The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-08-19
THE STORY OF AN INTERVIEW,
Which Illustrates Blaine's Faculty OF
Making Friends.


NEW York, Aug. 1S.-Blaine's popularity
is not such mystery as some of the heavy
and profound students of the causes of po-
litical success fancy
He reminds me of beautiful woman
whom | once saw at rehearsal on the stage
of a Philadelphia theater, except tina
there is, of course, no suggestion of femi-
ninity about the Maine statesman. The
woman was Mrs Riegel-now the Baron
esq Blanc-and she had wandered fresh
from divorce case of great social uproar
upon the stage. The town was agog
with her name. On the stage when
she entered was grouped a motley crowd
of players, regarding the newcomer with
sullen unfriendlness | sat in the dark
ened auditorium with the composer of the
opera, Watching her while waiting for a
train to take me back to New York. Three
hours later she had become virtually the
pet of the stage A smile here, an apology
the o. and soft compliment on every con-
ceivable opportunity, had gradually worn
the unfriendlnesS away until the outsider
had grown into tho confidence of every one
on the stage. 1t was a wonderful exhibit
ton of what can be accomplished by tact
and a desire to please. No chorus man or
musician was too insignificant for the OK
In q similar way no man is so small as to
be unworthy of conquest by James G..
Blaine The head porter of the Fifth Ave
nue hotel has been talked about of late on
account of his blind and fervid admiration
for the republican leader Blaine is never
too busy to stop ana talk with him.
An odd instance of the never ending
efforts of the man from Maine to maze
friends occurred in Paris. | had talked
,..ttI Mr. Hlainn tint manning npH nj
had writttn the interview out | sent it to
him for correction and approval after my
invariable custom with public mon. The
messenger was one OF tue vast army of
American ne'er-do-wells, who,pick up pre-
carious living i'll an utterly inc INC ,ivable
manner in the European capitals. He
had once been of importance, lut his
condition at that time was seedy, down
cast and nerveleSs. He wanted work of
any sort, and was copying dispatches for
me. When | asked him to go TO Mr.. Blaine
he walked up to u mirror on the wall and
gazed reflectively at the reflection Of an OK
pressionless, pallid and dissipated face,
unshaven, weak-eyed and marked by the
signs of persistent misfortune.
Pm pleasing sort of a looking bird to
confront a prosperous and famous man, he
said shortly, "Still," he added, az may
please him, for Pm all that Blaine is not"
Hall an hour later he returned. His chin
WIS aloft, his chest curved cut, his step was
| light.
He's the most charming man ever
met - i'd the copyist, throwing the Blaine
| dispatch on the desk and waving his hand
enthusiastically. "When | went to tho
| Hotel Binda and sent up my muriy and
sombre-huel card / was afraid I'd be de-
MED but he met me Mt the door and Leaned
on me suavey. grew an inch in height.
| Then he held out his hand and gave me a
good, old-time American grip. | swallowed
a lump and dropped into chair that he
pushed up to the window. Mr.. Blaine
looked hard at me and then said:
"'l seldom forget "A notable face Haven't
met you beforep"
"The sensation Of meeting man who was
anxious to remember instead of forget me, "
continued my copyist half bitterly, Twas so
delightful and unexpected that | felt like q
three time winner again, so told Mr.. Blaine
| had met him in America many years
before, though il was not SO. He said he
was glad to renew the acquaintance, and
when l left he shook me by the hand ar, in
and asked me TO call. He may be bluff,
| but he is the most taking and delightful
man have ever met"
A day or two later there was noisy
crowd Of outcast Americans in a corner of
a cafe on the Rue Scribe. Above all the
tumult rose the voice of man who argued
with degree of eloquence, force and feel
| ing that ma 20 converts at every breath,
| that James g. Blaine was the most forcible