Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-01-28

IdQRueQ 10 eat, ana the next morning WOUtu
make up for it. These fits OF labor would
use him up for a week. He was not ordln-
arily q large eater, out was irregular IN
eating. Apparently he had no marked fond
ness for any kind OF food. He did nOs care
for fancy dishes, and when travelling sell
dom consulted the menu, but told the wait
er 70 Dring him a good meal. be hked
plain. old-fashiOned cooking. whenever ne
did taste anything which greatly pleased
him 10 was hard 70 get him 70 quit, and no
would continue TO eat despite his watch1ul
yife's 65slonitions. In former years ne
was fond Of horseback riding Hnd took con
siderable exercise, but CT late be showed
much disinclination to bodily exertion.
During the winter bofore his illness ne
gave many small dinners and was ire
queRt diner-Out.
During the summer Mr.. Blaine lived on
his porch at Bar Earbor y great deal Of the
time. and seemed 10 enjoy immensely nav
ing his grandchildren around MIN. This
Bar Harbor cottage is large building and
was chiefly remarkable for its great YER
aRda, completely encircling the house.
Mr. Blame was very fond Of Bar HarDor,
and occasionally, when in reminiscent
mood, would tell of the time when he might
have bought the whole island for $500. He
said that when be was ia the Maine LeglS'
lature he had for q seat mate old man Rod
ick. the proprietor of the island. This was
in 1855. The two became well acquainted,
and one summer ROdic asked Mr.. Blaine
up TO his home ROdick lived alone on the
island. Mr.. Blaine went there and ad-
mired the place greatly, whereupon ROD
lex offered 70 sell 1t TO him for $500.
Mr.. BLAINE's WEALTH.
Mr.. Blaine died q rich man, even as
wealth is reckoned in these days, He was
worth close on TO S1,O00,000, il not more
than that amount 1t is PROBABLE that II
some Of his speculative investments could
have been sold out under advantageous
circumstances his wealth would have lnS
cludsd him in auy list Of millionaires. His
holdings in coal lands were large, and.
with the development Of the country, must
greatly increase in value If kept intact for
several years. MIR. Blaine, by reason OF
his wide popularity and warm friendships,
enjoyed opportunities unusual 10 the aver
age public man Of making money. he was
associated with a number Of men of wealth
in enterprises, and his sagacity and bust
ness foresight kept him from wasting
much money on brilliant butillusive specu-
latiye projects. He was interested with
Secretary Elkins years ago in silver
mine, out of which he made considerable
money. He owned real estate in the city
OF Washington which would probably sell
under the hammer for more than quarter
Of million OF dollars.
In 1881 when he was living in his old
house, near Gen. Sherman's former resi-
dence, and was building his house at Du-
pOnt circle, Mr.. Blaine told well known
and wealthy Republican with whom he
was talking on the subject OF their respec-
tive riches that be was worth $500, 600. His
property in this city has greatly enhanced
in value since that time, and the develop
meut OF West Virginia coal lands in recent
years certainly made Mr.. Blaine amuch
richer man. Mr. Blaine bought his Dupont
circle property, now almost 10 the hesrtcS
toe fashionable northwest when Stewart
Castle, which is across the way, was
thought 70 be out in the suburbs. The
grounds and the house cost him approx
mately SIS, ,OO0. Two or three years ago he
sold number Of the lots in the rear OF his
house for SIS, 600 The house and the re-
naming ground is valued by competent
Judges at &l5O,O0 Mr. Letter, Mr.. Blaine's
tenant, originally paid $4,000 year rent
which has been reduced TO 5000 IN consid-
Grafton OF Mr. Letter making certain re-
pairs necessary after the fire, which came
near consuming it.
THE QUESTION OF HIS RELIGION.
The recent visit Of Cardinal Gibbons to
Mr.. Blaine's house during his last illness,
and the known fact that members of his
family inclined to Catholicism, caused
many persons TO think that Mr.. Blaine, who,
it has been repeatedly stated without con-
tradiCtiOn, was baptized as q child into the
Catholic Church, desired 70 re-enter that
church on his deathbed. Until the Presby-
a.H
OF which President Harrison is a member,
Mr. Blaine had been in the habit Of attend
ing the First Congregational Church, stu
ated at the corner Of Tenth and @ streets.
He gave S., 900 toward the building Of the
Church of the Covenant and when it was
ready for occupancy rented pew there.
After the visit Of Cardinal Gibbons, re-
ferred 20 above the pastor Of the Church
of the Covenant called several times at Mr..
Blaine's residence, one Of the occasions
being when it was thought be was dying
after the first serious relapse. So far as is
known no clergyman was summoned this
morning when it became apparent that the
end was very close at hand.
LAST APPEARANCE BEFORE CONGRESS.
Mr.. Blaine's last appearance in public
capacity az the Capitol was made before
the Commerce Committee of the Senate,
mind and body had been falling then and
the fact had been remarked by some Of his
friends, but on this occasion he seemed TO
feel the life and fire Of youth and his ad-
dress to the committee was characterized
bv the clearness of thought, penetration,
energy and vigOr Of the Blaine of old. The
subject before the cOmmitte was
bill TO grant French
company authority to lay a
cable from the United States to San Dom
lingo The Government of Brazil had given
this company [ he monopoly Of the right 70
lay cable through Brazilian territory 10
the West Indies, where it was 70 connect
with a cable from France Attached TO the
Brazilian grant was a condition that the
cable company would secure cable connec-
tious with the United States, Brazil being
anxious TO have direct communication
with this country.
In order to comply with this condition, a
new and auxiliary corporation to the orig
iual French company was organized. 1t
came 70 the Government of the United
States for permission 10 lay cable from
Charleston or Port Royal 10 San Domingo,
where 10 was 70 connect with the cable from
Brazil MIR. Blaine, as Secretary of State,
declined, In the name OF the President, to
grant the privilege requested unless the
company would agree 70 waive its mono
poly rights ia Brazil in favor Of any Armer-
lean company which might wish TO lay a
cable. The company claimed it was i'm
possible TO agree to such a thing, that il
only wanted 70 lay 3 cable to San Domingo
and had nOcOntrol over the other company,
whose line ran to Brazil.
Mr.. Blaine considered this to be subter-
fuge and insisted that no cable should be
laid until the Brazilian Government should
grant permission TO any cable company the
same rights as were accorded the French
company. An attempt was then made 10
get from Congress what Mr.. Blaine
had denied, and bill granting the neces-
sary permission to lay a cable in the terri
tory Of the United States wSs introduced.