Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-15
MIR. BLAINE'S HEALTH.
He Is as Well as Usual and Will Re.
main In the Cabinet.

Now that Mr.. Blaine and all his family are
out Of the city occasion has been taken to start
again the old story of his failing health" As
far as can be learned from those who ought to
know most about the matter there is no more
foundation for the report now than there was
for it in its infancy ten years ago. Those who
have been brought into the closest contact
with Mr.. Blaine since the 4th of March declare
that his health has been remarkably good dur
ing thst time and that there is no apparent de-
cline in it now.
HIS yIGoR OF MIND AND BODY
is shown by the immense amount of work he
does. Both at his Office and at his private
apartments he works steadily, dealing with all
the most important questions with care and
force. At present he is engaged on important
work. Instead of having been called to fam
lily conference over the ill-health of his father
the purpose of Mr.. Walker Blaine's last visit to
Boston was to take to his father some import
ant papers connected with matters now occu-
pying the Secretary's attention. Secretary and
Mrs. Blaine were in Boston buying furniture
for their Bar Harbor cottage
Some time ago, when Secretary Blaine re-
mained away from the department for short
while-when he had the lumbago and it was
reported that he was paralyzed and what not
he was actually engaged with some work that
kept him writing many hours day.
DEEPLY INTERESTED IN HIS WORK.
His interest is most thoroughly in his de-
partment, and he is at this time doing some
important work. No other cabinet officer has
had such a demand made upon his time by
callers as has Mr.. Blaine, and his going to
Maine at this time is not so much because he
required the change as that he had this work
to do and could give it his attention better
there, where he would not be so subject to in
terruption. Unless his health has suddenly
failed since he left Washington there is no
reason to apprehend his retirement from the
cabinet Oh that score. Moreover the matters
he is interested in and working upon would
make his retirement at this time one of the
most unlikely of events.
Those associated with him can find no rea-
son for the circulation of such a report. 1t is
not at all likely that he would drop, scarcely
begun, work he is SO much interested in.
ORIGIN OF THE REPORT.
The only thing the report was built upon was
the fact that Secretary and Mrs. Blaine went to
New England; that they were joined by JAS G.
Blaine, jr., and that Walker Blaine went from
here last week to meet them in Boston. Sec
retary Blaine has not been complaining of ILL
health, but, on the contrary, has been in ex-
cellent spirits, and has told his friends that he
felt better than he has for a number of years.
He was looking well when he left Washington.
and nothing has been heard from him or his
family by any one here to indicate that he is
now feeling less well.
When he left here Walker went with him
and returned in day or two The other day
there were some private papers that had to be
sent to the Secretary in private way, and in
stead Of sending special messenger from the
department with them Walker Blaine took them
himself, partly because he wanted the pleasure
OF the trip and partly because, in the same
connection, his father might want to confer
with him.
WHAT MEMBERS OF THE CABINET SAY.
The published report that Secretary Blaine
had rendered his resignation, to take effect
September l. owing to ill health, is ridiculed
by most of the cabinet officers in the city and
by others who are intimate with Mr. Blaine
Secretary Rusk and Attorney General Miller
both say there is no foundation for the rumors
and that Secretary Blaine health when he left
Washington about week ago, was better than
it was when he became Secretary of State last
March. Both gentlemen spoke of the report as
sensational and altogether without foundation.
Assistant Secretary of State Wharton, when
asked about the correctness of the published
report laughed and said it was simply ridicu-
lous