St. Paul daily globe., 1893-01-28

the next winter was elected by the lie G.
islature to the succeeding term. His
career in the senate was both brilliant
and distinguished, as it had been in the
house. He was called from the senate
to enter President Garfeld'S cabinet as
secretary of state. 1t was while passing
through the railroad depot. leaning on
Mr.. Blaine's arm and pleasantly chat
ting with him about his coming holiday,
that Garfield received the asSaSsin's
fatal bullet. The death Of MIR. Garfield
led to Mr.. Blaine's retirement from the
cabinet in December. 1892. From that
date until he entered PRESIDENT Harr-
sons cabinet as secretary of state,
he was in private life, except in his cam
paign for the presidency in 1884. During
his retirement he wrote his Twenty
Years in Congress" work of great his
torical value. 1t WAS in accordance with
his original suggestion and due to ms
earnest efforts that provision was made
in the Mckinley bill for the reciprocity
treaties which formed such prominent
features of national policy. The Samoan
difficulties, the complications arising
out of the lynching of Italians at New
Orleans and the killing Of American
seamen at Valparaiso were also disposed
of while Mr.. Blaine was at the head of
the state department.
The events preceding and attending
the recent Minneapolis convention are
too recent almost to need recounting.
Mr.. Blaine was induced to permit his
name to be used as a candidate, and re-
.signed his place in the cabinet. Whether
IN public position OF in private life, he
always remained central figure i'll
national affairs - a
For nearly thirty years Mr.. Blaine has
been resident of this city. While he
never gave up his home or home life in
Maine, he also had a home in this city.
1t was only few years after coming
here as member of congress that he
bought the residence S2l Fifteenth
street, where he lived for so many
years. This was about the year 1869,
when he was elected speaker OF the
house for the first time. The house he
bought was QUE of row which had
lust been built, and was regarded at
the time as one of the chief architect
ural of the capital. Fernando Wood
occupied the house at the corner of l
street. Gen. Van. Vliet, and later Gen.
Sherman were amOug those who lived
in the other houses.
He made his home at S21 Fifteenth
street for over ten years. and then, hav--
ing built the fine residence frOneing on
Dupont circle, he sold the old house and
took possession of the new one. The
death of Garfield and Mr.. Blaine's re-
tirement from public life caused a
change in his plans, and he leased his
Dupont circle house to Mr.. Letter. lie
was absent from the city for several
years, although he spenta portion of one
or two winters here, and occupied the
house on Lafayette square adjoining
Gen. Beale's residence, which is now
owned by the daughter of the late
Representative Scott, of Pennsylvania;
Mrs. Scott t-Townsend. About the be-
ginning of this administration he pur-
chased his late house, which is on the
opposite side Of the square, and is
known as the Seward home. The old
place had been unoccupied for some
years and was in a dilapidated condl-
ton. Mr. Blaine gave the house a thor
ough overhauling, and without destroy
ing the quaint features of the old-fash-
ioned architecture ne changed it into an
elegant home, with modern equipments
and facilities.
HIG NTH