New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-05
"REMINISCENCES OF BLAINE
BIS INNATE LOVE OF ART AND MUSIC. i
KEErXe REMENYI At HIS VIOLIN TILL TWO
O'CLOCK IN THE MoRNING-DELIGHT IL
oLDFAsHIoXED HYMNS = HOW
ANNA LOUISE CARY SANG
FOR HIM HIS

CHURCH LIFE.
Washington. Feb. tSpecai).-Mr. Blaine had tne
soul OF m artist and musician. though ne never
touched u BRUSH and scarcely knew one note nom
smother lie was plssi0natey fond OF art and mus'c
One Of the finest collections OF engravings In washing
ton Is I'm Mr. uIalnes house. IL Is u rare collection
and was picked up here and there by Mr.. blaine
himself. When the family occupied tile new house
In Dupont the walls nj drawing room were
entirely covered with these beautiful ensravsng~
They remained awhile after Mr. Letter took the house.
and were n delight TO many people at the Letter
pattes. When the Seward house was lifted up tncss
treasures aud many other works Of art were brougne
down from Dupont Circle. and have since adorned
Mr.. Blainr's beautiful home IN La Fayette Square.
Mr. Blune's love 81 music well known to hs
friends. II was passion. with the frankness OF
boy he said than once: 81 don't know anyth'ns
about music. But ! love 1t. Why. enjoy even
jcwshnrp aud the music Of every landorsan In the
street is sweet to IL not STRANGE therefore,
that during Mr. Blainss Illness there was heard Do
fore tic mansion the struins Ut the hand-orgah III
the early twilight OF every day. People wondered
niiic when passing. hut. soon UNDERSTANDABLE 'e'1
the Understandable Itbos OF the dying statesmAns 'ovo
Of music. which to tho last found pleasure In the
s,mn,, music ~ the street But Mr. Blaine appfe-
cnird and cnIoyed the finest and grandest music
either In opera or concert lie might well DO caicd
great OperagOcr. and he seldom m'sseo eonos's
when II was possible to 60. lie would sit through az
II eniranced by the power OF music. Fer'"pS
Remenyi the volinst. never had so great co"''
plimcnt IN his lifc occasion In Washns'on'
when Mr.. Blaine kept him playing until long AFTER
midnight 1t was evening nj the home OF Coiohei
Robert lngerso, who at that time was neignoor
OF senator Sherman IN Kst. Colonel ana WIS
ingcrsoI gave n musicale to u company OF hfty. MT.
ard Mrs. Blaine among the guests. hemo"y'
played through little Informal programme. ne'"o
It was half completed the volnst knew that the most
81, in mo fraw
Mr. Iaine's appreciation and pleasure made Rcmenyis
inspirntion and h. played II inspired Aiter inc
little programme 1t was anything AID everythihR-"o"
something grand from OPERA then some sweet nome
song that nearly sung as IL ever cou" 10
on q violin. Mr.. Blaine's strong. impressive face was
ngIow with light and feeling. lie sat ms II enraptured
by the music. and wholly unconscious that the Vion'se
and himself were the central figures In picture winch
can never be forgotten by the little company groupeo
around them.
At half-past II o'clock the spell was brokcn'
Mrs Blaine thought II time to 60 home Mr.
Blaine had taken note Of time MIS-. biaine suu'
lauchingly that he "never did when music was
around, Their carriage was called. and they smo
good night It seemed not more than fifteen min
utes after their departure when Mr. Blaine came INTO
the drawing room. lie had taken Mrs. Blame nome.
and had returned he said, to "hear another piece.
That settled It for dozen Others VINO sui bhgereu'
and whose pleasure had been heightened by MT.
Blaine's delight, but who. Ike Mrs. Biaine housh'
Il was time TO GO home But all sat down again.
Remenyt took ND his violin and played "another
piece and went playing "another piece" inc
Ingcrsolls are musical family Mr. n'a"e
felt the sympathetic atmosphere. When he did not
suggest another pieccn the host did. Finally IL
was. as Colonel Ingersoll said. o'clock In the
morning when Remeny laid aside his VIOLIN ano
wound up Mr.. Blanes musicale.
