The San Francisco call., 1909-03-21
Letters of Mrs. James G. Blaine


Edited by Harriet S Blaine Beale Published
Dry Dufheld Co., Aew York vols
Price 81.
Mrs Beale. who IS the daughter Of
Mrs Blaine. says in her preface;
There was no thought OF maxim g
3 biography. and 1t is only as one let
fer has been added 10 another. and
year after year rescued from oblivion,
that have comprehended that II is my
mothers portrait which stands revealed
on the background Of the past. With
gratitude ] realize that she. who was
content TO be used. absorbed, obliter-
sted II need be- in the service of love.
lives once more I'm these rescued leaves"
The letters throw light on the family
life Of a man who was for many years
a prominent 1gUre ia the governmental
affairs OF our country. They contain
notes on Washington society ana COM
ments on people which, one feels sure,
Mrs. Blaine herself would have elimi-
mated had she been collecting the let
ters, but which add a spice TO the other
wise rather commonplace and quiet
chronicles. II is very evident that the
letters We're written with not the
slightest thought that they would ever
be published. There is little Of literary
value in them. but much Of womanh-
ness Most Of them contain little but
the record OF the simple everyday home
happenings. but occasionally one is Of
real historical value. The following
passage, taken from the letter de-
ecribing President Garfield's assassins-
rion. Is wen worth reading and quot
ing-
But shall ever forget the moment
when Maggie, the nurse. came running
into the room crying, They have tele-
phOned over to you. Mrs. Blaine, that
the president IS assassinated' Emmons
feT, for we all remembered. with one
accord that his father was with him
fthe president BY the time reached
re door I saw that IL mast be true
everybody on the street and wild. Mrs.
sherman got a carriage and we drove
over 10 the White House. Found the
streets In front 5ammed and the doors
closed, but they let Us through and IN.
le president stiIl at the station, so
drove thitherward. Met the mounted
police clearing the avenue. then the
ambulance. stood with Mrs. Mac
keagb in the han. when a dozen men
bore him above their heads. stretched
o. a mattress; and IS he saw US with
his eyes, he kissed his hand 10 us. I
thought ] should die; and when they
brought him into his chamber and had
laid him on the bed. he turned his eyes
- me, beckOned, and when ! went to
him, pulled me down, kissed me again
and again, and said: Whatever hap
pens, I want you TO promise to look
ont for Crete. (The name he always
gives his wife) Don't leave me un-
I'd Crete comes.
f took nay old bonnet of and just
STAYED never left him a moment.
Whatever happened in the room never
finched, and the day viii never pass
from my memory. At 6, or therea bouts,
Mrs. Garfield came, fraiI, fatigued, des-
perate, but firm and quiet and full OF
purpose 10 save, and ] think now there
is a possibility Of succeeding"
There are long gaps ia the letters
suo 81 seems as II they occur at points
in Mr. Blaines career when the public
vas most vitality interested in his af-
fairs IT is Blaine the husband and
tstner VINO is pictured and little OF
politics 1nds room here. There is a
singular and unusual lack Of egotism in
fhese letters. Mrs. Blaine shows der
oEe for her family, but nothing OF her
self apart from them. The volumes will
appeal mainly 10 the people who are
interested ia the private life Of the
family of famous politician.