St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-20

until today.
Mr.. Blaine slept fairly well during
the night. His sleep was natural one.
and when he awOke this morning he
seemed to be much stronger from the
rest. He sat up in bed for little while
and was
Able to Converse
with those about him. 1t was not per-
mitted to him. however, to talk as much
as he desired. All were careful that he
should not over exert himself. He still
{ shffers but little pain, and is cheerful.
His mental powers are unimpaired.
All day long the street in front of the
house was lined with people, and
every one who passed seemed anxious
to know the condition of the ex-secre-
tary. All eyes were turned upon the
big red brick house which has been
the home of so many prominent people,
and which for years has been known as
the Blaine mansion. The carriages that
drive up to the front door. the people
who followed, and the people who came
out were all objects of curious interest
to the passers by. 1t had been so since
early morning. 1t would be difficult to
enumerate the names of those prominent
IN official and social Washington who
did not cali to make inquiries about the
ment clerks and others going to their
daily work went out of their way to
pass the historic old mansion on Lafay-
cite square, and they stopped and gath
cred III little knots here and there,
eagerly seeking information of the
Statesman'S condition. expressing graft
fication at the news of his Improvement
They knew that greatness was passing,
and that the page i'll history, sc. dazzling
with brilliant achievements that its
failures were almost indiStinguishable,
was about to
Reach Its Final Period
President Harrison manifested the
deepest interest and the greatest con-
Germ in the condition of his former see
rotary of state, and frequent are the
inquiries sent from the White house 10
Mr.. Blaine'S residence.
All day yesterday Mr.. Blaine lowered
very close to the line separating life
from death, and 1t was realized that ii
any further complications set in there
was little if any hope for him. His con-
dItion. it is true, has shown a slight i'm
proyement today, but hardly such
as to give grounds for any
real hope. Mr.. Blaine may
live for some days. He may live
for an even later period. The disease
from which he is suffering is such that
a week is not long period in its prog
reSS, but lie will never again be we'll
man. He may die at any time. The
physicians themselves ADMIT that it is
Impossible to predict what changes may
occur. Little change for the better is to
be hoped for.
All the members of Mr.. Blaine's fam
lily are now here. Mr.. James q. Blaine
Jr. and Mi Hattie Blaine were both
summoned home, and Mrs. Elnmons
Blaine, the widow of Mr.. Baine's son,
has also joined the household. 1t is I'M
derstood that they all realize Mr..
Blaine'S condition.
One of MIR. Blaine's intimate friends
said today that he entertained no hope
whatever, nor did the doctors. The
family, he said, were reluctant to give
up hope, but, at the same time, they
realized that death might come at any
time. Some of the intimate friends of
Mr.. Blaine, he said, have
Known tor a Week
past that Mr.. Blaine was IN a critical
condition and that the end might be ex-
pected soon. He said that even the fam
lily have been forced to expect
the worst. and that it was for
this reason that day or
two ago the absent members were
communicated with. Mr.. Blaine's pres
ept condition, this same,informant said,
is due to a recurrency of an attack
which he has had several times before.
This time the attack was very much
more severe than the others, aud he
was by no means in condition TO with
stand it as Well.
The original trouble with Mr.. Blaine,
according to this friend, is due to his
exhaustive labOrS and the manner in
which he has been drawing on the fut-
ure and eXiauSting his vitality. He
has for years been working under high
pressure. until his whole system
has been tired out and undermined.
Growing out of this exhaustive
physicalaistate have arisen eomplica-
tons. The weakest parts were naturally
the first to be affected. and the first local
trouble was with the kidneys. The at
lacks from which be has suffered from
been due to kidney disease, and
each attack has left him more
susceptible to cold and prostration
from overwork. The progress of the
disease has been steady, though retard-
ed as much as possible by skillful med
ical treatment. The same gentleman
said that he had discussed the situation
with the physicians, and from what he
had learned from them he was con-
WINGED that there was no longer any
possibility of recovery. He felt that
the end was very near, that it might
come at any hour or might be delayed
for days.
A RumOr of His Death.
The rumor that Mr.. Blaine was dead
was current about the streets last even
ing, and by 10 O'Clock there was quite
crowd in front Of the house anxious for
the news. 1t was an illustration of Mr..
Blaine's wonderful popularity with
the people. Expressions of deep
est regret were heard on all
sides, and great relief was
felt when these rumors of death were
denied. Almost the first news that
reached President Harrison last night
that Mr.. Blaine was dead. He asked
the secretary if the news could be au-
thenticated. Mr.. Halford replied that
it had come over the wire, and
he supposed it might be true The D es-
ident at once prepared to leave the
house, and, in company with Mr.. Hal
ford, hurried across the avenue to Mr..
Blaine's house He seemed to be very
much relieved at the Information which
he there received. Though the senate
was only in session a few minutes
today, the serious illness of eX-Sec-
rotary Blaine was topic of general
discussion. On all sides of the
chamber there was surprise expressed
that the fact of Mr.. BIaine's true condi-
ton had been concealed so long, and
many said that they had supposed that
Mr.. Blaine was able to leave, so i'm
proved was his health. Democrats
Joined with Republicans in expressions
of grief and sympathy for the fam
lily OF the distinguished statesman
and diplomat, whose end is considered
near. In opening the senate with prayer
this morning Chaplain Butler referred
in touching manner to Mr.. Blaine, and
invoked the aid of Providence i'll his be-
half.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 20.-At 2 o'clock
this morning all seemed quiet within
the Blaine mansion.
Awake and Cheerful.