Evening journal., 1912-02-16
new NEWS OF YESTERDAY
An IdiOsynCraSy Of a Famous
Political Leader
By Holland

lHc iuObl lntlHlhlc OF lHt lIituub VI /
James G. Blaine always knew that
"the Plumed knight" was little tim
i'd, frequently nervous. about Lis
physical condition. A man of superb |
moral and physical courage, at least
in the face of grave personal danger, |
he nevertheless was disposed to take
fright on account of any little ache
or pain. magnifying It into symptom
Of possible organic disease. This was
especially the case with linn after he
had experienced a surstroke in 1876,
which fclled him on the steps Of the
New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, in Washington. the Sunday
before the Republican national con-
yention met at Cincinnati hat year.
Following Blaine's nomination for
tue presidency by the Republican ma
ticnal convention of 1884, he did not
seem especially elatcd, nor at all
hopeful, and there wore fears among
his closest friends that the almost
LypochOndriac tendency whicn he had
sometimes displayed since his defeat
for the nomination in 1876 might be
gaming sway over him again just as
he was on the eve Of entering upon
the ndiiC nal campaign. But, sudden
ly, that tendency was dispelled, and,
to the great relief of his friends. Mr.
Blaine appeared before them full OF
g,sor and enthusiasm, and confidence
la the future.
What had caused the change? The
late Henry Loomis Nelson, professor
at Williams college, editor of Harper's
Magazine, and for number Of years
in close touch with Mr.. Blaine, always
felt that he knew the secret of the
change over night, as it were, in Mr..
Blaine's mental condition that so de-
lighted his friends in 1884
Some months before the Republi-
can national convention of 1884 met
and while Mr.. Blaine was busily en-
gagged in writing his book, Twenty
Years in Congress- said Professor
Nelson, "he came to fear that he was
on the verge of recurrence of the
trouble which he had experienced af-
ter the sunstroke of 1876. He did not
complain, but IL was impossible for
him to conceal his depression Of sp!r
its. Those who did not know him
well believed that his depression was
due to his apprehension snat he felt
he would not be nominal ID at CHI
cago; and when this depression con
tinued following his nomination, they
were certain that it was due &c Mr.
Blaine's belief that he could not be
elected.
shortly after his nomination, Mr..
Blaine went to the coast Of Maine, and
It soon came to be observed by others
there that at the time of low tide he
wandered, solitary and with slow step,
along the shore, occasionally stopping
before some pool left by the receding
tide In a hollow of the rocks. And
then, taking off his hat and pulling up
his sleeves, he would be seen to dip
his hands in the tepid water and
bathe his head, face, neck and Srms In
it.
"Not once, but many times. he wa'
seen to do this. and some Of those
who looked on at respectful distance
thought It strange--not 10 say pa
thetic-spectacle However, an expla
nation came in due season Of this sin
gular action. II seems that some on'
and old woman, dealer in simple'
had told the great statesman, the
leader of a great party, that II h'
would bathe his head, lace, neck ant
arms in water left by the recedinl
tide in the hollows of the rocks. h'
would in short time completel,
overcome the evil after effects of the
sunstroke which had laid him low
many years before and perfectly re
gain his mental and physical vigor
And James G Blaine actually accept
ed the advice of that old woman an6
for at least two weeks bathed his
head. face, neck and arms in tepid SCI
water, according to her directions
Furthermore. after this extraordinar,
procedure, Blaine felt returning vigor
was ready to enter upon his campaign
with enthusiasm, and was conhden
that he had found a specific for th'
trouble from which he suffered.
Copyright. 1912, by r. J. Edwards
All rights reserved)