Mr. Blaine was equally fond OF vocal music. Bal
lads and old fashioned hymns were bis delight, ana
he was never tired Of hearing them. Anna Louise
Cary Mrs Raymond) n favorite singer WIN
Mr.. Blaine. perhaps as much because sne WIS =
Maine woman for her fine voice. Maine peoWe
were proud OF her, ard SIR Blaine shared IN the ao'
mirat,on warm friendship existed between Mr..
blaine and Miss Cary, He never missed the OPP
portuny to hear her sing. and would put himsei!
ont to make the chance. when he couid
have her sing for lin alone the songs
Ia liked best. The last time Miss Cary
sang for Mr.. Elaine was ut Lewiston. Mr. Blaine
was trustee OF Bates College and was tiere 10 a'-
tend commencement. Miss Cary was the guest VI
senator and Mrs Frye, and while IN Lewiston gave
n concert The commencement lasted Jour uays' pus
whom II was over Mr. Blaine was stu In town.
"He wouldn't 60 home" said Mrs. Frye. when
telling the story the other day me "ouiuh' ~
home rs long rs he could get Miss Cary 10 sing luz
him. She was 4 good deal OF a tease ana she eh'
loved teasing Mr. Blaine. Sometimes she would sing
another. 1t would have been tnntalking to most
men. But Mr. Blaine enjoyed every little SNATCH
and WINS harry to hear her voice In anything lnS
last day Of Miss Cary's visit Mr. Elaine came o'er
and spent the evening with us-that Is, we all spehs
# pretty we'll into the night. Miss Cary sang ana
I never heard her sing better Her voice was sweet
svmpathetic and clear the notes OF bird.
SWELL. Mr.. Blaine. what shall sinSP MISS NarS
asked What would you like frstP
MFR Blaine's answer came quickly as her
ouos,ion sing the Drinking song from Lucrcua
Borgla.' All.
.Oh. Mr. Blaine. What dreadful taste MISS
Cary exclaimed pretending to be serious. DON'T
YOU know that would do for the concert HILL ou'
won't do herel Now. try again. "
.WIthout a moments hesitation, Mr.. Blaine sald
sing The Shining shore" That Is favorite OF m'ne
Then adding without the least CONSCIOUSNESS VI "o
wide step between tho two selections, LIDO Shining
shore" will do anywhere. won't IT.
Miss Cary sang The Shining Shore MISS mary
Fcssenden. who was superb pianist. played the
,ccomnaniment our eyes full OF tears. We
couldn't help 1t, and we didn't try. Another thing
Mr. Blaine asked for was Nearer My Coo 10 Thec.'
When Miss Cary had sung the hrst TWO nhes' ME-
blaine left his chair went over TO the piano. leaned
his arms on it and. resting his head on MS hands'
looked intenty at her. 1t disconnected Miss Cary.
and she stopped singing at once. Now. Mr. Blaine
she said If you don't go right back and sit down. ana
stop looking me- won't sing another line for you'
Everybody laughed at Miss Carys earnestness,
and then at Mr.. Blaine's obedience without woro
~ nrotest and as II in fear that she would nict this
punishment upon him. he quietly went back ana sat
down. Then she began again and sang the hymn
through. while Mr. Blaine seemed lost to everything
but the music I shall always associate Mr. Blaines
great love of with that evening" concluded Mrs.
Frye with a little culver in her tones But tho
memory OF The Shining Shore sung there Tor MP.
blaine comes back to mo with special tenderness"
That Walter Damrosch should play the organ at
Mr. BaIne's funeral regarded as beautiful part
NJ the service. But 1t more. 1t was an afec-
onate tribute TO one whose love Of music, more than
ANYTHING else. had made the sympathetic bond bo-
tween him and the young composer. Three years
ago Walter Damrosch played the organ at the same
hour in the same church. ut the funeral OF Walker
naIne Margaret Blaine then his promised bride.