The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-12-22
How Blaine Did 1t.

c. c. Haskell, of Norwich, Conn,
president of the Henry Bill Publishing
company, has been telling the story of
the Blaine book. He says: ut hap
pened in this wise: Immediately af-
ter the assassination of Garfield, it oc-
CURED to me that a life of Garfield by
James CT. Blaine would be valuable
book. / wired Mr.. Blaine at Augusta,
and waited in vain for a reply. l then
started for Maine, leaving word, that
should a reply to my dispatch should
be received. it should be forwarded to
me. / stopped in Auburn. but no dis
patch reached me there. Then L went
TO Augusta. / had never met Mr..
Blaine, and called with some forebod-
ings, and sent up my card. Mr.. Blaine
received me cordially in his library
and at once put me ar ease. Have
you received a dispatch frem me" 1
asked. Very likely said Mr.. Blaine.
pointing TO a big pile of unopened mail,
but you see it takes time TO get 10
the bottom of the pile. May ask what
your proposal is?'
HSu uIIOlutu MY pldI- cdld
There's no man in the country who
could write so effectively a biography
of Mr.. Garfield as you. Mr. Blaine
and that for obvious reasons. You
have been Immediately associated with
Mr.. Garfield: he was shot down by
your side; you can have access TO origi
nal documents. no doubt. The book
would be a great success. believe our
company could sell Loco. coo volumes
Then l outlined the royalty which /
would be glad to pay. which. in my
Judgment l said 10 Blaine, would net
you $3.50 600 for writing the book Mr..
Blaine instantly replied. I want every
dollar of the profit from this book TO
go TO Mollie Garfield. l should not ac-
cept a cent
After further conference a dispatch
was sent 10 Mrs. Garfield, suggesting
the plan. I went back 10 Norwich. but
no word Of reply was received from
Mrs Garfield. I got ready my pros
pectus. but. OF course. could put out
nothing until matters Were settled with
her. After waiting until I was unable
longer to delay. went to Mentor. Ohio,
where she at that time resided, and
had an interview. The interview anaZ
ed me Mrs. Garfield had intrusted
friends, and she hesitated. / saw those
friends and put the case 70 them. The
objection raised was not that Mr.. Blaine
would not write a good biogra ply. hut
that Z was thought that the conteul-
plated work should not be written by
a personal friend You know the result.
biographies OF Garfield We got. but We
lost Blaine's Garfield.
You may be sure went back 20 Nor
wich with a heavy heart" continued
Mr. Haskell. But Il occurred to me
that here was a work which Blaine
might write even Of more enduring
worth. Twenty Years IN Congress
were the words that rung n my ears
again visited Blaine and broached the
subject 10 him. He was not in the
heSy or health. and Re was yet immersed
IN politics and he hesitsted. visit
ed him repeatedly. and he agreed 20
write the book. tu; he was not ready
- s!En the contract Finally I met
him n New York Cal Hamilton aA-
viSeG him tdAsjgl the contract and has
ten % Ite execution Of work for
winch be obviously PoSs sessed eni-
aent fitness both II experience and liz
egz-y art Finally he signed the con-
t-ac- and set himself 20 work - his
library; but before re had done IL re
vas approached by a New York pub
ogered :or writing Twenty Years IN
Congress. well double The price That
tempting and strange offer. however,
did not in the least change Mr.. Blaine's
determination 10 give publication ot the