Evening star., 1903-07-15
Did Not Return Calls.

Did Not Return Calls.
Mrs. Blaine soon caused it to be known
that she did not feel obliged to return the
calls made upon her on public reception
days. The announcement provoked great
criticism at the time, and many sharp
things We're said and printed about It. AL
though the death Of Garfield, and later on
Mr.. BlaneS retirement from the cabinet
did not permit the working out of Mrs
BiaInc'S ideas on this subject, it set 4
precedent which the women OF the Cleve-
land cabinet circle We're glad to avail
themselves of later on and made a custom
that their successors have very generally
adopted helpful and necessary. Mrs
Blaine. when she again at the head Of
the cabinet women during the Harrison
admins; ton, made her home most de-
lightful rendezvous for society in general
The close friendships of years with several
New England families made these persons
the centers of much of the hospitality of
her home on Lafayette square, the hiStori-
cal Seward residence. where now stands
the Lafayette Square Opera House. The
house was modernized without detracting
from its oldtime flavor, and the beginning
of what promised to be a long period of a
happy residence there was commenced.
These hopes were quickly blasted, since IN
the two first months of 80 Mr.. and Mrs
Blaine sorrowed deeply over the deaths of
two of their children-Walker Blaine, one
OF the most popular members of the ho'.s.s-
hold. and Alice Blaine Coppinger and wife
tl 1Ol tDpplnReT, lUelF olNcSl uauS1teT. A
few weeks later Mrs. Blaine had 10 face
another sorrow in the noticea BILE decline of
her husbands health-which continued to
grow worse and worse until a third break
in the family crcle-the death of EmmOns
Blaine, almost brought about total col
lapse of his remaining strength. The end
WAS not, however long delayed, and the
faithful partners of over forty Years COM
radeship We're separated by the death Of
Mr.. Blaine in 1893. Perhaps the happicst
years of Mrs. Blaine's life in this city were
those spent on Lafayette square, in the
house made famous as the residence and
office last year of President Roosevelt At
no time was the family life more keenly
interesting. Mr.. Blaine gave his time to
political and reminiscent writings and the
hospitality always lavishly extended to-
ward himself and family was there most
delightfully."- reciprocated
Devoted Wife and Mother.
The best eulogy of Mrs Blaine is summed
up in her relations wife and mother A
more devoted wife and a kinder and a
more indulgent mother never lived No
consideration that the world could offer
would balance with her if single duty
she considered important would have been
necessarily Slighted in securing 1T. She
lacked the personal magnetism that was
her husbands greatest attribute-she liked
her friends but cared seemingly little for
the applause or praise of the world. She
was retiring and quiet in demeanor and not
dSScltlNe uHtll Her IlSHlS were questioned.
She was not responsive to the worlds
smile. not because she did not esteem the
good there was behind it. but because fire.
quent misrepresentation of her conduct of
family affairs made it seem impossible to
her that the truth would be told and that
she would be set right in the estimation of
those for whose good opinion she cared
Those who were intimate with her fam
lily life understood her sterling character,
her generosity to her friends and her char
tiles among the poor and unfortunate, and
the affection and love given her by her
husband and children. With all this she
was content.
Mrs. Blaine was fond of this city. where
her closest friends lived, and while usually
going to Maine for the summer kept a
home here each winter. OF late years she
resided at 1921 X street. Her health rapid
ly declined in the past two years. which
she lived largely in memories of the past
She had until the last the affectionate com
panionShip of Mrs. Harriet Blaine .Beale
who made her home with her mother Mrs
Walter Damrosch CMargaret Blaine) and
James G. Blaine both of New York. came
here frequently to visit their mother and
with Mrs. Beale were with her to the end.