pppijjpp'' c 1 -r . THE PITTSBURG DISPATCH, SUNDAY MAT 15. 1892. rr TRYING CRISES IN BLAINE'S LIFE, In 1SS4 He Said He Was Afraid He Was Going to Be dominated at Chicago. DKEADED ASSASSINATION. Bow He Eeceived the News That Harrison Had Been Chosen. The Nevra Didn't Interest Him, but Mrs. Blaine Said She Was Sorry It Couldn't Have Been Her Husband The So Called Florence Letter His Language When He Learned the Politicians Did Not Take Him at His Word He Re ceived Election Returns in His Au gusta Home. k l JWBITTFV T-o DUPATCII.i oar politics there no more linking jure to-day thaa lames G. Blaine. He has been recotr- UQ J nized for Tears as f the most prominent American citizen. nzwa There is 0 one in more interested. I have had un usual opportunities for studying Mr. Itiai.i'' ...; s-ceii him under various try- ins conditions of his political career dnrin? the last 15 years. I was with him durinjc the campaign of 1884, and traveled in a special car with him for three months at that time. I saw him at various places in Europe during his lone absence from this tion day. On the way home Mr. Blaine was very quiet. Everybody on the train was confident of his election. He was not. He foresaw the effect of the Burchard speech. The only incident which seemed to arouse him from his abstraction was when a poor, crazy man mounted the train at Lynn to apply for a Cabinet position under the new administration. That night at the Blaine house, in Au Eusta, Mr. Sherman, now Consul General at Liverpool and for many years private sec retary to Mr. Blaine, was installed as tele graph operator in the library to receive dispatches. The first reports were very conflicting. There was absolutely nothing to indicate which way the election had gone. Mr. Blaine waited up and down in an adjoining room. He seemed to he gifted with clairvoyant powers. Before anything positive had come OTer the wires he de clared his conviction that the election had one against him and he went up stairs to ed. His collapse was a physical one. The horrible strain of the campaign had left him very weak. He did not rally for a number'of days. Mr. Blaine Felt the Abnse. I remember at one time during the even ing it looked as if the Bepublicans had carried the country that Mrs. Blaine said, with very deep emotion (her eyes filling with tears): "There is no "White House, there is no Presidencv that can ever com- . r t fipf country pnorto the campaign of 18S3, which resulted in the election of Mr. Harrison. This recital of some of the incidents in Mr. Blaine's career may throw some light upon Mr. Blaine's present attitude and may ex plain to everybody's satisfaction why it is lie is resolved never to be a candidate lor the Presidency. Ills Ketnarkabla Political Judgment. As a politician Mr. Blaino has a remark ably clear vision. When free from the in fluence of personal interests his political judgment is almost unerring. In the seclu sion of his library I would rather have his judgment on a future political situation! than that of any political prophet This clearness of vision and absence of prejudice i shown in the political history written by him. This ability to dismiss from his mind all personal prejudice and pass judgment upon men and events dispassionately and calmly is a strong trait in his character. In the spring ot 1884, long before the two conventions had met,I called at Mr. Blaine 's house for the purpose of talking to him about the possible outcome of the Repub lican Convention to.be held at Chicago. Mr. Blaine was then the leading candidate. Gen eral Grant was in Washington. It was just before the Grant & Ward failure, and a number of enthusiastic friends of General Grant thought that he might receive the nomination. Mr. Blaine at that time showed singular indifference. Delegation afier del egation came to see him at his house, but without eliciting any response. Xo one who went to see him at that time received the impression that be desired the nomina tion During the special call which I made for the purpose of finding out if possible his personal views Mr. Blaine said, "I am afraid I am going to be nominated." Foresaw Ills Own Nomination, This was such a peculiar expression that I asked Mr. Blaine what he meant by it. He replied that the drift was clearly going his way, and that, unless he took active Fteps to counteract it by an absolute refusal to permit his name to be used, he would re ceive the nomination. He foresaw the mhole situation with remarkable clearness. He estimated very justly the strength of the other candidates. The reason why he feared the nomination wa his profound belief that theBepublican party could not win in the coming cam paign. His reasons for that were given with great exactness. There was great dis tress throughout the country. Times were hard and all the dissatisfaction that had been accumulating during years of Repub lican administration he believed would cul minate in that vear. Nearly everything mat ne predicted, at that time, even to the character of the contests in the various States, proved to be true. Mr. Blaine's feelings even then made him shrink from the possible dangers of the sit uation. For many years he had a profound ambition to be the President of the United fetatcs. Yet in every contest he had en countered great trials and even dangers. Blaine Is Very Sensitive. In 1870 the extraordinary attack made upon him in the House ot Eepresentatives came near causing his death. The