The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-02-29
YOUNG BLAINE'S DIVORCE
HIS FATHER ISSUES a STATEMENT
TO TH8 PUBLIC.

Was inexperienced and Not of Age.
a Denial That the Family Tried to
Bring About a Separation.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2S.-The Blaines have
At last broken their silence respecting the
marriage of James g. Blaine, Jr. The re-
msrkable statement defending his wife and
telling the Blaine side of the story, which
Secretary Blaine, moved by the reflections
Of the Sioux Falls judge in granting the di-
vorce, gave out tonight, will be read TO-
norrow with only less interest than the
Carkson letter, which he gave out four
weeks ago tonight. It will be especially
interesting to Washington, for young
James G. Blaine and his former
wife are as well known here
bers Of their families. Young Blaine.
ss his fathers youngest son, was more petted
than punished when a boy. He did not
take to books as his father had done, and
was not compelled to improve the educa>
tional advantages which the preparatory
schools Of Washingto afforded. He knew
nothing OF his fathers struggling days.
His father had attained both wealth and
social position before he was old enough to
know anything about either.
LED A GAY LIFE.
Fond of gayety, engaging in manner aud
entertaining in conversation, he lived the
life which SO many young men here in
Washington with money and social position
live. de must have been mature, and
must have lived more rapidly than
others, because his old friends here
will be surprised to learn from his
fathers statement that he was
only II when he married Miss Nevins. He
seemed at least that old when in 1881 he
used to accompany his father to the House
committee on foreign affairs and the PEN
sion investigation. Certain it is that no one
who knew him thought that he was so
young as to be ignorant OF what is called
"the world" Young Blaine has
been here much of the time since
be left his wife, holding, during the last
congress the very responsible post Of clerk
to the House committee on foreign affairs
by the appointment of his fathers friend,
Chairman Hit. Although in the employ
of the Pennsylvania railroad in Philadel-
phia, he mas been here a good deal this
winter. His social performances this
winter have been of different character
from those which attracted so much atten-
ton last year.
MISS NEvINs' POSITION.
Miss Nevins visited prominent people.
forme PennSylvanians and others and had
some individual prominence in amateur
theatric Is at different times, so attracting
young Blaine's attention. She had, and
has, at least as many warm friends here as
her husband. All Washington has known
generally the view the Blaines took Of the
marriage, but to ell but few
intimate friends the secretary's statement
will cOme as a revelation. The family
pride, which IS one of Secretary Blaine's
characteristics, has Kept them silent on this
subject. Even now he has only intimated
the bitter feelings of disappointment, indig-
nation and modification of which his init
mates have caught glimpses. Probably no
one outside the Blaine family could appre-
ciate the untold agony which this untortu-
nate marriage has cost all its members
There can be NJ doubt that it had much
to do with tie death Of Walker Blaine as
we'll as Of Mrs. Coppinger. aud that it is
also responsible for much of the i'll health
Of Secretary and Mrs. Blaine. They
are afraid to pick up a newspaper" )"
recently in alIuding TO this subject
Directly, as well as indirectly. it influenced
the writing of the Clarkson letter. Only
those who know at once how sensitive and
how proud Secretary Blaine is, can realize
how volcanic the forces must have been
which threw out the extraordinary state
ment Of tonight
TEXT OF BLAINE's STATEMENT.
By the associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S.-Secretary Blaine
has furnished the Associated Press to-day
for publication the following, under the
leading of "a Personal Statement: :"
Since the separation OF my son and his
wife, three and half years ago, my family
lave silently borne every misrepresenta-
ton, every slanderous attack, every news
paper interview which it has pleased
his now divorced wife to in-
splre. One Cerson aimed at
has been Mrs. Blaine, and we have
perhaps been at fault in allowing the horror
OF public discussion of private matters. COM
blned with regard for the future of my
grandson, to permit 30 much calumny to go
unanswered. the last outrage of the kind,
embodied in the decision of the Judge al
Deadwood, Dak., assumes an official
character which makes it impossible to
remain longer silent. To remain silent
would be to accept and perpetuate
great wrong to my wife and a greater
wrong to my grandson than even the publ
cation OF the truth can infiict upon him.
IL is necessary in speaking that | should
give summary as brief as possible OF the
marriage and incidents which followed il
ana led to the separation.
a LETTER TO THE CLERGYMAN.
"A letter. which / addressed to Rev.
lhomas |. Ducey at the time of the mar.
rage will distinctly state important facts
bearing upon that event:
.- AUGUSTA. Me-, Sept. 10. 1885,
10 Req Thomas l. Ducev. Rector ST. Leo.
Gau,c en-, 10 East TtCenty ninth Street, Net
YORK City:
: SR-On Wednesday morning last, the stt
.uSt', my youngest son, James &. Blaine, Jr.
SUCKED me by the announcement that on The
preceding Monday be had been united in mar
,lase with Miss Marie Nevns, that you had per
toFhed the ceremony in your own rectory: that
my con and Miss Nevins were unaccom-
FAMED by friend or relative. and that two oi
SoNr nous hold servants were the sole wit
hses. My sons announcement gave the first
1Sn9"iedge that or any member OF my family
NJ oi ms marriage, or even his attachment *
.liss Nevins, whose character l wish TO say al
MY outset, Is not at all in question and oi
tIonl' but for this rash marriage, have never
1elia ara breath of eensure.
hy son was born Oct 12, 1868 and is moi
g'elore Is years old. He was living here IN
avn nome, in the house where he was born
an 9unded by DeiRhbors who had known him
H ns NE, under the daily care Of a tutor who
e, as nttinR him for college, which he hoped tC
ta'gr thls autumn. To facilitate his preparation
Mn pI99eslred 20 remain here during the summer
,s lHs other members of the family were
s, .1',h OF the time at Bar Harbor. As | have
80 learned Miss Nevins in company will
sister and her father came 10 Augusta
dulay' Aug. l6. On Friday Sept 2, in eighteeI
vy3s after her arrival In Augusta. my son
toro had never seen her or heard he
t noine without permission and without
~. kuQN ledge of any tuarnhpr of his famfl5