Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-15

and then l was to turn my attention will
lightning like rapiditv to photograph
ing the expressions and emotions OF Mrs.
Blaine.
Proved a Very Tame Assignment.
I have an idea that the journalistic chief
tain who was then issuing orders by various
wires and cables to me in Scotland labored
under the impression that Mr.. Blaine, oI
some member of his family, would be
thrown into Mysteries or do something that
would create dramatic situation. Per.
| haps he expected from Mr.. Blaine some.
| thing akin to Cardinal Wolseley's farewell
| to ambition, but in real life the actual
rarely equals the imaginary, and what hap
pened was from the standpoint of sensa-
tional journalism disgustingly tame:
arrived at Linlithgow several hours
ahead of the coaching party, as 1 came by
train. I found every available bedroom in
the two little hotels of the town taken by
the coaching party. It was with difficulty
that pierced through this wall of local re-
serve far enough to find lodgings for the
night. Under the laws of Great Britain the
telegraph offices close at the hours that the
postofice closes. This is generally at
o'clock. If, however, you want to have the
Office open later, this concession can be OBJ
tanned by paying half crown (60 cents) an
hour to the postmaster. I took occasion to
make arrangements of this kind, and If I
had not Mr.. Blaine would not have re-
ceived the news of the Chicago Convention
before the following Tuesday morning. But
this would not have made any difference to
him, as he knew the result in Edinburgh,
or, to put it in plain words, he gave the
word there which could produce but one re-
suit, and that was to secure the nomination
of the candidate selected by him as the most
desirable.
The coaching party arrived about five
o'clock in the afternoon, and soon after sat
down to hearty repast About half-past
six Mr.. Blaine and several members of the
party started out on foot to look at the
ruins of an ancient castle on slight rise at
the back of Linlithgow. I waited at the
telegraph Office. About seven o'clock re-
ceived dispatch from New York announc-
ing Mr.. Harrison's nomination. put the
message in my pocket and walked out to
find Mr.. Blaine.
1 found him studying intently the beau
tiful architecture of a crumbling gateway.
Its handsome forms were accentuated by
patches of golden shadows from the now
setting sun sinking behind the blue western
hills.
How Blaine Received the News.
walked straight through the crowd and
touched Mr.. Blaine upon the arm. He
turned aud said, "Well?"
II have just received dispatch announc-
ing Mr.. Harrison's nomination at Chicago"
Mr. Blaine said nothing for moment and
did not ask to see the dispatch. ga most
excellent nomination" he replied in per-
functory manner, and then, turning, re-
sumed his study of the gateway.
A few moments later I called upon Mrs.
Blaine in the drawing room of the little ho-
tel. I found her seated by an open fire
reading an American magazine. She listen
ed to the news and then said, with great
frankness, "Well, am sorry, after all, it
could not have been Mr. Blaine" Her
manner showed relief, however, that the
matter was decided.
Mr.. Blaine is singularly refined and clean
in his taste. He lives very simply. He
has never smoked, nor has he been in the
habit of using liquor in any form. 1t is
only in very recent years that he takes an
occasional glass of wine. He has never
any e1cesses. I saw him for
three months in the intimacy of the narrow
confines of private car in the campaign Of
1884, and I never heard him in that time
use coarse word or make an idelicate allu-
sion, although the visitors who thronged
The car every day were often very free-talk-
ing politicians.
His Buoyancy of Spirit Saves Him.
He is most impressionable. If he were
always surrounded by the brightness and
of success I do not believe he
would be down in bed with illness. It is
lis extreme buoyancy of spirit that has