sunstroke during the Cincinnati Convention was indi rectly one of the results of the enormous strain he had undergone prior to that time. His enemies then said that the illness was a sham to create sympathy. When Garfield was shot Mr. Blaine stood at his side. That gave him a shock from -nhich he has never recovered. He is a very sensitive man. He is extremely emotional, and has a dread of physical pain or sickness far beyond that of the ordinary man. For his contentment and happiness he needs bright surroundings and a serene atmosphere of prosperity. He has nearly all his life been battling against the reverse positions. In this conversation with him in the spring of 1684 he spoke of the Presidency and the tragic late of Garfield with a deepening gray pallor upon his face as if the White House was a place to be dreaded. He spoke also of people who had haunted the neighborhood of his house prior to the Garfield assassination, and it was evident from the burden of his talk that he was impressed with the idea that he himself had had a narrow escape from assassination. hen finally he was nominated at Chicago he thought that by his own personal efforts he might be able to counteract the tide which he saw setting in against the con tinuation of the Republican party in power. That was one of the reasons why he made such an extraordinary personal campaign. And he objected to a scandal campaign be cause he regarded it as both impolitic and indecent There is nothing vindictive in Mr. Blaine's character. I once heard him say that he considered life altogether too short to be devoted to any system of reienge. "The man who adopts such apolicy," said he, "would never be able to live Ions enough to carrv out all of his projects of re taliation, and 1 can imagine no misery more complete thaa that of a fully satisfied re Teuge." Under a Tremendous Strain. He staked almost his life in that cam paign. He traveled day in and dav out, resting only the seventh day of each week. The strain upon his physica'l resources was very great To a man of his nervous and sensative temperament the burden was Rearing to the last degree. I traveled with Mr. Blaine in the special train from 2few York to Augusta on eleo-1 lAd A Snap-SM at Butt penmate me for the horrible suffering of this terrible campaign of persecution and in famous slander." Mrs. Blaine has been often represented as a cold, ambitious woman. The reverie of this is nearer the truth. A. more kind hearted, truer woman never lived. Her ambition is that of any woman who wishes to see her husband succeed in what he un dertakes. It is not of a personal character. Certainly under the torturing blows that she has been called upon to endure during the last 15 years any personal ambition, if it had existed, would have been completely swept away. Mr. Blaine's personal pride was deeply hurt by the result of the campaign of 1884, and it made him resolve that he would never go through another campaign except under conditions, which, from the nature of things, would be impossible. What he dreaded more than anything else was that he should be regarded as posing before the American public as a perpetual candidate. He knew that if he had remained in this country during the year preceding the cam paign of 1888 his position would be misrep resented, and so he went to Europe in the earlv summer of 1887 for the sole purpose of avoiding every possible political compli cation. Blaine's tetter to Chairman Jones. Only on one condition would Mr. Blaine have consented to again become a candi date. This was divulged in a conversation J. naa with mm in .fans, just after he had written the letter of November, 1887, to B. F. Jones, announcing that he would not be a candidate under any circumstances. Mr. Blaine said then, in the" course of a private conversation, that he had been elected to the proud position of the chief of the Re publican party by his nomination at Chi cago in 1884. That was a position which, after having led his party to defeat, he could feel justified in retaining only by the unanimous consent of every other possible candidate. He said that he would have con sented to run again if no one of prominence in the party had opposed his renomination. xut wuen ne saw inai canaiaaie alter canal date was announced for the next Chicago Convention he resolved to write the letter to Mr. Jones. j.nis letter was written witnout any sec ond thought It was an irrevocable de termination based upon a feeling of intense personal pride. Only those who know Mr. Blaine well can appreciate how intense is this personal feeling. He felt that he could not be brought to occupy a more undignified position after having been elected leader than to be obliged to appear before the pub lic contesting with others for the right to hold the position of leader. Mr. Blaine had already been given in Eu rope a foretaste of the possibility of an other hideous campaign of personality. A certain editor of what protessed to be an independent newspaper, who had pursued Mr. Blaine with a personal vindictiveness nam iu cipiain, seni over to Europe a re porter to dog his footsteps and to obtain everything possible of a derogatory charac ter with regard to him. This man was ap parently as unscrupulous as his employer. Bounded by an Unscrupulous Scrlbler. He used all the means known to cheap detectives to gather material which could only have one effect that of annoying Mr. Blaine. He was never permitted to enter