St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-02-29

the imminent final separation would
come so soon; but she deprecated the
angry and, To us at least, sudden de-
parture and the journey to New York
alone with the infant and nurse. She
did not, however, suspect that the
young woman left with any less friendly
feeling toward herself than towards
every other member of the family, eX-
cept my son James. Finding the young
woman determined to go, and foresee-
ing the difficulties in their path since
my daughter-in-law utterly declined the
provision L made for their support. Mrs.
Blaine repeatedly babe her remember
that she would at any moment receive
the child for
Any Length of Time
for one year or three years, or ten years,
or for life; that he should receive, as all
who know my wife will believe, the
very best of care and attention; that
she would put his mother under no con-
dltionS whatever, and that whenever
she wished the child to be returned to
her he should be sent. The offer was
taken taken in the same friendly spirit in
which it was given. Thus my daugh-
ter-in-law left my home, the only home
which my son could provide for her.
She left behind her for my son note,
whose temper and tone are sufficiently
indicated by single extract:
You knew when you left what the
consequence of your trip to Bar Haabor
would be. What business had YOU at
Bar Harbor? Why did not you tele-
graph me and not let me lie awake till
nearly o'clock. You shall live to re-
greet all this. You have broken the
greater part Of your promises thus far,
and until you learn to be truthful you
need not come near me. | am not here
to have my affairs discussed among the
nelgh6ors. Ii yon desire to have any
communication with me you can ad-
dress New York hotel" [Signed simply
Mary Nevins Blaine.
On reading this note, my son de-
clared:
II will not follow her, and I told her
would not when she made the threat"
Just forty-four days after this willfui
departure she returned to my house, ac-
companied by her mother, Mrs. Nevins,
my grandson and his nurse. At the
moment of their arrival there were in
the house only Mrs. Blaine, who was
i'll, and the servants. Mrs. Blaine at
once arose, dressed and went down
Stairs, having previously instructed her
maid to do everything required for
she ever met Mrs. Nevins. Neither
lady advanced to greet her,
No Hand Was Extended
to her, but from Mrs. Nevins, seconded
by her daughter, came charges against
her son and herself so insulting and so
violent that servant was called in for
the frankly expressed purpose of act
ing as restraint upon the elder visitor.
On this brief stay of two weeks with us,
and on this one last visit or two hours,
rests all the substantiation of the state
ments OF the judge at Deadwood. Be-
fore leaving for the West l had advised
with Mrs. Blaine in the event of the re-
turn of her daughter-in-law, and she
acted upon my advice. Not word stree
the separation has been written by her,
nor has she seen my sons wife, except
on the street in New York, when not a
word was exchanged between them.
My son was entirely free. No restraint
was attempted or desired or needed to
ensure separation. On the day of his
wife's departure he was as strongly de-
termined as on the day of her divorce
not to resume his relations with her.
Far be it from me to hold my son blame
less, though when his youth, his uncom-
pleted education, his separation from
the influences of home, the exchange of
life full of hopes and anticipations for
premature cares and uncongenial COM
partnership, are considered, hold him
more sinned against than SHINING. But
his mother at no time in thought or
word or deed attempted to separate this
man and his wife. On the contrary she
did not fail, by iiberallty, by considera-
ton and by eXtenuation, to foster in
every practicable way their happiness,
it happiness to them had been possible.
JAMES q. BLAINE.