The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-08
of Twenty Years in Congress-" were

OF Twenty Years in Congress-" were
written.
Mr.. Blaine found the location too remote
pleasing. So another move was made, and
Lafayette square was the spot next oho 20 n.
The house which this time received them
adjotned Gen. Beale's. and here they re.
manned until Twenty Years in Congress-
was completed. Washington PEOPLE con-
slider that season as one OF the most inter
estinG In the private life of Mr.. Blaine.
The house IL now the property Of Mrs.
Scott. Townsend. daughter of the late rep.
resentative Scott, of Pennsylvania,
When called to the position OF premier in
tho cabinet of President Harrison, Mr..
Blaine established himself at the Hotel
Normsndie until no could select a residences
which seemed to answer tho requirements
of the situation.
The house. No. II Madison place. known
as the Seward mansion, was in point of To-
cation tho most desirable place in the city.
1t was within easy distance Of the White
house and the department. Of state. It's
old fashioned architecture, recalling the old
colonial mansions, may have weighed in its
fsvo!, too. and the fact hat it was admit
rably situated to catch every sunbeam, los
slbly decided it's purchase.
Supefstltlous people gravely shook their
heads when 1t became known that the
Blaines had purchased the place. Since
the assassination of Mr.. Seward there they
asserted the house had IN evil name and
there were those who deemed it almost
tempting Providence to cross the thresh.
PIC. 1t had fallen into a state of absolute
dllapidation from want of care, for 1t had
been without IN occupant for a long time.
Nothing daunted by the %luRubrious tales,
the Blainss put an army OF workmen into
the old house and II was speedily trans
formed from q threatening ruin to an abode
nf RIan0FNn nud N0nNf0NA -sAk - >h..-> -
quaintnsss unknown to the modern house.
Old-fashioned furniture in harmony with
the colonial feature, was brought
from the home in Augusta, Me. Rare
paintings, souvenirs of the late visit to
Europe. were hung. Other decorations
that had adorned their numerous Washing
ton homes, also found place, and when the
Last touch was given IL would have been
difioult to find . moro attractive homo
throughout the land than the old Seward
mansion had become.
The place had known many changes In
its long existence. Once, when a boarding
house. President Polk gave IL prestige BY
wore being made at tho White house. Again
- Va. used for government offices. When
seward made IL his home il was
the center OF W~ashinQton's most brilliant
society. Before its door was enacted the
tragedy OF Con. Siokles' life. II was there
he shot Key. the betrayer of his wife.
VI all the clouds that have lowered about
u, none have boon more sombre than those
that have descended on the Blaine family.
Death's iirst victim in this oirole was
claimed within its walls. and the dread de-
was Unsuitable. for a second fol.
lowed quickly in the footsteps OF tho fret.
Mrs. Coppinger and Walker Blaine died
= few weeks OF each other in the old
house. Wedding bells have once rung forth
from there. whom the daughter Margaret
became Mrs. Damroaoh. but they were
muflsd and soon followed by = third be-
ths death Of Emmons Blaine.
Surely the last home of the Blains's in
Washington has been a house Of mourning.