The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-29
MIR. BLAINE AT HOME.
Unruflied and UnIiurt by Defeat-His Intel
ligent and Happy Household.

Augusta Letter. in Philadelphia Times.
When Mr., Blaine is out of politics his habits
of life are very regular. He has lived here in
this little CITY, stretching along the banks of the
| Kennebec river, for more that quarter of
| century. 1t was Just thirty years to a day from
| the date upon which he took control of the Ken
nebec Journal until he was notified of his defeat
| for the presidency.
| While Mr., Blaine was writing the first volume
! of his Twenty Years of Congress he well nigh
| stopped the frictions twenty years of political
| control had created for him in this State. He
| appeared to its citizens a happy and brilliant
man. who had left any mistakes he might have
made behind him. and was buildinga new future
| upon the foundation of broad and valuable ex-
perience, creating something great, something
| enduring and powerful; work broader and
grander than any purely political effort, mon
| ument far above any achievement in the
| forum he had ever made or could possibly
| make. This people had come to believe that his
| political history was behind him, and that his
higher life as writer and historian was yet to re-
| ceive the touches of his genius | am impressed
| with the belief that this was his own thought
and that last fall he had simply meant to look
| upon politics as vanity fair, in which he had
| taken his prize and suffered his defeats.
! The fact that he did not want the nomination
| is not judgment after the fact of defeat for it
| oppressed him more than most people will ever
| be able to understand. He almost faltered in
the presence of the great responsibility thrust
! upon him. This feeling only momentary,
however, and then the stubborn elements of his
nature took possession: and here was an end of
| his peaceful, pleasant life, and the thread of
practical politics was picked up at the point
| where it was broken off two years before. These
are the opinions, arguments and knowledge
gathered here at his home. The incidents Of the
campaign are recent history.
Mr. Blaine came very near building a great
| house with very bad workmen. His part of the
| task was aggressive and brilliant to the point of
audaclty. 1t will live in history as the most re-
| markable event in American politics for long
| time to Its history will he read
more frequently than that of the campaign of
| 1874, ending in the defeat of Henry Clay. AL
though beaten, the manner and matter of his
personal contest is so attractive TO every one
| who likes big touches of human nature in pol
ities, that he sits in the glamour of his achieve
ments, so far as his neghbors are concerned, at
| least, almost as high up as if he had been sue
! cessful.
Most people disappointed at Mr.. Blaine's
conduct since the election left him behind Peo-
| pie generally imagined that chagrin over defeat
would unsettie his vital powers. History says
| that Henry Clay was so soured by the success
of Polk, that his happiness and health even,
were destroyed. He was beaten upon poit-
ical issue, while Mr.. Blaine was defeated by
the stupidity of his managers, and through
| a campaign of personalities. He has
now accepted the result with perfect good feel
| ing, and has dropped back into his quiet,
methodical, home-like way Of before the nomina-
ton Already has he overcome the fatigues and
| dIsappointments of the campaign, and resumed
work upon the second volume of his Twenty
| Years of Congress, " in the same systematic man
ner as before he was alured from the pleasant
task to try his hand again in the hazard of poll
| tics. He again seems cheerful and contented,
and, either in reality, or because he is a great
actor, he seems to look to the future for as much
| pleasure as ever He will finish his book before
his mind hunts for any fresh employments. But
He will keep up his delightful social life in Wash
| ington for his family even more than for him
| self.
AS is usual in such cases, those of his own
! flesh and blood feel more keenly the thorn of
| defeat than Mr.. Blaine himself. Mrs. Blaine
| has always had great ambition to reside in
| the White House. She has always espoused
| her husbands cause with ability and good
| Judgment One of the busiest and cleverest
women ever in public life at the national Capt.
! tai, she has ever found time to be a helpmate
| to her husband not only in lolitics, but in
the high social life that is great help thereto
| Her children, too, have been well educated in
this direction. The elder daughter, the
| who married the army officer was an unusually
| intelligent girl, while Miss Maggie W., the young
woman who is at present the light of the house
| hold. is very superior girl. The little daugh-
| ter Hattie named after the mother, is a very
bright, cheerful child. 1t is unusually intel
| lectual family. Gail Hamilton spends a good
deal of time with Mrs Blaine, and these two
brainy women, with the interesting daughters,
add great charm to the home circle. The boys
| also have done exceedingly we'll They have
never acted foolishly about their father and yet
have been actively and earnestly interested in
Il
| lives ut home and is the government counsel for
the Alabama claims Commission. He is an as
prant for, and will probably be appointed to,
the vacant judgeship of that court of arbitration
| Emmons Blaine, the second son. turns to bust
ness rather than to politics law. He, like
| Walker, educated in the best colleges, and
studied law He is now division freight agent
on the Northwestern railroad out of Chicago
Neither of the boys is married
| James g., jr., is the youngest boy, a lad of
about seventeen. He is bright active fellow
and. unless all signs fail, will develop some of
his fathers qualities of mind and disposition 1t
| is a great tribute to Mrs. Blaine that she has
raised such large family, each member being
| n credit to their parents No public in the
| country, that | know of, has lived so long in
| the noise of public acclaim. and not had more
or less trouble with the folles of his children.
This interesting family live in very comfort
! able way here in Augusta, but in great style
| The Blaine residence stands upon hill near the
! State-house and is surrounded by ample grounds
| The building is only two stories high, and Of
| wood There are dozen more pretentious
| places several of the principal streets. But
| there is a delightful home-like air about the
plain residence that is interesting, and the peo-
| pie in it extend a cheerful hospitality to all who
| call, that is very attractive. Its warmth does
not seem to have been influenced by the result
| of the recent election.
| In few days at best, the old roof tree here
will be deserted and the Blaines will go to
| Washington for the winter. SIM - GLOWING the
rule of the last twenty years. Once there, they
will follow the customary habits of life, and re
ceive and be received as though they had SUI
fereG no disappointment
| This game, unfnching element of character
cannot but be applauded by every American
The family naturally take it from the father
| People who expected to find him sour and ill
tempered after this defeat, have reckoned with
out a host and that other class who thought he
would weaken and decline if he failed to reach
the presidency, may be prepared to see the
same fresh, breezy man as when he was on the
highest wave of public favor. No matter how
much people may differ about ones methods, no
citizen who loves positive traits of character
splendid mental gifts, and the force to meet
| such a disaster and face it for a fresh hand can
look upon this man as he bears his present dis
appointments without feeling of admiration.
| When he appears in the glare of social life of