The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-02-02

This excellent home and school for the
blind still stands at the corner OF TweE
tieth and Race streets in Philadelphia,
and Mr. Chaplin is still its admirable prin-
cipal.
He Becomes IN Editor.
He left this institution in 1854 to take
editorial charge Of a newspaper in Maine.
In his work here it is evident that Mr..
Blaine was successful, but his wife was
anxious that their home should be made
in her native State, and, guided perhaps
by his own ambition for larger field as
we'll as by spirit Of complaisance to his
the school and removed to Augusta,
where his home has since been. He found
himself, perhaps, without certain of tho
theories Of life and affairs which prevail
In Maine, but he either readily assimi-
lated them or found that his own sound
and honest theories sufficed; for, from the
editorial chair Of the Kennebec Journal,
purchased with Joseph Baker, a promi-
nent lawyer of that place, he presently
exercised an important influence in his
adopted State. The Journal was a weekly
and an organ Of the Whig party, and un-
der Mr.. Blaine's management did vigor-
GUS service for that expiring cause In
1857, just after the first convention of the
Republican party, he disposed of his in
terest in the journal and assumed edi-
torial charge of Portland, (Me.) Adver-
tiser.
Almost from the day Of his assuming
editorial charge OF the Kennebec Journal,
al the early age of twenty-three, Mr..
Blaine sprang into position of great in
fluence in the politics and policy Of
Maine. AT twenty-five he was a leading
power in the councils of the Republican
party, so recognized by Fessenden, Ha.n-
lin and the two Morrills, and others then
and still prominent il the State. Before
he was twenty nine he WAS chosen chair
man of the Executive Committee of the
Republican organization in Maine - a
position he has held ever since, and from
which he has practically shaped and di
rected every political campaign in the
State, always leading his party 20 bril-
liant victory
In 1860 he was elected to Congress.
An attempt to pursue his course step by
step during the long term OF his service in
Congress would be wearisome He spOK G
upon every important measure, and
briefly discussed many petty laws about
which none but seduouS readers of the
Congressional Record will ever be per-
fectly Informed.
Mr.. Blaine had served six years in Con-
gress aud was still a young man, having
only reached the age Of thirty-nine, when
he was chosen Speaker of the House by d
highly complimentary vote, the ballot
atandius 81 for Mr.. -.ichael {. Kerr, Of
Indiana. and 135 for Mr.. Blaine.
Nothing that could be said of his
public career would meet with reader as
| tent from both his enemies and his friends
| than the statement that he was one OF
The best equipped men for the position
who have occupied the Speakers chair.
This, in the long space during which he
presided over the deliberations of the
House, was not denied on any hand, and
even his Democratic opponents yielded
their admiration to his discharge Of the
difficult duties of presiding officer. His
least reasonable detractors have always
admitted his eminent fitness for the post,
and writer in a newspaper, professedly
opposed to Mr.. Blaine, speaking after the
domination. says Of his bearing as