Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-03
MIR. BLAINE is NOT ILL
HIS Son Says He is i'm the Best of
Health and Enjoying Himself.
The Maine Statesman Did Not Go
Away for His Health. But for
Pleasure.

These reports about my fathers illness
nave been source of great ANNOYANCE
TO me and to other members eff our fami-
ly," said Valdez Blaine in his office in the
Portland block this morning. "apd T
should like very much to set them once
for all at rest. Only yesterday I received
from my mother letter dated at Rome.
April 10. She says that nv father at the
time of writing was in the very best of
health. He was going out every dav and
was enjoying his visit to that CITY in the
highest degree. Invitations of SOCIAL
character were pouring in upon him in
great numbers, and he was acceptinp as
many of them as his time would nermit
There was not the slightest symptom of
any ailment about him. Indeed, on the
contrary, he had not felt so strong and
vigorous for Lany years"
would you allow the letter to be pub
lishedw asked a Mail reporter.
VERY cheerfully," replied Mr.. Blaine,
''if It did not contain some matters of a
purely private nature. The matter of
my fathers health is only referred to
incidentally, and would not likely have
been referred TO at all were it not for
those annoying reports that are being
circulated on both sides of the Atlantic.
My father intend to remain a few weeks
only In Rome and then return to Florence.
NO doubt he Is back in Florence by this
time. He has found that CITY a most
delightful place in which to spend the
winter.
Il have not the remotest idea how tt e
story of my fathers illness originated.
You know there have been intimations
that my fathers health was broken down
ever since he went to Europe. As if
man could not take pleasure trip with
out being looked upon by everybody as
an invalid. My father had his European
trip IN contemplation for some time
before he started and chose the time
for taking 1t when it best suited his
private convenience. He was not advis-
ed by his family physician that it was a
necessity in view of failing health or any
thing of the sort. Of course he needed
rest, and thought that the sea voyage
and European travel would do him good.
There are many more of US who would
not object to European trip to r9juven-
ate our powers if the opportunity offer
ed?"
"Have you heard from ycrr father
frequently since his absence?"
From two to three times a week.
Some one of the family has kept me or
my brothers informed of fathers move
ments all the time, and at no time during
his absence has there been the slightest
intimation that he was in i'll health. As
for the story that my father had diabetes,
1 fail to see how any such story could
gain credence in the face of our family
physicians statement of the fact that my
father had no organic ailment whatever.
81 know Mr.. o. M. Shaw, the hotel
proprietor at Bar Harbor, very well. 1
knew he was to he at Floren &c, and sup
posed, of course, he would see my father.
That he should be responsible for the
latest report that my father has diabetes,
am 10th to believe, how such report
could be attributed to him. unless to
make political capital, L cannot sur
r1iSaD