any house where Mr. Blaine was stopping. Yet, by using money freely, he succeeded in obtaining scraps of information from ser vants. He would even waylay people go ing In or coming out of Mr.'Blaine's apart ments so as to get an apparent basis of fact for his tirades of defamation and scandal. The length to which this was carried was shown during Mr. Blaine's stay upon Mr. Carnegie's estate in Scotland. Here Mr. Carnegie gave such orders to his various servants that the man was refueed admis sion to the grounds. But one morning, disguising himself as a servant, he contrived to get in, and, waylaying the postman, took the mail from him and went over the letters and dispatches. Then he dropped them on the ground, where they were afterward found. This spy system was elaborated to such an extent that Mr. Blaine was obliged to warn his friends in America not to use the cable for the purpose of sending him any communications of a private character. The persistent following ot Mr. Blaine continued until he wrote his letter of declination in Paris. After that the perse cution continued only at intervals. At the Hotel liinda in Paris the servants, were bribed to report everyone who called' uuon Mr. Blaine. He was obliged to call upon the proprietor of the hotel for nroter.tinn. A number ot servants were discharged, but even the earnest desire of the landlord to protect him could not secure for Mr. Blaine freedom from annoyance when he left the hotel If he went out for a walk the spy was at his heels. If he took a cab the spy took one also. His most innocent acts were misrepresented, and made the basis of a constant stream of malignity. Just Like the Present Situation. I was then directed from Hew York to go and see Mr. Blaine and find out whether he was in earnest in writing the letter of dec lination, and whether he would persistently refuse to permit his name to be used before the Chicago Convention. His letter, it ap pears, had had the effect of bringing out so many candidates tha ; none of them at that time were strong. Public opinion in the Bepublican party wa 3 turned so much in his direction that tharetfort cabled to me from Kew York was that if he would say the word all the other andidates would with draw and he could b( nominated on the firt ballot This seemed to me to indicate a February to find Mr. Blaine and to lay be fore him the information I had received be fore asking him whether he would still per sist in his determination. The journey was a severe one. Sunny Italy was snowed under. I found soon after arriving in Italy that Mr. Blaine was in Florence. I was sur prised to learn soon after my arrival in Florence that the American colony there was very much agitated over the mysterious reserve which surrounded Mr. Blaine. He was rarely seen, and not a single member of the American colony had been received by him. Even the American Consul, the late Mr. Diller. who desired to pay him all the attention that his prominence merited, told me that he had been unable to see him. His refusal to see any one was the basis of a number of absurd reports concerning his condition which reached the American press in every form of exaggeration. Willing to Receive American News. "When I called at Mr. Blaine's hotel, the Washington, which overlooks the Arno, I was met by the porter, who refused to take up my card. I asked him if he had any orders upon the subject, and he said "no." He added then with an Italian stolidity and impertinence unusual in men of his place that he was weary of carrying up cards to Mr. Blaine onlv to have them refused. His scruples, however, were very quickly over come and he carried it up. I was the first visitor that Mr. Blaine had received since his arrival. He knew that I was fresh from London, and doubtless surmised that I had the latest American news. When I entered the room I found out in a moment why he had been so shut up. He was very much changed in appearance. He had been ill for several weeks, and his beard and hair during that period had remained unirimmea. xney were very long and gave him a venerable appearance. At the time of my call he had nearly recovered. He had been ill and had been in bed for nearly three weeks without;.any news of his con dition reaching the newspapers. He caught cold passing through the Alps from Austria on his way to Italy. There came up a very severe storm of sleet and snow. The com partment was not heated and the rugs and furs carried by Mr. Blaine were not suffi cient to protect him against the cold. When he reached Milan he was taken down with an attack ot rheumatic gout He was in bed at the Hotel Cavour in that city for nearly three weeks. He came to Florence as soon as he was permitted to be out, and it was only during the period of his convalescence that he had guarded himself so carefully from visitors. Every one who is familiar with Mr. Blaine knows that he is very sensitive concerning his health, and that nothing gives him greater annoyance than to have exaggerated reports concerning his physical condition placed in circulation. Wouldn't Tako the Nomination. During the first call I was the one who was interviewed. Mr. Blaiue asked ques tions with the rapidity of lightning. He was so alert that he would anticipate half of each answer. He asked no questions re garding politics. He wished to'be informed concerning current topics both in London and in America. I gave him, however, the message from New York. It came from a