The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-12-13
-Lytrit Portrait by ]. c. Strauss.

-l.Ntr1t GOftFait by j. Z. strauss.
number on the programme had become
| lost in the waves of ether. he emerged
from the stage wings. He had been with
| in few feet of his wife-aS close as he
| could get.
| She lowered the baton. The rustling
| sound in the audience and chorus ceased.
All eyes were turned upon the couple.
| Rushing to her. with tears streaming
| down his cheeks, he embraced her before
! the entire company.
| The effect Of this outburst Of affection
| and pride was that tears of happiness
| sprarg to the eyes Of more than one per
| son present.
| And among those who shook hands with
him. as well as congratulating Mrs Blair.
was a young woman from North st.
Louis. who said to him:
My father Is laborer. have long
realized that 1 have a fair voice. but had
1t not been for Mrs. Blair could not have
taken a vocal lesson. She has done every
thing for me. even buying the dresses
which 1 wear to rehcareals and concerts"
Dozens of others IN the chorus would
have told him of similar treatment had he
not hushed them in order to listen to Mrs.
Blair. who had begun talking to some Of
TIE pupils.
Such was his custom. In his home or
elsewhere whenever he was in hearing of
his wife. he would pause while she was
talking. 1t was not point Of common
politeress. His own discourse or that of
a friend conversing with him need not
have conficted with the conversation In
which Mrs. Blair was engaged In a re-
mote part of the room. He simply would
drop any subject, be 1t ever SO interesting
10 hear what she had to say. Her WORDS
were music to him.
GREAT PRIDE IN HER
WORLDS FAIR WORK
That he did much in developing the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition idea and
worked hard in promoting the enterprise.
no enc denies.
lowed as logical result. He accepted
and fulfilled the duties Of the position In
the same cleyeriy correct manner that
characterized his attention to his regular
LEGAL practice, aside from certain trust
estates concerned in his recent undoing.
Regarding his personal connection with
the Exposition. he manifested merely the
rational interest which the magnitude of
the undertaking and tho importance Of his
Office warranted. His enthusiasm was
tempered by consciousness of the GER
tainty of success; his calm business meth
oG5 were unrrf1ed.
But in MIS-. Blair's part In tho great
show his heart was ccntered. All Of his
zeal was aroused. For her It was to have
been the stepping-stone to greater promi-
nence-the opportunity to have the world
appreciate, Us he did. the superior charms
the culture and intellectual accomplish
nents of the wife he idollEed.
In irawins-rooma after Mrs. Blair had
become the head OF tho Board OF Lady
Managers, whenever the Exposition was
discussed he talked only OF her plans He
was content to be. not the general coun-
sci, but Mrs. Rlairs husband. In intro
ducirg himself at meeting OF music
soc.ety IN East ST. Louis he referred to
that relationship as his greatest honor.
He increased the amounts of his checks
TO her ard Insisted that she should ex-
pend all that was needed 10 lend addi-
tionai dignity to her position by entertain
ing ard in other ways promoting the In
teres,s CT women's work.
Ono evening n few months ago. II IL re-
lated. Blair car ricd to "Airdrie" 5000.
Here's your half Of a fec I made to-
day." he is reported to have said. joyous
" skipping about the room after he had
tossed the money to his wife. Take 1t
and spend it in any way you like"
CRISIS IN FACING WIFE
AFTER EXPOSURE.
A few weeks later the change came. Ex-
posture of his financial difficulties-the |
charge that he had used approximately !
S4Oo,OCo of trust funds for private purposes |
could no longer be held back by the |
force OF his personality, his distinguished /
lineage and connections. and the backing |
of influential friends whose confidence in
him had waned.
He was to face-what?
Clever. astute. this lawyer. who had set
tied many difficult accounts may have
felt that by surrenderlng all his property.
even his life insurance. he could wipe OF
the slate. He might figure over again and
win before the public. He had speculated