Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-22

That 10 the Opinion I'm Regard to Mr.. Blaine
Today.

He RESTED WELL DURING THE MIGHT AND THE
FAMILY FEEL ENCOURAGED At HIS cHEERYuL
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF REMOVING HIx TO
| A wAEMKR CLIMATE.
From what can be learned with any sort of
certainty today 1t would seem that Mr.. Blaines
condition has taken a slight turn for the better
during the past twenty-four houra The i'm
provement Is by no means . great one, but IL 10
SUFFICIENT to inspire the family with re-
newed hope, and this afternoon there
was an air of life about the house such
as has not been seen for a fortnight past.
The an-important question, and the one that
interests every one, is whether this improvement
Is merely temporary one and likely to be over
whelmed at any time by a relapse, or whether
1t Ii such as to warrant the hope that the great
statesman may yet recover strength sufficiently
to be removed to some point in the south. This 10
known to be the desire of the members Of his
immediate family. Mr.. Blaines mercurial tenn
permanent has often been remarked upon, and
now at this critical stage in his long and wear
ing illness he seems to be more than ever sus-
ceptible to changes in the weather For this
reason more than any other ii has been thought
desirable that he should be taken away at any
time that his condition would make this posi-
BILE.
LITTLE BIT BETrHR.
The physicians made their usual call this
morning and soon after they had left q STAR re-
porter who called at the house was told BY
the butler at the door that Mr.. Blaine had
passed very satisfactory night and that he
really seemed to be little bit better this
morning. He takes his food regularly and
digests It well, and this fact. taken in connec-
| ton with his ability to sleep well and long,
gives him the strength that IL necessary in
fighting the dread disease with which he is Gf
ficted
1t is understood that at times Mr.. Blaine
shares the hope with which his family are
blessed Again he seems to be depressed and
gloomy, as though he realized the serious posi-
ton in which he is placed. He IL not allowed
to see even the most intimate friends, though
the immediate members OF his family are at all
times either at his bedside or within easy reach.
At times they leave the house for a walk or
drive In the clear bracing air, but they not
away from the house for long at time. This
morning the two daughters, Mrs. Damrosch and
victoria and were gone about an hour. This Is
the longest they have dared to be away at any
time since the serious relapse Of Sunday. Mr..
Robert Blaine, the eI-Secfetary'S brother, has
called several times within the last few days,
but he has not seen the sick man. Secretary Of
State Foster was one Of the earliest callers this
morning He was given the assurance that Mr..
Blaine was appreciaby better after q COM
Portable and restful night.
DREAD OF HEART WEAKNESS.
The greatest dread that troubles the family
now, it il understood, is a recurrence Of the
heart weakness Of Sunday and consequent
ending of the long struggle. DR.. Johnston lie
apparently able to give no assurances on which
TO base hope that this may not occur at any
time.
The principal difficulty now is with the heart,
and the treatment is directed toward keeping
its action regular and natural Only partial
success has SO far been achieved Mr.. Blaine
Is very week He can scarcely hold his head
SIDE ID, anu n'' "AA"' A'' "''' A''p'e'' ~ n
Last night by II o'clock Mr.. Blaine was
sleeping soundly and soon after that hour all
the members Of the household with the ex-
ception Of Mrs. Blaine had retired for the
night, wearied out by their days care and
anxiety.
Dr. Johnston's last visit was paid at 8 o'clock.
Mr.. Blaine was SO bright and cheerful at that
hour, and his heart beats were SO regular that
the doctor informed Mrs. Blaine that he would
omit his II o'clock visit unless summoned.
This had good effect on the patient and he
shortly afterward fell asleep.
After the doctor had left the house he eaid:
''llr Blaine is much stronger than the out
side world has been led TO believe. In fact, his
condition at no time has been critical as has
been painted in the newspapers. 1t is true that
NIX DiAlue was LOT u lew minutes very slCk
man at one time Sunday last but he was not as
near to death as believed by somo. Mr.. Blaine
is still very ILL., but he is in no immediate danger
of DEATH
POSSIBILITY OF REMOVING HIM.
DR.. Johnston was asked last evening:
''Do you think that Mr.. Blaine's present show
of Improvement will warrant his removal to o
more congenial climate in the near future?'
After meditsting few seconds he said: 81
cannot say as to that. 1t is useless to look that
far into the future
day with letters from people in different Sec
tons of the country advising him how to treat
Mr.. Blainss disease. Some OF them intimate
that the doctor has not diagnosed the case
properly, while the patent medicine people are
filling up a good-sized store room with their
goods, which they are sending daily to the
doctor by express and urging him to test them
on his distinguished patient.
There is really nothing new to soy about
Mr.. Blaine's case this morning." said DR.. John
ston after he had paid his usual early morning
visit to his distinguished patient. Mr..
Blaine" he added. passed acomfor table night.
he is as well as he was yesterday evening, and
is quite bright and cheerful this morning"
DEVELOPMENTS MUST SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
Mr.. Blaine is at present in a condition where
the developments of each day must speak for
themselves. He is very weak and of course the
progress Of disease might make the case quickly
assume again an alarming phase, but for the
present there only slow and almost imper-
ceptible variations from day to day. Those
persons who have been around sick beds where
hours passed in which they could not see much
change can imagine the case of Mr.. Blaine.
Comparatively speaking, the past three days
have been good ones. Mr.. Blaine retains fair
amount Of strength. He is propped up in bed
each day at intervals. but only for short periods
of time. He is aware Of what goes on around
him and takes an ir :erest in the movements of
the family. He is free from pain. The news
papers he does not see, nor are they read to
him.
In the absence of anything marking decided
change in his condition it is the hope of the
family that public interest will lessen and leave
them as entirely free as they would be were the
patient less known to the public.
SUCCESSION OF SAD EVENTS.
The shadow which now hangs over the home
Of the Blaines seems like the elimination of the
saddening circumstances which has surrounded
the family since thev took possession of it in
the fall Of 1889. Then there we're no breaks in
tine family circle. Today the head of the house
is lying in what 10 supposed to be his last illness
and but remnant Of the once large household
is left to mourn his loss. Mr.. Blaine leased his
present home early in the spring after the in
auguration of Mr.. Harrison. 1t was announced
that he took n ten yaarp' laasa NJ thu pronartv