Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-15

February to find Mr.. Blaine and to lay be-
fore him the information had received be-
fore asking him whether he would still per-
sist in his determination. The journey was
severe one Sunny Italy was showed
under. found soon after arriving in Italy
| that Mr.. Blaine was in Florence I was sur
prised to learn soon after my arrival in
Florence that the American colony there
was very much agitated over the mysterious
reserve which surrounded Mr.. Blaine. He
was rarely seen, and not a single member of
the American colony had been received by
him. Even the American Consul, the late
Mr. Diller, who desired to pay him all the
attention that his prominence merited, told
me that he had been unable to see him. His
refusal to see any one was the basis OF q
number of absurd reports concerning his
condition which reached the American press
in every form of e1aggeration.
Willing to Receive American News.
When called at Mr. Blaine's hotel, the
Washington, which overlooks the Arno,
was met by the porter, who refused to take
up my card I asked him if he had any
orders upon the subject, and he said 'tno."
He added then with an italian stolidity and
impertinence unusual in men of his place
that he was weary of carrying up cards to
Mr.. Blaine only to have them refused. His
scruples, however, were very quickly over
come and he carried it up. I was the first
visitor that Mr.. Blaine had received since
his arrival. He knew that was fresh from
London, and doubtless surmised that had
the latest American news.
When l entered the room found out in a
moment why he had been so shut up. He
was very much changed in appearance. He
had been i'll for several weeks, and his beard
and hair during that period had remained
untrimmed. They were very long and gave
him a venerable appearance At the time
of my call he had nearly recovered. He
had been i'll and had been in bed for nearly
three weeks withoutany news of his con-
dition reaching the Newspapers He caught
cold passing through the Alps from Austria
on his way to Italy. There came up very
severe storm of sleet and snow. The COM
partment was not heated and the rugs and
furs carried by Mr. Blaine were not sufi-
cient to protect him against the cold. When
he reached Milan he was taken down with
an attack of rheumatic gout. He was in bed
at the Hotel Catour in that city for nearly
three weeks He came to Florence as soon
as he was permitted to be out, and it was
only during the period of his convalescence
that he had guarded himself so carefully
from visitors. Every one who is familiar
with Mr.. Blaine knows that he is very
sensitive concerning his health, and that
nothing gives him greater annoyance than
to have exaggerated reports concerning his
physical condition placed in circulation.
Wouldn't Take the Nomination.
During the first call was the one who
was interviewed Mr.. Blaine asked ques-
tions with the rapidity of lightning. He
was SO alert that he would anticipate half of
each answer. He asked no questions re-
garding politics. He wished to be informed
concerning current topics both in London
and in America gave him, however, the
from New York. It came from a
source which he could we'll credit as being
trustworthy. Mr.. Blaine did not question
the correctness of the view. He said: ''The
report is undoubtedly correct I believe
now that could have the nomination it I |
wished it. I was given to understand that |
before LETT Vienna But my position is |
unchanged. I shall not withdraw my letter
Of declination.
Mrs. Blaine, who sat with him during
this conversation, nodded her head in en-
phatic approval of her husbands position.
The subject was taken up again during
another visit. Mr.. Blaine then went into
the matter elaborately. He said, eliminat-
ing all personal feeling from the case, that
1t would be impossible for him as an honor
able man to change his attitude. He had
not written his Paris letter without due de-