Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-27
wHHs HE WAS SPEAKER


pleasant acquaintance With Mr.. Blaine only
small proportion ever exchanged q word with
his vita
wHHs HE WAS sPrAxrR
Naturally. therefore, the social life, ana. In
fact. the most trifing details OF the everyday
actions Of the Blaine family. have always been
invested with an enormous amount Of interest
Since his term in the speakership the social
strides of the family have been marked Mrs
Blaine liked the companionship OF cultivated
people quite as much az her husband, but I'M
like him did not care for the big crowds and
official crusheswhich we're considered a neces-
sary evil years ago. Consequently il NAV be
said that she has never presided at what might
be called a large company in her own house.
As the wife OF the Speaker she grew tired OF
the large receptions and always asserted thati il
she ever had the power she would do what she
could to remedy this grievance. or at least TO
do away with the fatiguing customs attendant
upon it. The 18th street residence of the
Blaines during this period was really the place
where most OF the home memories must clus-
ter. The elder sons emerged from boyhood TO
mans estate and from il went TO their chosen
svocations. The elder daughter. Alice who be-
came Mrs Coppinger made her debut into
society there and appeared at all the notable
receptions which then marked the social adj
vance OF the family.
THE cHILDRES's ASSOCIATES
themselves Hon. Fernando Wood occupied
the house corner 18th and streets Next 70
him h-ed Gov. Swami. then came James G.
Biaine's residence. and adjoining Gen Van
Vliefs house on the south side was the latter
part OF the time the residence of Gen. Sher-
man. The Young people from all these houses
were naturally prominent as their elders
Around all these front steps Margaret Blaine
now Mrs. Walter Damrosch Jas g. Blaine in
and Miss Hattie Blaine PLAYED and frolicked
through childhood TO more mature wears
when the finishing touches to their education
became the great question in their career.
Miss Margaret Blaine went away from this
house for her first trip TO Europe. where she
remained a year at school in PARIS. Young Jim
went from II to enter college. process he kept
on repeating until many of the best knowa IN
situations in the vicinity had had the honor of
eadeavoring TO introduce some learning into
his head. which seemed all the time actively
employed in devising some new sort of boyish
mischief and fun. The result was that Jim
spent considerably more time at home than in
school and he entered society at an extremely
youthful age. Miss Hattie Blaine who had his
lively temperament. was however better able
to keep II under control, and she was the dar-
ling of the household then and has never lost
this endearing prominence. The family char
acteristlcs then so marked in each of the chill
dren have not changed as the wears rolled on
The long summer spent here bv President Gar
fields cabinet while he Law dying in the White
House a remarkable one for the Blaines
They had expected to move up TO their new
house on Dupont circle early in the fall and to
commence there the brilliant social life which
WAS to mark Mr.. Blsine's high position as Sec
rotary of State. II was keen struggle for
them to leave the 18th street house. which was
endeared with so many fond associations They
liked the convenient neighborhood. and in
fact. never did like the big house on Dupont
circle for this reason. When they did take I'D
fhpH shat ,.x+u NJ -.
was private citizen.
NOTABLE DINNER.
One Of the most elegant of these was one
given in honor Of Senator and Mrs. Stanford at
which President Arthur and Sir Lionel Sack
vile West his daughter were guests Mr.
Blaine at that time was in good health. and his
personal popularity was at its greatest point
LOOKING FOR HOME
After the inauguration of President Harrison.
when Mr.. Blaine again sought a residence here.
lie looked for site where he would feel in
touch with what was going on in the busy part
OF the city. While he looked abou. for what
he wanted he made a temporary home at the
Normandie. In his selection of the old Seward
mansion the location was really the most de-
sirable feature about it and he at once COM
menced the costly repairs which transformed it
into one of the most comfortable OF the old
fashioned houses of the day. Some considered
1t scarcely commodious enough for the resi-.
dence OF the premier of the administration, but
the Biaines did not intend 10 give any of the
large official brushes which to SO many seem
tine height OF q social ambition.
HOUSE WITH A HISTORY,
The Seward mansion was a house with his
tory. 1t has been in its day residence. board
ing house. a Presidents house. in fact. for
President Polk lived there during the extensive
al
one summer; again a boarding house, then a
government Office and twice has been occupied
as the residence of Secretary of State. Dur
ing Secretary Stewards occupancy he passed
one awful night there. when. pursued by an as
sassln, death came so near. This tragic memory
is still fresh in the minds of the present gen.
GRAFTON.
HIS GREATEST GRIEF.
For Mr.. Blaine, too, the greatest grief Of his
life came to him there. The loss of his son,
Walker Blaine, is one from which he never re-
covered. 1t meant more than the affectionate
solicitude OF a fond son and a fond parent
His death severed comradeship, community
of interest, a fatherly pride. which, with JUS
tlce, could look forward to this son being
able to follow in his footsteps and ambitions,
and one thoroughly able to cope with the every
day difficulties as they presented themselves.
As deep as their sorrow was on the day Walker
Blaine was laid away TO his last long sleep at
sharper degree when less than fortnight later
they went again to the cemetery, this time
holding by the hand the orphaned boys Of their
daughter, Mrs. Coppinger.
MRS. BLAINE AND SUNSHINE
1t has been under the saddening influences
of these griefs that the more cheerful life of
the family has been sometimes shown TO the
public during their residence on LAFAYETTE
squar' Mrs. Blaine, with that indomitable
will v matches that OF her husband, while
her own heart was almost breaking for her
dead children, would allow none OF the ordi-
nary semblances of a household where the dead
lay to appear. She had the shutters kept open
that the sunshine might dispel the gloom. and
she encouraged her friends to remain in the
house with her family. Mr. Blaine was dis
suaded by the cheerful companionship of such
visitors from giving vent to his grief and in a
measure ;he bright atmosphere which had gen.
orally surrounded them restored. The
social occasions of any special distinction since
the advent of this administration were the
two New Year day receptions. one Wednes-
day at home, the only occasion upon which
Mrs. Blaine has appeared TO receive the
visitors, and the joyous wedding reception last
June for Miss Margaret Blaines marriage to
Mr. Damrosch. With the exception of .he lat
ter, strangely enough. nearly all the festive
occasions there have been detracted from by
untoward events. For the first New Year day
reception. $780, Mrs. Blaine. did not appear. as
her sister, Miss Stanwood, had died a few
days previously and Mr.. Blaine had also suf-
fered in the loss of his brother, almost ON the
same date. The next New Year day the news
Of the burning Of their former residence on
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