The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-15
NEW YORK LETTER.
Comprehensive Communications from
the Empire City.
The Blaine-Nevins Trouble-PersonalR Rec.
objections of the Divorced Wife's
Parents-How Gen. Do Bar
rios Made Money.
COPYRIGHT, 1892.

COPYRIGHT, 1921
At last we have a pretty thorough
public exposition of the latest Blaine
family trouble. Mr.. Blaine's letter in
defense of his wife, who has all along
been accused of having brought about
the separation between her son James
and his wife, peveals something of the
torture which he has endured since the
newspapers began to discuss so liberal
lv this phase of his domestic affairs.
That match was an ill-conceived one
and could have but one termination l.
know Mrs. James G. Blaine, Jr., quite
well, but have only newspaper llnowl-
edge of her late cratic husband. Marie
Nevins was and is a very superior
woman. She has something of mas
culine will and the general impression
is that while loving the young Mr..
Blaine she practically hypnotized him
and managed that marriage with
great skill and diplomacy. In 1868,
when / was clerk in the house of
representatives in Columbus, o., / used
to see great deal of Mrs. Blaine's
mother. Col. Dick Nevins, her father,
was at that time one of the rich and in
fuential men of the state capital. He
had been state printer for long time
and was distinguished man about
town. In fact, he was the only striking
t'swell' in the place. Mrs. Nevins was
the daughter of old Col Sam Medary,
for many years recognized democratic
wheel horse. He had been editor OF
the Ohio Statesman, and during the war
published weekly paper at Columbus
called the Crisis, which was noted for
its extreme states rights views and
general hostility to the war. Mrs.
Nevins was recognized leader of So
ciety and was one of the handsomest
women l ever saw. She was a perfect
blonde with light blue eyes, and her
manner was vivacious and fascinating.
/ used to see her in private box at the
opera house frequently surrounded by
her children, and I thought never had
seen more beautiful family groups than
they composed. The young woman who
became known as Mrs. James g. Blaine,
Jr., was haxen-haired member always
of these theater parties Col. Dick New
ms and. his wife have made their home at
the Ne{v York hotel in this city for ten
or twelve years. Mrs. Nevins is still
charming and handsome matron, while
Col Dick, showing his age like the rest of
us, isl an amiable clerk in the Office of
the commissioner of accounts for the
city 1This place was secured for him
few wears ago by his democratic friends,
and IXbelieve he considers himself now
veEy solid member of Tammany hall.
Ll1,a4ve had many talks with Mrs. New
ms about her daughters troubles and
misfortunes, and know that she has
suffered and felt deeply what she
considers to have been a great
wrong. I know that she has
all along held that Mrs. Blaine, Sr.,
was responsible for the breaking-up of
the relations of Marie and her husband.
The man who figures conspicuously in
this unfortunate matrimonial affair and
who is likely to have some unpleasant
consequences therefrom, is Rev. Father
Thomas j. Ducey. Father Tom as
he is called by all the boys about town,
, is the pastor of st. Leo's church in
West Twenty-eighth street. He is roll
; licking, good-natured man about forty
, five years of age, thoroughly democrat
ic in his ideas and little bit inclined,
think. to resent the restrictive policy of
the hierarchy. In fact, he has been
strongly suspected of McGlynnism. He
loves the good things of this life and
one of his favorite stamping grounds is
De1monico's restaurant. He is quite a
favorite in society and as a diner-out
has few equals. It was thought at
1,o
to secure for himself the title
of Monseigneur. That was before
Capel had run his career, and
am inclined to suspect that the recalci-
trant tendency on the part of "Father
Tom is traceable to the fact that his
ambition has been fore-shortened.
There is not better story-teler in
town than "Father Tom" He reminds
me very much of those rolliczing,
good-natured Irish priests for whom we
are indebted to Charles Lever. He is a
capital story-teller. Not long ago had
the honor to serve as judge of a liter
airy society debate in Chickering hall.
Father Ducey was on the jury also.
While in the anteroon outside the good
father told two or three delightful
stories, not one of which could well
have been printed outside of French
newspaper, and he was altogether so
entertaining that the literary proceed
ings of the evening lost some of their
charm for me. At this time, it is not
known how Father Tom will
emerge from his difficulties or
how he will satisfactorily explain
his part in the secret marriage be-
tween young Blaine and Miss Nevins.
It looks now as though the entire re-
gponsibility would be cast upon him,
and it would not be at all surprising to
me if the affair eventuated in his sepa-
ration from the church. 'Father Tom
has a penchant, it seems, for quiet and
shady transactions. When John G.
Emo, the giddy and speculative presi-
dent of the Second national bank, found
It desirable few years ago to take up
his abode in Canada, he departed from
this city with something more than re-
spectacle privacy. In fact he eluded
Justice, who had Just opened one eye on