source which he could well credit as being trustworthy. Mr. Blaine did not question the correctness of the view. He said: "The report is undoubtedly correct I believe now that I could have the nomination it I wished it I was given to understand that before I left Vienna. But my position is unchanged. I shall not withdraw my letter of declination." Mrs. Blaine, who sat with him during this conversation, nodded her head in em phatic approval ot her husband's position. The subject was taken up again during another visit Mr. Blaine then went into the matter elaborately. He said, eliminat ing all personal feeling from the case, that it would be impossible for him as an honor able man to change his attitude. He had not written his Paris letter without due de- the editor, in a few moments, became quite cheerful and even exuberant. Mr. Blaiqe has a great fascination of manner in private conversation when he cares to exercise it In his happiest vain he fell into a talk upon the campaign, and politely bantered his visitor upon his part in it His former opponent, however, pro fessed to have a great personal admiration for Mr. Blaine. It was his sense of duty as a party leader, he asserted, which had made him use all possible means to defeat him. After expressing in flowing phrases his personal admiration for the brilliant qualities of Mr. Blaine, and his opinion that he stood head and shoulders above any one else in his party inability, the editor added that the day of personal campaigning was over in America. "You need fear nothing from me in the future," said he. "I intend to conduct my journal upon more independ ent lines and to strip it of all partisan char acter. I am now rich and free," he con tinued, with a sweeping gesture, "and Bleb Enough to Have a Consclenoe. "And," interjected Mr. Blaine with mock seriousness, although his eyes twinkled merrily, "at last you have money enough to treat yourself to the luxury of a conscience." I do not think that this remark pleased the editor in question, because very soon afterward he renewed his attack on Mr. Blaine with increased virulence. Mr. Blaine returned from Italy only a few weeks before the Chicago Convention of 1888 After leaving Florence he went to Borne, and from then on he was very well and enjoyed the last half of his visit much more than he had expected. He found a year a very long time to remain away. After he had been absent six months he was anxious to return home. He 'came straight to London from Italy, and there joined a r Rich Enough to AJjx.. .. Cuniciencc coaching party organized by Andrew Car negie to drive from London through the North of England and the lake region into Scotland to Mr. Carnegie's place. This time Mr. Blaine was followed by two New York newspaper correspondents. They were, however, gentlemanly representatives ot their newspapers and their attitude toward him was respectful and in accord ance with the requirements of an honorable pursuit of the newspaper profession. Each had outfits of his own and wrote chatty ac counts of the movements of the Carnegie party in a way that could have been ob jectionable to no one. At the various stop ping places constant attempts were made to Interview Mr. Blaine, but he would not talk about American politics. Mr. Carnegie, however, was very talkative, and it was Slain to be seen that Mr. Carnegie still had opes that Mr. Blaine would recede from his determination not to be a candidate. .cCctitt the . condition of affairs Which would ittstifv Mr. s name to be used. Blaine in perruitti I started tor Italy rs vttxu inrf hi: liberation, because it had been in his mind during the year that he could not be a can didate except on the unattainable condi tions named in Paris. He had written the letter in good faith. The public had taken him at his word. For him to change his decision would be tantamount to admitting either that he was fickle minded or that he was seeking to trick and delude the public, which would justify the charges made by his enemies. They had freely asserted that the letter was only an ingenious election eering device. There "Was No Florence Letter. This view of the matter, as given in a cable despatch from Florence, attracted a deal of attention. The declaration made in that conversation was so positive that in a short time Florence became associated in the minds of the public with his refusal to be a candidate. It is a common thing to day to see Mr. Blaine's formal refusal re ferred to as "the one indicated in his Flor ence letter." He wrote no letter at Flor ence. He did not seek to" deepen the im pression of that letter. He did not ask me to publish anything concerning it Neither did he ever see the written report of the conversation that I had with him at that place until after it had been printed in New York. I told him at the close of my last visit that I was going to publish in "effect what he had told me. He said in reply: "That is right You cannot put it too strongly that I am out of the list of candi dates, and that no earthly power can make me change the decision expressed over my signature at Paris." Mr. Blaine's most pleasant experiences were in London. Although then in private life, he was made the subject of an unweary ing round of social attention. Minister Phelps, representative of a Democratic ad ministration, exhausted every form of politeness and attention in Mr. Blaine's be half. He was a conspicuous figure at the garden party at Marlborough