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

tells the clerks precisely and in a few
words VIVA. to do IL each case.
From time to time he returns TO the
newspaper Interview without a break in
hts chain OF thought. just MS he had car
| RED In his mind the exact details and
| status of each matter that had been dis
posed of in turn, showing lightninglike
mental processes and changing from one
| subject to another with a degree OF pre-
| cision that is surprising.
All the while he is talking in a distinct
| ly even tone, giving subtle effect OF per-
feet poise and polish not unlike that
! which one gains from the appearance of
| the nail-his trim figure. neat clothing.
small, carefully trimmed nustache and
weli-kept finger nails. The appointments
OF the Office are of the same neat type.
1t would seem that here is man who
does everything according to the most ra-
| tional, fixed rules. diSpassionately. calmly.
He is smoking an Egyptian cigarette, TAX
| ing method!c;u puffs at regular intervals.
| An interruptions:
| Mrs. Blair IS at the telephone. SIR"
| He drops the cigarette on the carpet,
kicks back his chair and almost falls over
| the office boy In his eage-ness to reach the
phone.
| The expression OF his face has entirely
| changed. His eyes are brighter. his coun-
tenance In every line shows the devotion
Of a lover.
Through the open doorway one hears a
softened tone as he says. We'll. dearest"
| SCENE AT ST. LOUIS CLUB
RECALLED BY FRIENDS.
companion scene to the one already
described took place at the ST. Louis
| Cub.
| Run,ors Of the Blair story were cur
rent, and one of the attorneys friends.
still doubling that there was any founda-
ton for the reports. decided. however. to
study Blair If the latter happened to at
tend certain reception at the club.
He found Blair in the smoking-room,
talking to party Of friends. AS usual,
| though Blair seldom came to the club, pre-
| ferring his home to any of the social or
| Plantations TO which he belonged. he was
| the life Of the party
| delightful story-teller Blair related in
teresttnE experiences and talked on many
subjects. including his fayorite theme,
civic righteousness. until the member of
the party who was studying him Closely
remarked:
"a man who can take his mind away
from these rumors affecting him and show
SO much interest In other things surely
cannot be guilty"
And then. few minutes later, when
MIS-. Blair sent for her husband to join her
In the recepfion-room. the apparent happi-
ness OF this man in love with his wife fur
Their disarmed suspicion.
Leading up to that scene at the st. Louis
Club were the ten or fifteen years dating
from the time when James L. Blair had
established himself as a notable member
OF the bar. aSconspicuous man in public
anairs. and the poseessor Of a handsome
income. the exact extent Of which neither
his wife nor his partner could have known
unless he had chosen to inform them.
Satisfied that her husbands earnings
were sufficient to enable her to broaden
her field Of philanthropic and social en-
beavers. Mrs. Blair entered upon her pu--
suits with indomitable energy
MRS. BLAIR BRoADENs
HER FIELD OF. WORK.
6he founded the Morning Choral Club,
helped to launch the Choral-Symphony.
organized the Kirkwood Choral Society
ana became identified with most of the
charitable institutions in the city. !
1t Is said OF her that che has done moro
TO elevate music in St. Louis than any
other woman-any other individual.
once at the helm in such enterprises.
she found the tax upon her guiding hand.
the dependence upon her aiertness, COT
stantly growing greater. In q large meas
ure she was left to guide the craft of
women making for better social condi-
lions. more culture. more charity.
Blair. the tdealist. who penned beautiful
essays upon noble thoughts and aspir:.-
tons. keenly followed every move his
wife made.
II he gambled with fate, he carried
great life insurance policies and trustee,
to the distant future for the day of rec!S-
eH1ng. Perhaps, It is thought, he lullcd
himself with the song his heart sang to
hts wife and the consciousness that her
In In r,,.
the good Of humanity
From the modest home on Locust street
where they began housekeeping durin,,
the days Of their honeymoon-a honey
moon which apparently never waned-
they removed to a more elegant house on
Lucas avenue, near Grand
Among the presents which he gave to
Mrs. Blair in the early days was a car
riage and pair Of horses.
How can Jim afford it?' was asked by
other young lawyers whose means they
considered. we're quite equal to those of
Blair.
But the sting of envy was eliminated
when the colleagues of Blair discovered
that his wife was using the carriage as
much for charitable missions as for social
calls.
Visits to provident institutions were o.
daily happening. And on these visits she
carried many of the bouquets which he.
husband had sent or brought to her as |
tributes of his love. The pin money he |
gave to her she divided with the poor.
For many years 1t was her regular Gus
tom to 60 on Sunday afternoons to the |
Memorial Home on South Grand avenue, |
carrying dainties to the decrepit inmates
and singing to them In a rich, pure voice |
that lifted them above their surroundings |
and revived echoes Of happier days
HE WAS INTERESTED
IN HER CHARITIES.
On such occasions she was generally ac- |
companied by other singers and enter |
tanners, and always by her husband, |
whose clever. joyous little talks and grec.-
ings impressed the aged wards with the
rapture he felt in being near and assist-
ing his wife in her mission of sunshine
Frequently Mrs. Blair visited Little |
jerusalem In the vicinity OF Ninth ana
O'Fallon streets. where, besides doing
what she could to provide for material
wants, taught the children to sing and told
them pretty stories.
around to the Jewish quarter to meet his
wife. He would find her with a horde of |
dirt-besmeared little ones Juggling at her
skirts and begging her to come again.
my dress Is all torn and soiled," she
might remark to him, the light of affection
and her good deeds reflected in her eyes,
And he would say:
Sweetheart, made fine fee to-day.
You may have all the dresses you need"
At the Lucas aveDue home and later at
'Airdrfe." the beautiful country place
near kirkwood. large measure Oh Mrs.
Biairs entertaining was in connection with
her philanthropic interests.