Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-09


directed toward the preservation Of liberty,
the encouragement of industry and the develop
ment Of commerce, and his grasp Of all great
questions Ii such as to give great magnitude to
all his plans; vet SO clear are they always as
never to leave q doubt as to the possibility Of
their fulfllment. He has always had the people
with him, for he has made them understand his
purposes and appreciate his patriotism, and his
failures are easily attributable to his being in
advance of other political leaders Of his time
and to the spirit OF jealousy which has thrown
obstacles across his path.
BLAINEs PERSONALITY.
Mr.. Blaine Is a man Of most interesting per-
sonaiity. Notwithstanding the many reports
of his broken physical condition he is still an
active man. capable Of being of great service to
his country yet, and retaining those charming
social qualities which have made him personal
fGvorite among men. His step Is quick and
light his eyes are bright, and though his cheeks
are pale and his head often bowed in thought.
he has the quickness and sprightiness of youth
when challenged to an Intellectual encounter,
whether Of wit or Of argument. In ordinary
social life he has the faculty of entertaining
which makes him equally agreeable to those
thinking only of the casual gsyeties and to those
to whom plessantries are but the gloss o: more
serious thought. He is great student Of human
nature, and knows how to meet and to interest
people of all classes. His wonderful faculty
for remembering faces and names has distin-
guished him throughout his public career, and
assists in making people feel comfortable and
at their ease in his company. however humble
and retiring they may be. He has made many
persistent and bitter enemies during his career,
and has suffered many ISLANDERS, but the number
Of his friends and their reasonable devotion to
him far outweighs all that.
HIS YOUTH.
Unlike Gladstone Mr.. Blaine did not start
from youth with political career in prospect
to which his education was directed; nor was the
foundation of his position laid by any one be-
fore him.
He comes Of good American stock and was
born about sizty-two years ago IN house built
by his great grandfather before the war of indie
pendence. In the days of the revolution the
Blaines were wealthy and prominent and his
great grandfather was officer in Washing
tons army. but the family were in very mod
crate circumstances at the time of James G. g
birth. He was educated on an unpretentious
plan in one of the little red school houses Of
Pennsylvania and at the Washington College
He was a close and at the same time a brilliant
student and was a leader of boys at school, as
he was afterward a leader of men. When Just
entering manhood he became q school teacher
and during that time he met the lady whom he
married. Later he studied law and then be-
came the editor Of a newspaper in Maine.
HIS POLITICAL CAREER.
He entered politics as a delegate to the con-
vention which in Sc nominated Fremont for
the presidency. so that his political career has
conceded with the growth Of the republican
party, to which his talents have been devoted.
He served in the state legislature of Maine
where he gained a reputation which resulted in
his election to Congress. He was in Congress for
twenty years. with three terms as Speaker. He
served one term and part of another in the
Senate, and his career in both houses was bril-
liant.
He has suffered many keen disappointments,
and during the last two years Affections have
come upon him such as it is seldom the will of
the Almighty to infIct in quick succession.
The death of his eldest son was followed quickly
by the death of his daughter, and after his
retirement from the chief place in Mr.. Harri-
sons cabinet the death Of his second son
brought more grief upon him.
HIS FOREIGN POLICY.
Nix. Blaine was never able to fully carry out the
policy by which he expected to extend
the influence and the commerce Of this coun-
try. but he has given the country a foreign
policy which others will have to follow. He
started on a promising career premier Of
MIR. Garfeld's cabinet, but it was interrupted
by the assassination of the President. He has
given to Americans a new significance to the
term reciprocity" and he shed a luster over
Mr.. Harrisons administration, but his unfn-
ished career in the State Department was closed
By his resignation n few weeks ago. One thing
the people OF America will probably never be
able to satisfy themselves with regard to Is
why Mr.. Blaine failed Of the presidency. Mr..
Blaine's career has not been without a SINH
larity to that Of Mr.. Gladstone's. His retire.
ment is strikingly like tina: of Bismarck.
HIS HOME IN WASHINGTON.
Mr.. Blaine, while never giving up his home
in Maine, has lived in Washington greater part
of the time during his public life. A few years
after he entered Congress he bought a residence
on 18th street near l. which is now O part Of
Chasnberlin's Hotel. From there he moved to
a hne residence which he had built facing on
Dupont Circle. On leaving Garfield's cabinet
and retiring from active public life for a while
he leased his mansion and for o season or two
occupied a residence on Lafayette Square. His
present residence Is o great old-fashioned red
brick, with gable roof and many windows,
facing Lafayette Square and with side overlook
ing the parking of the Department of Justice
he purchased this house and had 1t renovated
for the occupancy of his family Just about the
beginning O! Mr.. Harrison's administration.
The place where Blaine lives is one Of the first
things that strangers in Washington want
pointed out to them. 1t was in front of this
house that Gen. Dan Sickles shot Barton Key
for flirting with his pretty wife on the other
side OF the square, and 1t was there that PAYNE
attempted to assassinate Seward 1t Is double
house. and a wide hall runs through the center
Oh this hall in the rear is Mr. Blaine's study,
where he receives his business callers The
family sitting room is on the second floor, and
the reception room, both below aud above, are
elegantly lifted up. The dining room il hung
with fine pictures and its ceiling il
beautifully paneled. 1t contains old ma
hogany chairs and the table is Of generous di-
mansions.
THE AUGUSTA HOME.
Secretary Blaine has another homo at Au-
gusta and he has still another beautiful resi-
dence at Bar Harbor by the sea- The Blaine
house at Augusta is situated next to the CAPT.
toll II is q large, old-fashioned hospitable-look-
ing mansion, surrounded by extensive and we'll
kept grounds, andi has been the scene of many
notable entertainments in the past. The Blaines
are very popular ut Augusta and Mrs. Blaine
feels herself at home there. She has many
personal friends who are very fond Of her and
who never tire of dwelling on her wit, her
cleverness and her brilliancy in conversation
TIE BAR HARBoR COTTAGE.
This cottage is more ike a big home than q sea-
side cottage. 1t is beautifully located Lake,
forest and mountain scenery meet the eye on
three sides and at the east the beautiful land
locked bay stretches away in the distance and
loses itself in many little coves and iulets amid
purple hills and green wooded shores, its waters
nov washing the feet of well-worn cliffs or
breaking softly on the shining sand and pebbles,
The cottage Is known Stanwood. II il sew