Ronse given by the Prince and Princess of Wales in honor of the Queen, and was afterward seen at all of the notable houses in London. Mr. Blaine appeared to be particularly at home with the conservatives. He was the guest of the Prime Minister and was given abundant opportunities to visit the Houses of Parliament There was an at tempt made by some of the Irish members to drag Mr. Blaine into the political contro versies at Westminster, but he had the good taste to keep clear of political disputes in a foreign country and accepted no attentions which were not purely social in character. Mr. Blaine and the Editor. An amusing incident occurred during Mr. Blaine's first visit to London in the jubilee year. He came into my office in Trafalgar Square one day to look over the American newspaper. He was seated in the inner office, a room about the sice of a respectable ice box, when who should walk in but a prominent Democratic politician and editor who had been a life long enemy of Mr. Blaine's, and who fancied that he had been the one potential factor in procuring Mr. Blaine's defeat in the preceding year. It was comical to witness the editor's confusion when he saw Mr. Blaine at such close quarters. Mr. Blaine was serene, however, Just Before the Great Convention, During the contest in the Chicago Con vention I received a dispatch from New York to see Mr. Blaine at Edinburgh. I arrived there on the Saturday preceding the Monday when the nomination of Mr. Harri son was made. I saw Mr. Blaine at the Boyal McGregor Hotel and had a brief talk with him. But it was not until the follow ing Sunday afternoon that I found an op portunity for a free and uninterrupted con versation with him. I found him alone in the drawing room of his apartments. Ho was seated at a long table which was liter ally covered with cables and dispatches. I did not go through the form of asking Mr. Blaine again if he would refuse to ac cept the nomination, although the subject soon came up. He had before him numer ous cables from various leaders in the Con vention saying that if he would permit his name to go before the Convention he would be nominated on the first ballot on the fol lowing Monday. Mr. Blaine did not ap pear to be moved in the slightest degree. I had never seen him more quiet or freer from excitement I asked him then what reply he had made to these numerous cables. Me said that there was but one reply to send and that was that he could not permit his name to be used. He even went fur ther and added that if he should be nomi nated after having expressed so strongly and so clearly his personal wishes upon the subject he should refuse the nomination. Predicted Harrison' Nomination. He seemed to be endowed with the same spirit of prophecy that he had manifested in his house in Lafayette square when he predicted, four years before, the defeat of the Bepublican party. He said during the conversation in the hotel at Edinburgh: "The Bepublican party is going to win this time." He then went on to give his reasons, which it is useless to repeat I asked him who would be nominated on the following aav. iie nau juu said mat tne contest would be settled on Monday, and probably upon the first ballot His reply to my question came very promptly. "Benjamin Harrison," was his emphatic response, without a moment's hesitation- He said that William Walter Phelps might be selected for the second place and expressed the opinion that the nomination would be well received. He soou returned, however, to the more important subject of the first place. He gave an outline ot Mr. Harrison's character. He showed then a most just appreciation of the future Presi dent's ability and force of character, his good judgment and capacity for public affairs. There are people who have said that Mr. Blaine has belittled Mr. Harrison in private conversation. These reports are untrue. Mr. Blaine has always estimated Mr. Har rison very highly and their relations throughout the present administration have always been cordial and satisfactory. Somehow the members of the Carnegie coaching party could not bring themselves to believe that Mr. Blaine would not, by some fortunate turn in affairs, be forced to accept the nomination. The people com posing this party were Mr. and Mrs. Blaine, their two daughters, Margaret and Harriet; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie and Mr. Damroscb, who was then engaged to be married to Margaret Blaine. Carnegie Never Gavo Up Hope. Mr. Carnegie, I am sure, hoped to the last and used every element ot persuasion to change Mr. Blaine's determination. Mr. Carnegie was very communicative. It was to him that all the representatives of the newspapers went for information. He was especially oordial with the Scotch local reporters. The Scotch papers were filled with talks with Mr. Carnegie, and explana tions of who Mr. Blaine was. Mr. Carnegie, through his many coaching trips in Scot land and his gift of a public library to his native town, was then well known in Scot land and highly esteemed. When Monday morning came it was de cided by Mr. Carnegie to go north at. once and to spend the night at the little village of Linlithgow, some 20 miles away. If Mr. Blaine had not really foreseen the result of the Chicago Convention in Edinburgh, a delay of a day or so might have been made there for the purpose ot being in touch with the telegraph and cable. I went to Lin lithgow by train in accordance with one of those