The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-13

"Since the Morning Choral has reelected
my wife president of the organization so
many times, I want her to be well pre-
pared to entertain the ladies who are as
siStng her." he remarked to friend when
| the purchss Sc of ''Airdrie" was announced.
And it remains on record that the larg-
| est parties she gave were for the choral
| and other societies the aim OF which is
| TO benefit the community.
SOUGHT TO RELIEVE
HER OF ALL CARE.
Though "Airdrie'' was an expensive es-
Enlistment, probably costing at least s25.-
900 year to maintain. there was an
absence of ostentatious entertaining.
Champagne was not a common beverage,
and most of the large functions were
given upon the lawn where simple ar
rangements and refreshments were the
rule.
A distinguishing feature of .Airdrie'' was
the excellent corps of servants. The
household machinery was operated like
clockwork.
my wife is too busy with her own
work TO be bothered with petty cares al
home" Bla.r has been heard to say. She
shall not have her interests interfered
with in that way as long as / can afford
it,
1t was this insistance on his part that
caused her to employ q special maid. She
was one of the few women in the West
who had such service.
No one ever heard Mrs. Blair complain
about servants, and the reason was not 50
much that she had an abundance CT them,
but that they were devoted to her. She
treated them kindly and they remained as
long as she would let them.
An illustration of her treatment of per-
sons in humble station was furnished by
a conductor on the Kirkwood trolley line,
who remarked:
I'VE are all fond Of Mrs. Blair. She al
ways has a pleasant word. She treats
us like men, and not as if we We're under
lings."
To afford pleasant recreation in the sum-
mer Blair purchased for his wife home
at Mackinac, and insisted each year for
the last decade that she should spare no
expense in making her surroundings pleas
ant.
Daily he sent checks to her. most Of
them for $50 or s1o9. for simple spending
money" but friends Of Mrs. Blair who
were present when she received the checks
recall the fact that most of them were re-
turned to him.
Her action was in the same spirit which
on many occasions prompted her TO adj
wise her associates never 10 say to Mr..
Blair that she had admired some special
article, lest he would buy 1t for her.
Only a few months ago she returned
from a visit to Lake George, and, with
characteristic enthusiasm, dilated upon
the beauties Of the place.
FIGURED ON ANOTHER
HOME ON EVE OF CRASH.
Notwithstanding the rinloIs concerning
his financial transactions, and unknown
to his wife. Blair promptly wrote TO a..
architect in New York, requesting a set OF
plans for house and inqui.ing about
available sites at Lake George. TIE plans
arrived on theNeve of the crash.
His intense devotion TO his wife was Il
Illustrated in come ction with her summer
trip.
At the close O. one of his numerous
daily kilograms to her he wrote the
words, Love. love, Love.
"wilI not one love do?" the telegraph
operator asked
no" he replied. Send it as have
dictated"
In the same superlat,ve degree he
begged her to accept jewels upon top of
Jewels and handsome dresses without end.
When she demurred. he would say:
You must always appear the best. just
as you are the best-the leader among
women Outward adcrnment siiould
harmonic with the character of the in
dividual."
Frequently his arguments were in vain,
though she dressed elegantly.
The husbands pride in his wife reached
a pinnacle when, two years ago. Mrs
Blair for the first time held the baton and
directed a concert of the Morning Choral
Club at the Odeon.
The chorus was seated in the gallery.
Mrs. Blair stood above the orchestra at
the footlights -,
Ladies' who were accustomed to seeing
Mr.. Blair appear at rehearsals or recep-
lions, where men werer not expected,
though he was always warmly welcomed.
wondered where the husband of their
leader could be on such an occasion as
this recital which was to mark her tri-
umph.
When the great volume Of melody had
subsidized and the last note Of the last