when he was schoolboy
were at the Fulton house. We had an
election, and the men and boys stayed up
at night until toward morning to get the
returns. Blaine had piece of paper and
took down all the districts in the county.
He computed the other districts rs they
had been at previous election, and came
! to me and to others and, said he, we
have carried the county by so many hun
| dred majority He showed his figures,
and they looked all right. But there was
a district which had for some cause or
other gone away from the wings. Nc
| kewen, once a prominent federal office
| holder, brought the returns up from
| there, and a man who had seen them
said to Blaine, Let me see that cipher
ing of yours Oh said Blaine, we have
carried the county by 400.' How many
whig votes have you got down for such a
township Blaine showed the figures.
'Ah, said the man, that red headed ras-
cal would give you different figures from
that Blaine found his candidate was
gone, and we had great deal of fun
laughing at him.
Mr.. Murdoch said, further: 'Blaine
was a good student, not brilliant stu
dent. He was strong i'll mathematics.
The dawning instinct for business APP
peared in his fondness for figures. He
mad brother Neal, who has given him a
good deal of trouble. Neal married in
the west, and had all the carelessness
about him which might have been ex.
pected from lis fathers habits and his
grandfather's. Blaine, by method and
ambition, triumphed over this DISPOSE
ton. He has several times gone to the
relief of Neal, as we have understood
Said | to Mr. Murdoch: Did you peo
pie here keep Blaine in very vivid re
membranes and expectation"
"No. We considered Jim Blaine coed
| SOuIb DbN, W HIdhC HIS way IL
the world but we had crop of boys, 81
to speak, going out of this college a
least once IA year. We did hear that Blaine
had gone to Maine and become an edito
and politician. In the year 1876, whel
the first Republican convention met a
Fremont, this county was all ready 70
the revolution, and sent its delegate
there. They found Blaine intimated will
Lot Morrill, and the most renowned stat
leaders strong in their counsclS, and the,
came back aud said Well, Jim Blain
has got to be something Of a man. From
that time onward Blaine was kept il
mind"
Said to Mr.. Murdoch: DO you re
member Mr.. Blaine's mother"
ooh. yes; | remember her, though
was not very Intimately acquainted Will
her. it was very hard i'll this town for
woman who was a commitment Of TIN
Catholic church to make a good impress
sion; and to do SO required the yer,
highest traits of character Her sweet
; ness, goodness, and refinement We're uni
yersally acknowledged in this town b,
the most biIotcd Calvanists. jim, how
ever, was regular attendant upon tn
Presbyterian church. The Catholics wer
not allowed for some years to have
church in Washington. 1t seems to nj
t outraLes, " said Nj. Murdoch, "for PEG
5 pie to argue because Blaine will no
. abuse his mother he must therefore be
Catholic. You see every day the sons o
Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian
mothers who do not adopt their faith
At the same time no one expects them t
[ denounce their mothers in order to prov
. that they are not religious"