brilliant managerial orders, an in SDlration of high journalism, to be present if possible when the news of the nomina tion made by the Convention was actually received, and to photograph for a wonder- world all of the various phases of and then I was to turn my attention with lightning like rapid! tr to photograph ing the expressions and emotions of Mrs." Blaine. Proved a Terr Tame Assignment. I have an idea that the journalistic chief tain who was then issuing orders by various wires and cables to me in Scotland labored under the impression that Mr. Blaine, or some member of his family, would be thrown into hysterics or do something that would create a dramatic situation. Per haps he expected from Mr. Blaine some thing akin to Cardinal Wolseley's farewell to ambition, but in real life the actual rarely equals the imaginary, and what hap pened was from the standpoint of sensa tional journalism disgustingly tame. J. arrived at Linlithgow several hours ahead of the coaching party, as I came by train. I found every available bedroom in the two little hotels of the town taken by the coaching party. It was with difficulty that I pierced through this wall of local re serve lar enough to Una lodgings lor tne night Under the laws of Great Britain the telegraph offices close at the hours that the postoffice closes. This is generally at 6 o'clock. If, however, you want to have the office open later, this concession can be ob tained by paying half a crown (60 cents) an hour to the postmaster. I took occasion to make arrangements of this kind, and if I had not Mr. Blaine would not have re ceived the news of the Chicago Convention before the following Tuesday morning. But this would not have made any difference to him, as he knew the result in Edinburgh, or, to put it in plain words, he gave the word there which could produce but one re sult, and that was to secure the nomination of the candidate selected by him as the most desirable. The coaching party arrived about five o'clock in the afternoon, and soon after sat down to a hearty repast About half-past six Mr. Blaine and several members ofthe party started out on foot to look at the ruins of an ancient castle on a slight rise at the back of Linlithgow. I waited at the telegraph office. About seven o'clock I re ceived a dispatch from New York announc ing Mr. Harrison's nomination. I put the message in my pocket and walked out to find Mr. Blaine. I found him studying intently the beau tiful architecture ot a crumbling gateway. Its handsome forms were accentuated by patches of golden shadows from the now setting sun sinking behind the blue western hills. Bow Blaine Beceived the News. I walked straight through the crowd and touched Mr. Blaine upon the arm. He turned aud said, "Well?" "I have just recived a dispatch announc ing Mr. Harrison's nomination at Chicago." Mr. Blaine said nothing for a moment and did not ask to see the dispatch. "A most excellent nomination," he replied in a per functory manner, and then, turning, re sumed his study ofthe gateway. A few moments later I called upon Mrs. Blaine in the drawing room ofthe little ho tel. I found her seated by an open fir reading an American magazine. She listen ed to the news and then said, with great frankness, "Well, I am sorry, after all, it could not have been Mr. Blnina." Her manner showed relief, however, that the matter was decided. Mr. Blaine is singularly refined and clean in his taste. He lives Very simply. He has never smoked, nor has he been in the habit of using liquor in any form. It is only in very recent years that he takes an occasional glass of wine. He has never committed any excesses. I saw him for three months in the intimacy of the narrow confines of a private car in the campaign of 1884, and I never heard him in that time use a coarse word or make an idelicate allu sion, although the visitors who thronged the car every day were often very free-talking politicians. His Buoyancy of Spirit Saves Him. He is most impressionable. If he were always surrounded by the brightness and brilliancy of success I do not believe he would be down in bed with illness. It is his extreme buoyancy of spirit that has carried him through his many struggles and disappointments. He is thoroughly Ameri can in his spirit, and reallv has greater ideas and broader views concerning this country than almost any man in it. He has been able to make them felt in his present position in the State Department There he is exceptionally contented and at home. Mr. Blame is, however, so great a man that he can afford to be criticised. I think he is often a disappointing man to those who come nearest to him. His mind is so concentrated upon his work, upon his dreams of power and honor for this country, that personalities become small in his sight except as a means to an end. People always object to be considered as mere pawns In a game, however skillful the player. So you are always hearing stories of disappointment from those who have basked in the light of Mr. Blaine's smiles, or who have been brought for tho first time under the charming influence of his en gaging manner. Mr. Blaine is interested in everyone who has a new idea or who can tell him anything he does not know. He has the genius of a natural born journalist for gathering news and for forming correct conclusions from facts in hand. This explains his crenialitv. his happy manner in turning people inside out It is not his fault if they think he is