The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-29

J hse coiored screen. was reminded of
he ante-room of some great physician,
where patients wait TO learn whether
they are 10 live or die.
Presently coiored attendant appeared
fom behind the screen and bekoned to
ne. | followed him. and found myself in
asmall cabinet, from which / passed by
mother door into room narrow in pro-
portion to its great length. The walls
we're encircled with oil portraits. At the
hther end vas a table covered with pa
pers, and there. facing down the room. sat
aman with white hair and close-cut white
beard. but with clear eomplexioned face
that showed few signs of age.
Secretary BlaiRe-for this he was-rose
and gave me his hand. white. well-kept
hand, firm and shapely. Before | sat
down he had given me an instance Of his
extraordinary memory by recalling the &C.
CASTOR of our last meeting, at q dinner
given by Whiteiaw Reid nine years before.
Mr. Blaine spoke in fall musical voice,
agreeable 10 the ear. and expressed himself
With noticeable distinctness both Of matter
and utterance: vet sikh the naturalness
and ease of one whose mind is perspica-
cious and whose ideas low easily. He
chair. occasionally making slight gestures
With his hands. HIS eyes are soft. bright
and clear, and they are intelligence itself
don't know thai ] have seen such
another pair of eyes; they see and under
stand everything at once, sad without
effort. In fact, effort, IN the sense Of
sraining to achieve, Is not suggested by
Mr.. Blaine's aspect. lie seems % DO what
he does easily. and even plsasurabiy. He
holds the most important and responsible
post under the administration, bat $50 far.
aleast, as his intellect IS concerned) his
capacity remains indefinitely ia excess Of
any demands upon il.
THE routine Of the Office, " said he, "is
very simple. and you can understand il in
I'VE minutes. l have under ne an assist
Ant secretary and second and third assist
ant The assistant secretary takes his
place as secretary pro TEN when the secre-
tary is absent, and attends 10 all the con-
salar correspondence The present in
enmbent is Mr.. William +. Wharton, OF
Boston. The second assistant, Mr.. Alvey
a. Adee. Is engaged wholly in the diplo-
matte department. The third assistant
mas all cases of extraditiou and does q
great deal of miscellaneous duty besides
ns vacant now. II vas occupied by Mr..
sohn Il. Moore. who resigned 20 accept =
very tempting offer in Columbia college As
4 Professor Of International Law. He was in
ssoaoced in the department rs a clerk by
ar Bayard, nay immediate predecessor.
II ne : very mature man. and very able.
a. ~ only he wrote what think wlll be
considered the standard work on ext-adj-
son l predict he Will be heard from ia
l his career.
l There are six bureaus in the department
1 diplomatic, consular, accounts. stats
ses, rolls snd library and indexes and
i ErNAlVes There Is also an officer, Mr..
.sAnk I. Partridge. VINO serves here, but
appointed by the attorney general, 10
saom al law cases are submitted and by
sAen az Claims are determined. An APP
L fsat hes 10 the attorney general, the SUI
Irene law head o. The government. The
aIei clerk Is a very important officer IN
,~e @o tnln!strai}on 81 the departments
ssAn OF 81 work who knows everything
n M lhe department.. The present oecn-
y fAt't - Mr.. Leve.lon Brown, who was
@s.gha!ly appointed by Mr.. Seward"
bai you haven't told me where You
cone IN, M B.alneg"
wei. Of course all these subordinate
s"Sions center here replied the secre-
srty tapping bis fingers on hjs deck.
me moment - difficulty occurs in the
sanssetlonS 4 any divisions i comes 10
ae. l have TO sign all Diplomatic CORE
.ponaence and couuter>ign documents,
49, a. pyoc!amat5ons. treaties and COM
sehS, 10 which the president has
sxeQusiar.
out IN such mstiers YOU place some
- 81 your sG@ordiuateS-you don = have
40 through everything person ally 2"
i W. yer! great deal Of trust - placed