The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-26
MR.. BLAINE'S ILLNESS.
The Ex-Secretary's Condition CauSes
His Friends Alarm.
VARIOUS RUMORS AND REPORTS.
Believed the Maine Statesman viii Visit
Southern California-He IL Invited to
go to other Rssorts-How He Passes
His Time Away.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26.-The illness OF
ex-Secretary Blaine. which is undoubt-
edly alarming to his family aud friends,
Is surrounded by contradictory state
ments, which only have the effect of in-
creasng the belief now current In wash
ington that his condition Is serious
In the same moment almost the reports
are encountered that Mr.. Blaine has
wholly recovered from the cold and fever
that have recently prostratei him; that
he is up and dressed aud at work in his
library, or, on the other hand, that he
lies helpless in bed in raving delirium
and that his mind as we'll as his body is
affected by his illness.
The actual truth. as learned by careful
inquiry. seems to De that Mr.. Blaine has
really been dangerously i'll, but that now
he is improving although he Is still far
from being out Of danger. The great
trouble with Mr.. Blaine. his intimate
friends say. is his domestic bereavements.
The death of his sons Walker and En-
mons, coupled with his advancing years
and his predisposition to exaggerate
slight illness into serious attack, has
caused him to Lose active interest In al
fairs, and render him peculiarly open TO
the assault Of any ailment.
Members of the household have been
extremely reticent, but the announce
ment was made ut his house to-day that
Mr.. Blaine is much better aud that the
published rebort3 of his illness were so
exaggerated as to he most distressing TO
his family. His physicians. Drs. John
ston aud Hyatt, held u consultation to-
day and agreed in saying that Mr.. Blaine
is much better, and that il the weather
remained clear he would be out Of doors
again in a few days.
A personal friend who called to see Mr..
Blaine yes erday states that he was
dressed, and while evidently not strong
was cheerful in conversation. President
Harrison sent Private Secretary Halford
TO the Blaine mansion this morning with
inquiries about Mr.. Blaine's health. and
Mr. Halford was told that the newspaper
reports OF Mr.. Blaines illness were eXag
gerated, and tha he was dressed aud sit
ting up in a cheerful frame of mind.
One task in which Mr. Blaine seems TO
take real interest i revision OF his
great book, Twenty Years in Congress.
He was at work mt this when he caught
the cold which has made him SO i'll.
The reports of his condition have had
the effect of filing his mail with invita-
tions To visit various health resorts Some
OF these invitations evidently have behind
them would be advertisement, while
others are from old odmirers and friends.
One proposition has reached Mr.. Blaine
10 visit Bermuda, where u private cottage
aud steam yacht 49, at his service. An
lDNlthIlOu CONtcs iTOill
the Standard Oil millionaire, who wishes
Mr.. Blame TO sojourl at the Ponce &c
Leon, IN Florida.
Another hospirable offer is from Hamil-
ton Disston or Philadelphia, who would
like To entertain Mr.. Blaine on his Florida
plantation. IL is said that Mr.. Blaine
was tempted To go to Bermuda until he
recalled that his old friend. William X.
Travers, the New York raconteur, died
there. Hence he has decided, If his health
permits, To visit Southern California
His Urit-itrttf was to become the
guest of Joseph Medill a. Pasadena. but
as Mr. Medilrs house there has been
burned, this plan may be modified. All
that eau be said with certainty is that
Mr.. Blaine aud his family are agreed
that Southern California is the most de-
sirable region for him TO spend the win
ter, working, if he is able. upon the re-
vision of his historical book.