interested in them personally and wishes them every good fortune. In reality, Mr. Blaine cares less for people in a personal sense than almost any man I have ever known. This is through no fault of his. It is simply one of his characteristics of his mental makeup. It is this undercurrent of coldness tbar has preserved him from break ing down under unusual strains placed upon him. With bim the intellectual is always up- Eermost It is the controlling element of is life. It sometimes sends him to bed when nothing Is the matter with him, or brings him out of it smiling and buoyant when the physicians are convinced there is no hope ior him. No Question or II U Present Attitude. Those who knew his attitude in political affairs when in England understood without questioning what his position must be in the coming campaign. When he dictated the nomination of Mr. Harrison at Chicago and took up the work of the State Depart ment he selected what he regarded as his future life work. The same pride that dic tated his letter from Paris would have pre vented him from entering any contest against other candidates. Honor would have forbidden his remaining in the Cabi net to work against the renomination of Mr. Harrison. He has the strength and health for the work he has laid out lor him self to do in the State Department. He has no reserve, however, for supporting on his own shoulders the burden of a cam paign. He receives nearly everyone who comes to see him with great simplicity. He does not not think it either in accordance with dignity or good sense to reaffirm to every caller who comes to see him his refusal to be a candidate. That he is regarded In Europe as one of the most potential influences for the ad vancement of the power of this country on this continent is shown by the opposition to him in countries whose interests are threat ened by any increase in our gronth. No one is so persistently misrepresented and eriticised in the English press. His retire ment from power would be hailed with de light by every Englisman interested in the vast resources ot South American trade. T. C. Cbawtobd. Bargains in Wall Paper. Great clearance sale of this season's line goods. Wm. II. Alls. 817 Wood street, noar Fifth avenue. New India Silk. Elegant stock, handsome colorings at SOo, "5o, 83c and Jl peryaid. Call and see them. H. J. LTjtcn. wrsu 433 and 440 Market street 9 ft Tp To) mmmmk wiuract row thi dispatch bt CAPTAIN J. B. ROBINSON. Old houses are frequently Infested with roaohes and bedbugs. Engine will destroy them effeotually. 23 cents at all dealers. CHAPTER VHX WE ASTONISH THE NATIVES. For several days after our arrival we were busy landing our oil, as we found that it was leaking badly. Wc had a superan nuated old cooper who had outlived his use fulness at his trade, and he was too weak to drive a hoop securely, and many were the anathemas heaped upon his devoted head by the crew while engaged in the laborious work of towing the huge casks ashore, rolling them up through the soft clay, and turning them up and down and up again while he refitted hoops and plugged up leaks. We left a quantity on shore until we called the next season, in order to make room for fresh water in the hold. Our bark was leaking badly, and we improved this opportunity to run her ashore in the mud, and at low tide we found a large hole in the forefoot, where the ends ot the planks had started. The carpenter repaired the damage as best he could, and we hoped the trouble was over for the voyage. A small river empties into the harbor and is navigable for boats, and a mile above the settlement wild peach trees overhung the water so thickly that we could pull down the branches and load our boat in a very short time with the delicious fruit Wild honey is very plentiful, and the settlers gladly exchanged pure strained honey for an equal amount of molasses of a very in ferior quality, as it is an almost unobtaina ble luxury there. Tobacco is 7s 6d per pound about ?1 87 in our money and not plentiful. The climate is perfect, the win ter consisting of a rainy season lasting about three months, and frost is rarely, if ever known. I was astonished to find that there was no doctor within 100 miles, a fact which l speaKS volumes lor the climate, and no doubt is an important factor in the longev ity ofthe inhabitants. I found that the old man had noticed my absence from drunken rows and other diversions to which many of the crew were very partial, and as a consequence I was soon invited to many of the houses, where I found unbounded hospitality was the rule, and spent many pleasant evenings. Among other articles in the box I had received from home by the ship Horatio, was a small stereoscope and a number of views of Nantucket scenery. Nothing of the kind had ever been seen here, and I verily believe it was passed all over the 5 lace, and finally I presented it to a pretty Tew Zealand girl who had generously placed her saddle horse at my disposal oij many occasions. v I also received from home some sheetf music and a complete score of "Pinafore. The songs were all old and worn threadbare) in America, but hero they were entirely new, and it was while the lady who ofHj elated as music teacher at the school was; going into raptures over "The Old Log Cabin In the Lane," that I conceived tho idea of ascertaining what talent I couM muster on the ship In the minstrel line. I first spoke to the Captain, who was mncW pleased with the idea, and