St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-27
TOPICAL TALK.

1t was not with the noise Of great rushing
wind that the blizzard entered. There was
the sound of soft step on the threshold, the
sanctum door opened slowly, and voice
with the mldness of summer breeze pro-
claimed: Il live twenty-five miles above
Fergus on Jim Hills SWITCH at place called
Pelican No other introduction was neces-
sary. I knew that I stood face to face with
Mrs. Blaidsell, known to the newspaper
world as 1.-THE Minnesota Blizzard" This
remarkable woman's frontier experiences
and her services in war times are part of
the history of the state. Her inclination for
politics and her activity in election times
have furnished many stirring episode in
the political campaigns Of the state. 1t was
not until Mrs. Blaidsell went to Washington
to accept clerkship in the treasury depart
ment, which had been secured for her by Mr..
Window, that she gained the sobriquet OF
1.-THE Minnesota Blizzard She had occa-
sion to appear in the role of lobbyist
around the congressional halls, and the
newsp aper correspondents christened her
with the name she is now most familiarly
known by.
t TT
Mrs Blaidsell is candidate for the posi-
ton of matron in the state prison, and is
backed up in her candidacy by all the old
settlers and the old soldiers, both Democrats
and Republicans. But it was not of her can
didacy that she came to talk. II don't like
the politics of the GLOBE she began with
characteristic frankness, land l was nettled
because of that picture you published of me
some time ago. But for all that the GLOBE is
an Eli paper-it is always getting there. 1t
is newsy to the limit, and in your editorial
: n, aFav hat
have had in the state for the last four or five
years. For that reason wantyour aid in adj
yocating an advance in the salary Of the
prison matron. 1 may get the position, or
may not, but whoever does hold it deserves
more than is paid. Just think of the pitiful
sum Of $40 month as the salary of the
mother of great state institution. Such
parsimony is disgraceful.'' The GLOBE
agrees with Mrs. Bla1dsell. The salary is in
adequate Twelve or fifteen hundred dol
lars wear would be small compensation for
the services.
IT think I would rather be chief justice
than president or congressman" That WAS
the unbiased opinion Of my ten-year-o boy
who accompanied me on a recent visit to
Washington. 1t was given after visit to all
the departments representing the three dis
tinct branches of the government. Believ-
ing in child wisdom because of its guileless
sincerity, asked for the reasons upon which
this opinion had been founded. learned
that it was based upon the impressions he
had received from what he saw in the White
house, in the halls of congress- and in the
supreme court room. At the White househe
was amused by the squatty appearance of
the president, Disguised by the il-mannered
curiosity of the VISITORS and surprised that
great government did not provide more de-
cent residence for its chief magistrate. A
few hours spent in the halls Of congress i'm
pressed the child with the opinion that men
in even the most exalted station are only
grown up boys. In the senate, while the
chaplain was praying. only one senator
stood up. The others were variously en-
gagged, some writing at their desks,