New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-28

THE SEWARD MAN:IoN. WHERE HE DIED.
hv,srian church which the second generation
built is still standing and by is the oldfash
toned house where Mr.. Blaines grandfather, Col
onel Ephraim Blaine, lived for many years. Col
onel Blaine u74l-1s04) was an officer of the
Pennsylvania line in the Revolutionary War,
trusted friend of Washington, and during the
last four years of the struggle he served as Com
missary- General Of the Northern Department.
Possessed Of ample means, he drew largely from
his private purse and enlisted contributions from
various friends for the maintenance OF the army
through the severe and memorable winter at va"
lev Forge Colonel Rlane's son, Ephraim L.
Blaine" SQUIRE Blaine" as lie was known in the
communty-marrcd Miss Gillespie, a devoted
member of the Roman Catholic Church, and
woman of superior intelligence and force of char
act4r. but their five boys and two girls adhered
10 the traditional faith of the Blaines. OF these
five bows James G.. Blaine was the second
SQUIRE" Blaine removed from Carlisle TO Wash
inrton County in 1918. He had inherited what
was a prospective fortune in those days, and hat
large landed possessions in Western Pennsylvania
but the mineral wealth of his lands had not then
leen developed, and though assured against pov
erty lie was not rich, and a large family
made heavy drain on his means. Squire
travelled in Europe and South America before
s.,,ling down in Western Pennsylvania, where he
served prothonotary.
STUDENT AND TEACHER.
The early education of James &. Blaine was selu-
ousy cared for. lie had the advantage OF eN-
= cciient teachers at his own home and for part OF
the year ls4l he was at school in Lancaster, ONO,
living in the family of his relative, Thomas Ewing,
al c. Al. Pa Tl,onnn
Ewing, jr. he began his preparations for college
under William Lyons, thoroughly trained Eng
lshman and brother Of Lord Lyons.
In ls43 he entered Washington College,
in his native county. There he became az
once prominent a. a student among the 200 or 300
lads from all parts of the country, and because
of his splendid physique he was also d leader in
all manly athletic sports He had marked taste
for historical studies, and it is said that when nine
Years old he could recitc many of Plutarchs Lives
He a 80 exccllcd in literature and mathematics He
was nor a boo,worm or a burner of midnight
oil but he was close student and possessed
the happy faculty of assimilating knowledge
from books and tutors far more easily and quickly
than most of his fellows. In the literary society
of The college he displayed the political aptitude
and capacity that distinguished his public career
He held his own we'll in the debates and was
others.
In his own classes young Blaine always
foremost as a student. and personally he was very
sopular To the new students who entered III
succeeding classes lie was hcro-unIiormly kihd
"a them ready TO give assistance and advice, and
eorer to make pleasant their path through college.
His handsome person and neat attire, his reads
sympathy and prompt assistance, his frank, gem
erous nature and his brave. manly bearing made
him the best known, the best loved and the IN 81
popular boy at college. lie was the arblter among
younger boys in all their disputes and the au-
thority with those Of his own age on all ques-
tions. At the end Of the usual four years
course at college lie was graduated. in ls47. with
the most distinguished honors Of his class. lie
went forth into practical life well fitted In ac-
Quirements and training to deal with its problems,
and bearing as a crown OF youthful honor thc
affection and esteem of all his associates
From Washington College Mr.. Blaine went TO
Blue Lick Springs, Kentucky, where he became
a teacher in the Western Military Institute, in
which there were about $50 boys retired
Army Officer who was a student there at the
time, relates that Mr. Blaine was a thin, hand
some earnest young man, with the same fascinat-
ing manners that were Characteristic Of him
throughout his whole career. He was popular
with the boys, who trusted him ana
made friends with him from the first.
He knew the full name Of every one, and dis
orned his shortcomings and his strong points.
lie was man Of great personal courage, ana
during fight between the faculty of the school
and the of the springs. brought about by
some questions over the removal of the school lie
oelaved in the bravest manner. i2ntlng Iaiu' ou'
Keeping cool Revolvers and knives were freely
used, but Mr.. Blaine called only on his we'll
nj; o1o
was the principal OF the school, and his wife had
school for girls at Mlcrsburg, twenty miles
distant. 1t was at the latter place that Mr.
Blaine met Miss Harriet Stanwood. who belonged
10 an excellent Maine family and a few mont
afterward they were married.
After several years OF work a teacher MI
Blaine returned to Pennsylvania There lie read
law carefully and obtained thorough KNOWLEDGE
OF Its principles, but he never presented himself
as candidate for admission to the bar. GONG
70 Philadelphia he became teacher in the Penn
Sylvania Institution for the Blind. There he nae
charge Of the higher classes in literature aho
science, and the principal has left record tda'
Ills brilliant mental powers were exactly quail'eo
70 enghten and instruct the interesting mnds
before him.,
EDITOR AND STATE POLITICAL LEADER.
After two years work in teaching the blind MI
Blaine yielded 10 his wife's desire that he shoulu
make Maine his home. The young couple moVcu
10 1858 10 Augusta, which thenccforward wa
'he'r home. In the following year Mr. Dlaih'
entered into partnership with Joseph Baker,
prominent lawyer of Augusta, and together they