The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-22
MIR. BLAINE,s poMEsr1c LIFE.
His Courtship and Marriage in Kentucky
An Estimate of Mrs. Blaine.

His Courtship and Marriage in Kentucky
An Estimate of Mrs. Blaine.
Gath, in Cincinnati Enquirer
Last Thursday, two days before the publica
ton of Mr. Blaine's letter on his marriage was
informed about it with the statement that l
was one of only three persons in the country
who knew anything about it, and one Of them
was Mr.. Blaine himself / think it inprudent
to trust newspaper writers with too much conf
dence They are not employed to keep secrets,
but to tell them. Therefore, l was relieved
this morning to see Mr.. Baine's letter to Mr..
Phelps Some incidental matter was told me
by a mutual friend which may cast some light
on the subject. lis, Of course to be under
stood that no persons but Mr.. Blaine and his
wife can relate this marriage in all its causes
and surroundings just as it was. So what | have
to tell is somewhat in the form of hearsay.
There is enough Irish in the Blaine family to
make them ardent in love as in conflict While
Blaine was at school at Washington, Pa, he was
noted for his admiration for the ladies and for
his remarkable purity of speech He would not
listen to vile anecdote or scandal What took
him to the Presbyterian Church so regularly was
to see the girls, his contemporaries said, the
best of whom in that town were Of the old Pres
byterian stock. An impression prevails among
the people there that he was once engaged to
young lady of the place. and married his present
wife without a notification. This | have fully
exploded in conversation with Mr.. Seabright,
prominent Democrat of Uniontown Pa, who
settled the quarrel between Blaine and this lady
and returned pictures and letters. He was
therefore, unhampered by any past obligation
when he went to Kentucky.
he orr of nfv hirft
were considered to be the finest in the North
So many of the finest there have been taken out
OF the State by marriage, that at present vis-
itor might be disappointed in the beauty Of
Maine. Blaine had not been long teaching in
Kentucky when he fell in love with this young
girl. Miss Stanwood In schools of that kind it
is against the rule for teachers to marry. That
is the rule also in most of the public schools.
Some years ago female teacher in New York
married an artist who went to another country
to study his art ard while gone the marriage
was disclosed. An exception was made in favor
of this teacher on the ground that she was teach
ing for worthy purpose.
The death of Blaines father called him home
to Pennsylvania, journey in those days tai king
more time than to go now to California. The peo-
pie travelled less, and young people particularly
considered separations Of this sort dangerous.
Blaine was so much in love with the young
woman that he was afraid somebody in
Kentucky would cut him out in his
absence. She thought he was such
rare young FELLOW that when he would get back
to Pennsylvania, where his people had high
family consideration, they would object to his
marrying a poor school girl, earning her own liv-
ing In those days of slavery the feeling that it
was disgraceful for woman to work unless she
belonged to the very poor classes extended to
the neighborng borders. These girls from far
of Maine, teaching in volllptuous State like
Kentucky. whore stock breeding was the great
point Of conversation, naturally wore considered
too handsome not to love. Blaine married the
young woman, with her full concurrence and
understand that there are two living witnesses
Of the marriage
He went to Pennsylvania, where he had
wholesome fear Of his Scotch-Irish father par
ticularly. Nothing new happened as he had ex-
pected and he found himself absolutely poor,
drawing a-salary Of about 1900 a year, Of which
portion was paid in his board and washing and
he knew not whore to turn. So he turned where