gave me permig sion to go ashore any time when I was nor needed by the mate on the ship. For sevW eral days I was busily at work preparing the! programme and cudgelling my brains fo moldy old end-men jokes, songs, etcJ When I was in doubt as to a line I improji vised, and the good people never knew tha difference. I was invited to sing in the church cholr as I was the possessor of a heavy bass voice, I attended regularly every Sunday, also at . rehearsal on Friday evening. It was here X! made the acquaintance of a young lady who was gifted with a beautiful soprano" voice, which made sad havoc with my heart and it was with a trembling hand that Ij drew her arm within mine, after our firs' rehearsal to escort her to her home. It waj the first time for nearly two years I had".! been accorded the treatment of a gentle man. and is it very strange that we were an hour walking a few hundred yards? The other members of the crew 8001 found me out, and I was subjected to an un! merciful amount of chaff, but, as I knew, if was principally promoted by envy. It only added to my enjoyment At length I had prepared a prograramel which I thought was within the scope of on talent, aud one evening we met in an old barn on shore for rehearsal. One of tha storekeepers had volunteered to repeat a' selection from Shakespeare, and the lady'i mu'ic teacher was to officiate at the plana' and also favor the audience with two solos;, When I unfolded my list of jokes for tho opening negro minstrel scene, I was assured by the storekeeper that I must carefully' purge it of anything which related to the Bible, and so I was obliged to draw a line through Noah and old "Knee-high-miah,' and other Biblical characters. We wished to obtain the schoolhouse foy onr nse but as there had never been a "show" in town, the wiseacres were obliged to consult the la w in regard to schoolhouses, and finally ascertained that it could not ba used for such purposes unless the proceeds ofthe entertainment were to be devoted to charity. We immediately offered to gives said proceeds, if any, to a poor widow named Usher, whom tho Portuguese in variably called "Miss Ashes." This silenced their scruples, and on tha appointed night we made our appearance as burnt-cork artists to a crowded house. Tha public press was not renresented in Mon-r gonnl, so we could not advertise our "great est show on earth," but for a fortnight ill had been the talk of the town, and on tha day in question the settlers from outlying1 districts came in on horseback, some of1 them traveling over 30 miles to see their1 first "show." Not only was every avail able inch of room inside taken by patronSj at Is Cd per head, but outside the windows were boxes upon which scores were perched, and even the large trees were loaded with living fruit, all anxious to get even a peep at what was to them simply marvelous. As general manager and chief performed I was beginning to get excited. I had noft calculated on the sensation we would create, and when I saw the bag of silver which1 represented the receipts at the door, and thought of the performance we were about,' to inflict on the unsuspecting public, my r erve nearly failed me. I was nooked for a stump speech, interlocutor, a clog dancef. , r Our Baby Carriages Are Second to None, and the Prices Are Right. ing tion upon Mr. Blaine's oountenance. emo- His and showed in his manner no trace nfliiH I mntlnn mm 4 1.& i-.. . fili1v nni (one snowy morning in J knowledge of an enemy's presence, so that qniokly as possible from their living mold, THE PIONEERS OF LOW PRICES Are Still in the Front Rank! You will find us at the old stand with the choicest line of goods that ever came to the Pittsburg market. We will take more interest in the wel fare of our customers than all other houses put together. "We carry the most complete line of FOLDING BEDS, And will guarantee every one that goes out of the house. OUR COMBINATION FOLDING BED Has not its equal in the city. See it before going elsewhere. The Largest Variety of Refrigerators AND Ice Chests. lOjrt HOPPER BROS. & CO. Want your trade, and will guarantee to take particular care of the same, if you will bestow it. FJ E- IT THIS SEASON We must forcibly impress upon your mind that if you have not one you Ice want. need a good Refrigerator or Chest. We have what you I This has been a very eventful spring with us. We have been pushed very strongly to keep up with our growing trade, but so far have come out with flying colors. We have most competent people to do the work and do it promptly. WE MAKE A SPECIALTY ffsySt?tt7r. -iLuj. TTtiiirtr--?jl OF LEATHER COUCHES. MOM II SEASON Is a little backward, still there will be plenty of time to take the baby for an airing morning and evening. We have a splendid assortment of,' Lnnaren s Carnages at very easy, terms and prices. You should see. these goods before bung elsewhere, K !I- 1 ELEGANT ASSORTMENT OF 000KCASES MO DESKS. We cater to the wants of all. No matter how ypu want to buy, either for CASH OR CREDIT. CASH OR CK.EIDIT. DON'T FORGET OUR ADDRESS, HOPPER BROS. & CO., 307 WOOD STREET, Near Potxrtb. Ave. BEDROOM SUITS From S14 to $375-ment. A big assort- DINING FURNITURE In Complete Sets. Sideboard, Table and Chairs To Match. WARDROBES ANY PRICE. Odd Bedsteads, Odd Dressers, Odd Washstands. - 1 I 1 Jl. tai . ..jfcA-Mfci. &.-, jtfgiriHifc&. ., w fc 2iM '-irtSffirlri&Ti ,' jfai s, iS
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers