LETTERS OF MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
^/a.'.>ne^ Harvie^ bailey (^il'c^ynwood) 
 LETTERS 
 
 OF 
 
 MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 HARRIET S. BLAINE ^BEALE 
 
 VOLUME I 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 DUFFIELD AND COMPANY 
 1908 
 
,^'r 
 
 vv;^' 
 
 
 Copyright, 1908 
 By Duffield and Company 
 
 BEQUEST 
 RT. REV. JULIUS W. ATWDOD 
 iiiME 5. 1S45 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, CAMBRIDGE, U.S.A. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 MY first thought in bringing my mothers letters 
 together and putting them into readable form was 
 to give to her grandchildren some clearer understand- 
 ing of the home life into which her children were born 
 and to which they look back with such tender love and 
 appreciation as the years teach them its value. There 
 was no thought of making a biography, and it is only 
 as one letter has been added to another, and year after 
 year rescued from oblivion, that I have comprehended 
 that it is my mother's portrait which stands revealed 
 on the background of the past. With gratitude I 
 realize that she, who never gave a thought to herself, 
 living only in the lives of others, who was content to 
 be used, absorbed, obliterated if need be, in her service 
 of love, lives once more in these rescued leaves, in her 
 forcefulness, her honesty, her humor, and her splendid 
 courage that was so cruelly tried. 
 
 A brief introduction to the published letters is 
 perhaps needed. 
 
 [ V ] 
 
PREFACE 
 
 Harriet Bailey Stanwood was the seventh child and 
 fifth daughter of Jacob Stanwood and his second wife, 
 Sally Caldwell. She was born at Augusta, Maine, on 
 October ] 2, 1828, whither her parents had moved from 
 Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1820, when Maine was made 
 a state, and where her father carried on the business 
 of a woollen merchant. She was educated first at the 
 Cony Academy in Augusta, and later at Mr. and Mrs. 
 Cowles' School for Girls in Ipswich, where she was 
 studying at the time of her father's death in 1845. 
 On leaving the Cowles' School she went to join her 
 older sister, Caroline, as a teacher at Mrs. Johnson's 
 school in Millersburg, Kentucky. There she met 
 James Gillespie Blaine, who at that time was also 
 teaching, at tlie Western Military Institute at George- 
 town, Kentucky, and there in 1850 they were married. 
 From Millersburg they went to Philadelphia, where he 
 taught in the Institute for the Blind and where their first 
 child, Stanwood, was born in 1851. At the age of three 
 Stanwood died, and that keen sorrow, followed almost 
 immediately by the death of my mother's mother, to 
 whom she was tenderly attached, brought my father 
 and mother to Augusta, where they henceforth made 
 their home, living for the first years in the old 
 Stanwood house, with the oldest unmarried sisters, the 
 " Aunt Susan " and " Aunt Caddy ■" of the letters, and 
 moving later to the Rufus Child house at the corner 
 [ vi] 
 
PREFACE 
 
 of State and Capitol Streets. The year after their 
 return to Augusta, in 1855, a son was born, Robert 
 Walker, followed in 1857 by another son, Williams 
 Emmons, by a daughter, Alice Stanwood, in 1860, and 
 by the three younger children who alone survive their 
 parents. In 1863 my father was sent to the National 
 Congress, and in 1869 he was made Speaker of the 
 House. From that time they spent their winters in 
 Washington, and from the year 1871 my mother's 
 letters explain her life so fully that little further 
 commenting is needed. 
 
 H. S. B. B. 
 
 ■WASHiNGTO>f, D. C, October 26, 1908. 
 
 [vii] 
 
1869 
 
From 1862 to 1866 Mr. Blaine represented the third Maine district, 
 the so-called Kennebec district, in the lower house of Congress. From 
 the period when these Letters begin, 1869, to 1876, he was Speaker 
 of the House, and the family residence alternated between Washing- 
 ton and Augusta. 
 
 Mr. Blaine was born at West Brownsville, Pennsylvania, Janu- 
 ary 31, 1830. His active pohtical experience began in 1854 when he 
 became the part owner and editor of the Kennebec Journal, pub- 
 hshed at Augusta, Maine, then the official organ of the Whig party, 
 holding the same relation to the RepubUcan party when two years 
 later that party came into being. He reported the legislative debates 
 for his paper, and it is remembered that he never made written notes 
 of the votes on the calls for yeas and nays, but depended on his 
 memory alone, which was so accurate that the record was never in 
 error. An interesting fact is that the legislative reporter for the 
 Democratic paper at that tune was Melville W. Fuller, later Chief 
 Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. 
 
 Mr. Blaine's political experience was first developed by his edi- 
 torial work, and then more directly by active participation in the 
 campaign of 1856 in the interest of the newly organized Republican 
 party. He had previously been a delegate to the First Republican 
 Convention which had nominated John C. Fremont for the Presi- 
 dency. In 1858 he edited the Portland Advertiser, but gave up active 
 newspaper work thereafter, except that he edited the Kennebec 
 Journal in the autumn of 1860 during the campaign which resulted 
 in the first election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United 
 States. 
 
 In 1858 he was elected to the Maine Legislature and re-elected in 
 1859-60 and 1861, serving the last two years as Speaker of that 
 body. In 1862 he succeeded Anson ISIorrill (brother of Lot M. 
 Morrill) in the lower house of the National Congress as Repre- 
 sentative from the third Maine district, the so-called Kennebec 
 district, which he continued to represent until the summer of 1876, 
 when Lot M. Morrill was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by 
 President Grant, and Mr. Blaine was appointed by the Governor of 
 Maine to serve out Mr. MorrUl's unexpired term in the United States 
 Senate. In the following winter he was elected for the full term. 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Mrs. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 To Walker, at Phillips Academy, 
 Andover 
 
 Augusta, Friday evening (1869) 
 My dear Walker, — I am sorry not to be able 
 to write you a long letter to-night, but as it is already 
 past ten, and Jamie is liable to wake up every moment, 
 I know I shall not be able to. Your three letters came 
 tonight, and I cannot tell you how delighted we all 
 were to hear from you. By we all, I mean Emmons 
 and moi-meme. I had been down town all the after- 
 noon, and my first question when we got in was as to 
 the whereabouts of my letters. I did you the honor 
 of keeping Father's letters waiting while I read all 
 of yours. No further proof could I give of my 
 desire to hear from you, as I often think my letters 
 from Father are my daily bread. Now, one word, 
 or rather several, about the boarding house and the 
 homesickness, and the last first. I hoped you might 
 be spared this most trying ordeal, but I did not 
 [3] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 expect it. Does it not come to every one? Never 
 shall I forget going to Ipswich when I was nine years 
 old. The first evening after my arrival the fit came 
 on me in full severity. I fled out of the house and 
 crouched down behind a hogshead. In the pre-cistera 
 days, a hogshead for rain-water graced every back 
 door in New England. There was I found, but when 
 questioned, I remember that I prevaricated. Some- 
 thing disgraceful associated itself in my mind with 
 homesickness, so I said that I was crying for my 
 wormwood and molasses, a spoonful of which de- 
 lightful compound I was accustomed to take for some 
 humour I had. I was at once accommodated with the 
 dram, and so got well paid for my deception. 
 
 But to revert to yourself. Time will cure this. 
 If you can only hold out a few days it will disappear 
 like the early mist before the sun. And this ghost 
 once laid rises again never. 
 
 And now if I could only look in on your quarters, 
 I would unerringly advise you, but since I cannot 
 I must go by the data I have ; and first I send you 
 Mr. Smyth's letter which Father sent me to-night, 
 and which you will find in the box. You will agree 
 with me that it is better almost to suffer three months' 
 discomfort than to make of no avail so kind an effort 
 on the part of Mr. S. If the other room you speak 
 of is airier, better furnished, more cheerful than the 
 [4 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 one you now have I would take It. You must not con- 
 sider the difference in the expense. But I do not 
 beheve your Father would want you to have a room 
 mate. I hope that you will stay at Mrs. Mathers 
 and justify the high opinion Mr. Smyth seems to 
 have of you. He can not think more highly of j^ou 
 than you deserve in my eyes, but then, I am your 
 mother, and have borne you these many years in my 
 prayers and my hopes. You would nowhere get much 
 of a table. You can buy yourself a good wholesome 
 lunch now and then when the inner man feels that it 
 must be renewed. At any rate, all you have to do 
 is to keep up good courage and God will give you the 
 reward of well doing. 
 
 You ought to see Emmons's sympathy In your 
 trials. " If he was Jack he would hump it to the first 
 train." " It pulls a fellow down terribly, I tell you, 
 mother, not to have what they like to eat," and so 
 he goes on. Alice Is not very well. She has not 
 eaten anything to-day. I have been over to St Cath- 
 erine's this afternoon to make the arrangements for 
 her starting there Monday. Aunt Caddy has been 
 here all the evening. She thinks your case not to be 
 compared to Herbert's. Gen. Hodsdon and Capt. 
 Boutelle ^ have been here all the evening. Johnny was 
 in last evening to play some of the airs in La Grande 
 
 > Charles A. Boutelle, editor Bangor Wkig and Courier; later 
 Member of Congress. [51 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Duchesse to Emmons. You should have seen the 
 latter in his stocking feet dancing and singing to 
 the accompaniment. But I have written Jamie 
 awake, and must say good night. Keep me well 
 posted in all your affairs, and if Mrs. Mathers re- 
 mains uncongenial to you, I will arrange to have 
 you change, but I shall be pleased if you can stay 
 and be happy. The next time you write send a mes- 
 sage particularly to Alice. 
 
 From your loving, 
 
 MOTHEE. 
 
 Augusta, Sunday afternoon. 
 My dear Walker, — I feel very sorry about 3^our 
 lamp, especially as on looking into my pocket-book 
 I find I have not enough to send you the German 
 Students'. I can hardly believe myself that my funds 
 are so low, with Father still to be away two days 
 longer, but I had to pay the workmen last night, a 
 disbursement I did not anticipate. Your Father is 
 in Boston to-day and I think very likely you may 
 have heard from him, so I will not take up my time 
 describing his movements. Emmons, Alice, M and 
 myself went to church this morning. Heard Mr. 
 Bingham, who was fighting a windmill, it seemed to 
 me, all morning. No one has been in this afternoon, 
 and I feel almost too lonesome to write letters. When 
 [6] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 you are lonely writing does not relieve the sense of 
 isolation as much as reading. 
 
 Have I written you that we are painting the house, 
 building a portico on the south doors, lowering the 
 chimneys, and resodding the north bank? Well, we 
 are, and Emmons has a great deal of enjoyment in 
 Sam Brick's society. He helped him yesterday paint 
 the blinds. We shall be well through by the time you 
 get home, if all goes well; how soon that will be! 
 Each and all send love to brother Walker. Jamie is 
 a lovely baby — M. very funny and entertaining. 
 
 As it is possible that you may have some money by 
 you, enough to make out for the lamp, I send you 
 five dollars. Do not be extravagant. 
 
 From your attached mother, who would write you 
 a longer letter if her paper were smoother. 
 
 The Newton boys got home Saturday. Emmons 
 says Ben Deering is to be a minister. The weather 
 is lovely, the grass turning green, streets in some 
 places dusty, and the Bingham boys and Fred Cony 
 just going up back of the State House for a walk. 
 
 Good-by my dear boy, and the best of Heaven's 
 blessings, a pure heart and good conscience, be yours. 
 From, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 [7] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Augusta, Tuesday morning, April 27, 1869 
 My DBAS Walker, — I am ashamed when I re- 
 member how long it is since your loving mother wrote 
 you a letter, but I must say just one word in her 
 extenuation. And to resume the ego in toto, I have 
 so many things to occupy my head, my heart and my 
 purse, that the amazing wonder of it all is that I 
 remember to do anything, or anything well. To all 
 this large household I am obliged to be father, mother, 
 aunt and referee on every subject, spiritual and 
 secular. From John, with his poor, neglected, dirty 
 horse, to Jamie, there is no authority but myself, 
 and when to crown and commence the day Ada gives 
 me a poor breakfast, as she very often does, I feel 
 that I bring not the strength of a humming bird to 
 meet these many demands. 
 
 Yesterday Emmons commenced his school again, 
 likewise M the magnificent, hers. Mons came home 
 at noon perfectly disgusted with his arrangements. 
 He had been put into Casar, although he is perfectly 
 unposted as to rules ; into geometry though he has 
 never been in algebra, and in arithmetic only to square 
 root. His other study — natural history — he made 
 no objection to. Then he has that bete noir — decla- 
 mation — threatening him. Altogether, I think 
 were it not for the fear of boarding-school hanging 
 over him, he would sit down in the ashes and wait for 
 [8] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 his fairy godmother rather than try to help himself. 
 But with this dread harrowing his soul, he knows 
 that he must do or die, so last night he shut himself 
 in the parlor till he had mastered his geometry, and 
 this morning at breakfast while I cut steak and poured 
 coffee, he ate and read out his " Gallia est omnis 
 divisa in partes tres," and I will say for him that he 
 translated his nine lines very deftly and neatly. All 
 your old books come in play so well that he has not 
 had to buy a new one. As soon as breakfast is over, 
 he harnesses, then I put on my pretty hat, take in 
 the little Blaine girls and the one big brother, and, 
 leaving J'aime in his red night gown to the tender 
 mercies of liis little nurse, forth we drive. 
 
 First we drop M at Winthrop street ; she goes 
 off bowing her head and saying — " Now, Alice 
 Blaine." Then Emmons throws out the reins and 
 gives a spring as we come in sight of that dirty 
 huhhubhly high school, and lastly I drive over the old 
 bridge and deposit my saintly Ahce among the saints. 
 She likes them much, and this is now the fourth week, 
 so I feel some confidence in the permanency of her 
 regard. When I come home there is Jamie to bathe 
 and dress, and Father's letter to write. This letter 
 to Father has become such a choice affair that I have 
 no doubt I shall go on jotting down my poor little 
 trifles even when we are under the same roof. Father 
 [9] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 meets me with the salutation — " Well, old lady, 
 the separation is over. We have nothing to do now 
 but enjoy each other." This on Friday, but on 
 Wednesday I find myself at the door, that familiar 
 old bag in my hand which I could pack asleep, saying 
 good-by with the best grace I may. I give him now 
 till Saturday to get home in. If he comes not then 
 I have a fit of the blues all ready to put on. 
 t I was perfectly delighted to hear from him so satis- 
 factory an account of you. That your tongue ran, 
 that you ate the oranges, that the homesickness had 
 disappeared, that you addressed Aunt Caddy as Sir; 
 each and every item gave satisfaction. 
 
 Augusta, Thursday a. m. May 27, 1869. 
 
 My deae Walker, — You will hardly believe that 
 you directed your last letter to Washington, and that 
 to that great and wicked and corrupt and corruptible 
 city it went before I had the satisfaction of seeing it, 
 yet such is the truth; and If I had not fortunately 
 been seized with a fit of curiosity respecting your 
 dear daddy's correspondence. It would have gone on 
 to New York, another city of notorious depravity, the 
 fame of which may have reached even your humble 
 ears, before It would have gladdened my waiting eyes. 
 I say my waiting eyes, because I had begun to think 
 [10] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 it high and higher time that I should hear from you, 
 and now, as my time before the mail takes up is some- 
 what of the shortest, — to plunge in medias res. This 
 is Latin, and Latin proper, my dear son, and not to 
 be confounded with Greek. Your Father left yester- 
 day for New York. He was at home just as long as 
 it took the Creator to make the world, only your 
 D.D. (short for Dear Daddy) rested his six days, 
 and on the seventh commenced his labor anew. F S 
 came home with him Wednesday, and left the next 
 Tuesday. His visit gave us great pleasure, to none 
 more than to Emmons; and by the way, that dear 
 brother of thine is to come back to Andover with 
 thee; and I trust him to you, Walker, in the confi- 
 dence that in all that makes for brotherly love and 
 perfect harmony you will never fail me. You are 
 the elder, and doubtless you will often have to yield 
 more than you will think the elder brother should, 
 but whenever you are tempted to overbear, remember 
 the teaching and the example of the Elder Brother of 
 us all, and you will know just how to do. 
 
 Mother. 
 
 AuGTiSTA, Thursday evening 
 My dear Son, — How long is it since I have writ- 
 ten you? Every morning I think I shall certainly 
 find time for a good long letter to Andover to-day, 
 [11] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 and night lets down her curtain upon me and the 
 thing I would do I have not done. The truth is, I 
 have no nurse for Jamie, and the principal care of 
 him comes upon me, and this perpetual occupation 
 underlying all my other cares, robs my days and 
 evenings of all leisure. Ada, too, has been sick this 
 week, so that there has been an added demand upon 
 me for a few days. I often think that since in this 
 world some things must be crowded out (this good 
 idea is not mine but Mrs. Craddock's,^ in that serial in 
 the " Young Folks " — I have forgotten its name) 
 I will elect that tucks and embroideries shall be from 
 my hfe and my little girls', and perhaps I shall then 
 find that I have like other people, twenty-four hours 
 to my day. Can you make out my writing easily 
 enough to readily take in my ideas? 
 
 I have been over to-night to see John Bruce ; found 
 him bolstered up in his chair, very feeble, apparently 
 only a few days to live. I hope he will last a few 
 days longer so that I may have the comfort of show- 
 ing him a few little kindnesses. Father goes to Bos- 
 ton to-morrow. Am sorry to lose him even for a few 
 days, but his errand is an important one and he must 
 go. He will visit you at Andover before he returns. 
 
 * The Hon. Harriet Lister Craddock, Maid of Honor to the Queen 
 in the early 49's and anthor of "Tlie Calendar of Nature, or the 
 Seasons of Enp^land," edited by Lord John Russell, and of "John 
 Smith," "Rose," and other novels. 
 
 [12] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 I would send you a basket of goodies but he takes the 
 eastern road. How did you Hke the buttons I sent 
 you for your birthday? We are having the house 
 painted. Quite an improvement it will be too. I only 
 wish we were building a new large room for my dear 
 boy at Andover, but I intend to select a large and 
 handsome one for him at Washington. Emmons still 
 insists that he will not go back with you next term, 
 although his Father is very anxious that he should. 
 He likes Mr. Lambert very much indeed, but is un- 
 fortunately situated as to his studies, having been 
 obliged to abandon his Latin. Monday the Blaines 
 had a grand hair-cutting. The barber shop did 
 not come until nine, and then there were the pater, 
 Alice, Emmons and M to be operated on. All 
 went merry as a marriage bell till it came to the 
 last, then trouble began. Such a time as we had. 
 Father stormed, threatened and coaxed, all to no 
 purpose. Then he resorted to strength, muscle, 
 Emmons would call it. But even here he was hardly 
 a match for her. She never gave in, no, not for a 
 second, and parted with her hair only as the dextrous 
 scissors took it from her. Every inch of the way she 
 fought. Great streams of perspiration flowed down 
 the artist's face; but little by little the work went 
 on, M all the time crying out amid her sobs — ■ 
 " I shall look horrid, I know I shall ; I shall look like 
 [ 13] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 a bride, I know I shall." She is not a bit reconciled 
 to her loss yet. 
 
 Mrs. Child, who boards in Andover, wants you to 
 come and see her. She is grandmother to Robert 
 Wainwright who is at your school. 
 
 Good-night, my dear, and excuse this short and 
 abrupt letter from, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 Friday evening. 
 Dear Walker, — I have just received your letter 
 of Sunday. Emmons also has his. Both we have 
 enjoyed very much indeed. Write early and often. 
 Emmons is at this moment on his knees helping Mr. 
 Sherman,^ Father's clerk, empty about twenty bags 
 of their contents. The library and the vestibule 
 are " all running out at the mouth " with humbugs 
 for the constituents. Father left this morning for 
 Boston. He expects to visit Andover before his re- 
 turn, but this I have already written you. About 
 your rooms, I think I may venture to let you take 
 a room at Mrs. Torry's. I have such confidence in 
 your good behavior that I believe you will prove no 
 exception to the gentlemanly rule, which, according 
 to your account, seems to obtain in her family. Have 
 
 ' Thomas H. Sherman, Mr. Blaine's private secretary for more 
 than twenty years, and later U. S. consul at Liverpool. 
 
 [14] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 I written you how much M enjoyed her dollar? 
 She bought a lead pencil, Faber 2, with it, and a five 
 cent paper doll. The remaining 85 cents found its 
 way into mother's purse. 
 
 Good-night, I would write more, but must get this 
 note mailed to-night. Each and all send love. 
 
 Mother. 
 
 [15] 
 
1871 
 
To Walker, in England 
 
 Augusta, Monday evening, August 21st, 1871 
 My dear Boy, — The great event since I wrote 
 you a week ago is your Father's Saratoga serenade 
 speechjMvhich he made last Wednesday evening, and 
 which he considers, though this of course is in con- 
 fidence, a great strike. An immense crowd assembled 
 to hear him, and he has been overwhelmed with con- 
 gratulations. I think myself he was most happy, and 
 perhaps I should be more difficult than almost any- 
 one else to please. All the papers have said their say 
 about it pro and con according to the tone of the 
 journal. . . . No tongue can adequately portray 
 my loneliness since I came from Boston the day 
 after you sailed. I seem to myself to lead two 
 lives entirely distinct from each other — the one 
 when I am with your Father, all variety, wide- 
 awake, gay ; the other all Aunt Susan, sewing 
 machine, «hildren. Another telegram we have also 
 had this afternoon from Mr. Alexander telling of the 
 arrival of the Tripoli at Queenstown only last night. 
 
 1 Political speech made by Mr. Blaine at Saratoga Springs 
 August 16, 1871, in which he contrasted the economies of the Re- 
 pubhcan Administration at Washington with the reckless expendi- 
 ture and shameless corruption of the government of New York City 
 under Tammany. William M. Tweed was arrested for the first time 
 October 28th of this year. 
 
 [19] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Was it not a long passage, and how did you stand it? 
 I long to hear, not only this, but that you are well and 
 liappy, and sure of enjoying all that the liberality of 
 your Father had planned for you. 
 
 Augusta, August 29th, '71 
 Tuesday evening 
 
 My dear Walker, — I was obhged to cut my 
 letter short so unexpectedly last night and so un- 
 satisfactorily that I then determined to daily or 
 rather, nightly, chronicle hereafter my small beer, so 
 that you might in the future have a more faithful if 
 not a better record of all our petty family doings. 
 Your Father is better. He stays in the open air all 
 he can, so every morning after his letters are written, 
 we drive. Went yesterday twice, and once to-day. 
 To-day we drove out over Western Avenue and round 
 by Coombs' mills. Daddy walking two miles of the 
 distance and horse of course ditto. We still keep, 
 and probably shall for some time to come, the Rock- 
 land horse. Mr. Sherman, as I wrote you, is here, 
 and trying to get the papers, documents and letters 
 together in order for the winter. Thirty boxes and 
 bags I think have been brought from the postoffice 
 this afternoon. At 4:30 your Father left for Lewis- 
 ton, has to meet the State Committee this evening. 
 f 20 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Will look out for the election * rather more closely 
 because of the rumors of danger to the party. To- 
 morrow he goes to Boston, and is the next day to 
 come home. Will not see Emmons, though I begged 
 him to stay over one extra day rather than not do 
 it, but he thinks hardening good for boys. 
 
 This morning I had a long letter from Cousin 
 Abby.^ She is very busy getting her book ready. 
 Wrote for me to come up next week and bring Que 
 J'aime. 
 
 Thursday evening. 
 
 1 am going to send my letter off to-night and have 
 but a few minutes left for final words. 
 
 Dear little M fell yesterday and broke her left 
 arm, broke it just above the elbow, quite badly. She 
 suffers dreadfully with it, and is very nervous, so 
 much so that I find it difficult to leave her. She was 
 playing at Mr. Swan's at the time and fell from an 
 apple tree. She took ether while her arm was set, 
 but suffered a great deal. By a most fortunate 
 change in his plans your Father had come home in- 
 
 ' The Maine elections were then, as they are to a somewhat less 
 extent now, considered as a "barometer" indicating the prospects of 
 the political parties in the general Presidential election to follow. 
 
 2 Miss Mary Abby Dodge, Mrs. Blaine's cousin, who wrote under 
 the nom-de-plume of Gail Hamilton. She spent many winters with 
 Mrs. Blaine in Washington and is referred to in the "Letters" as 
 "Cousin Abby," "C. A.," "Miss Dodge," "Gail Hamilton," "G. H.," 
 or " The Dodger." 
 
 [21] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 stead of going to Boston as he intended, and this 
 happened just after he arrived. Dear httle thing, she 
 said Emmons minded his so httle in Washington, 
 she thought it would be good fun to break an arm; 
 but it is a very different thing when you come to 
 try it. 
 
 We have heard from Emmons, who likes his school 
 a great deal better. Your Father will send you his 
 letter by the despatch bag, so you will soon have it. 
 It is the greatest possible comfort to me to find that 
 he is going to do well. The Standard has been abus- 
 ing your Father in its last two issues, the main cry 
 his great wealth. To-day it has three columns cit- 
 ing his princely style of living, his retinue of servants, 
 and the expensive education he is giving his children 
 — one son now traveling in Europe. Gen. Chamber- 
 lain ^ has accepted the presidency of Bowdoin College. 
 Toby Candor sits here waiting to see your Father; 
 also the parlor full. Aunt Caddy and Emily have 
 just come in, and send love. 
 
 Good-by, 
 
 Your devoted. 
 
 Mother. 
 
 » Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, who left the professorship of 
 rhetoric in Bowdoin College to enlist with the 20th Maine Volunteers 
 in the Civil War, breveted Major-General in 18G6, and elected three 
 times governor of INIainc, from ISOG to 1871. 
 
 [22] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Evening. 
 
 My dear Boy, — I have just had a call from Mr. 
 Goodenow ^ and his sister, a most elegant looking 
 girl. They are on their way to Bangor, but stayed 
 over until to-morrow morning to see me. I was sick, 
 and could do nothing beyond receiving the visit. 
 M is so very far from well that she requires and 
 has almost all my time. " Uncle John " hopes to get 
 his leave of absence prolonged, and in that case I shall 
 be able to show him some attention in Washington. 
 This afternoon we received your letter of August 31st. 
 Very nice and interesting letters, too. I have read 
 them twice and have just enveloped them to Father, 
 who will get them to-morrow morning at the Parker 
 House. M. cannot quite decide on her doll's hair. 
 Alice Farwell had one that she could brush the hair 
 on, but AHce Wood's stayed on better. She will decide 
 before the next letter. It was Queen Eleanor, wife of 
 Edward I. to whom the memorial crosses were erected. 
 There were fifteen of them, and they commemorate 
 her resting places from Grantham to Westminster. 
 
 The httle magnifier came all safe. I must close ray 
 letter. You are a dear good boy, and your letters 
 give us unbounded satisfaction. 
 
 Good-night, and God bless you. 
 
 Mother. 
 • John Goodenow, U. S. Minister to Turkey. 
 [23] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Augusta, Sunday evening, 
 September 2nd, 1871. 
 
 My dear Walkee, — My time has been mostly 
 spent since I last wrote, as you may suppose, in 
 taking care of M. For two days she suffered 
 very much, had two very bad nights, probably the 
 bandages were unnecessarily tight. Dr. Brickett 
 loosened them, and she has been steadily gaining since 
 Friday morning. To-day she has been out driving 
 twice, and though very weak, does not complain of 
 much pain. To-morrow her arm is to be examined, 
 and if all is well with it, I shall feel quite light hearted. 
 Dr. Barbour has preached for us to-day ; have been 
 out only once, but Aunt Susan has made amends for 
 all my deficiencies. Your Father has gone also 
 to-night. 
 
 The Standard is all taken up with his affairs. I 
 dislike it extremely, but suppose it will not do to let 
 all the charges and statements go unanswered. We 
 had a nice letter from Emmons this morning; will 
 send it to you by despatch bag, as it tells all about 
 his studies. I have no doubt the school is far better 
 than it has been since Dr. Taylor's death. Your 
 Father also had a very friendly and most excellent 
 letter from the President.^ I had no idea that he 
 
 * General Ulysses Simpson Grant, eigliteenth President of the 
 United States. 
 
 [ 24 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 would write so good a letter. He wanted to be re- 
 membered to you children. We are all longing to 
 hear from you, but do not expect our heart's desire 
 for a day or two yet. You seem to have gone down 
 into the very caverns of silence. M's great solace 
 during her illness is her kittens — Tiger and Snow- 
 drop. J'aime loves them, but his tender mercies are 
 cruel. To-day Tiger took refuge from him in the 
 warm ashes of my fire. He did not dare go there, 
 so the poor thing had an hour of quiet. Uncle 
 William,^ Aunt Abby, Ida and Lucy Cony expect to 
 start to-morrow week for Saratoga. They like to 
 fly high when they do take the wing. Aunt Emily's ^ 
 family are all well; Aunt Caddy exceedingly tried 
 with the dog — a Scotch terrier, ugly enough to 
 be a pure breed. George represents it is worth a 
 hundred dollars. Jim and Wal take care of it, and 
 seem to enjoy it much as the Pickwick Club did their 
 tall horse when they were going to Mr. Wardle's. 
 
 Monday evening. 
 
 " Out of the depths have I called unto thee " — 
 
 this is all I can think of. Your Father came home 
 
 from town this afternoon, having intercepted the mail 
 
 with your welcome letter and diary, so you must have 
 
 • William Caldwell, Mrs. Blaine's cousin. 
 ■ Mrs. Stinson, Mrs. Blaine's younger sister. 
 
 [25] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 got in Saturday instead of Sunday as the Cunard 
 gentleman telegraphed your Father, I read the letter 
 aloud, Dada the Journal ; both most satisfactory, but 
 be sure to write on better paper. That you use is 
 odious. You can give up Geneva, of course. I be- 
 lieve your Father has written you to this effect. ]Mrs. 
 Stillman — I wrote you, did I not.? — is the original 
 of Euphrosyne in Lothair. How good it seems to 
 be once more in communication with you. 
 
 M has had a very suffering day — not so much 
 with pain in her arm as pain all over and general 
 nervousness. Certainly I put stockings in your bag. 
 Have just had time to write these few lines. 
 
 Love from us all; oceans from 
 
 Mother. 
 
 Augusta, September 8th, 1871 
 Friday evening. 
 
 My dear Walker, — M's broken arm seems to 
 
 have worked sad woe to my journalizing, as well 
 
 as some other things. I got your Father to write a 
 
 few lines last night, but I am afraid he is not a very 
 
 good detailer of home affairs, and so, although my 
 
 day has been unmarked by events, I will not wait for 
 
 anything more uncommon, but will at once begin a 
 
 new letter by telling you that Aunt Caddy lias just 
 
 gone home after spending the evening with us. She 
 
 [26] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 is knitting a stocking of huge dimensions, had eaten 
 a very hearty supper, and as the sitting room under 
 the combined effect of gashght and wood fire was very 
 warm, I was not surprised to see her eagerly count- 
 ing the strokes of the clock as it sounded out nine, 
 and no less eagerly rolling up her work ; after which 
 with a prolonged and final yawn she departed. She 
 did not sleep well at all last night, and all her waking 
 dreams were of you, stimulated of course, by your 
 letter, which your Father read to her at the supper 
 table. He and I had the first reading of it in the car- 
 riage over on Malta Hill. How delighted we were to 
 hear from you I cannot express. Your Father is well 
 pleased with you, thinks you outdo him as a traveler. 
 He was saying at the supper table that next summer, 
 if Emmons wanted to go over to meet you, he should 
 make no objection, whereupon Ahce insists that he 
 told you over and over again to keep away from 
 Americans. Surely Emmons is an American. 
 
 Tom Sherman left us this afternoon. Your Father 
 expects Tuesday to leave for Pennsylvania. The 
 local politics are becoming very interesting. A par- 
 tisan warfare is waged between the Journal and the 
 Standard, and of course your Father is a mark for 
 most of the shafts and honors. Warren Johnson, 
 it is reported, has gone over to the Democrats. 
 Undoubtedly he thinks Kimball is to be elected. 
 [27] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Heaven send that he may be well punished for his 
 lack of faith. To-night your " Dada " takes tea, 
 or as I should say, sups, at Sylvanus's.^ We were 
 both invited, but I was too tired and lifeless to go. 
 M thinks no one so good and handsome as her dear 
 and pretty Mum, and when my caresses and services 
 for the day are through, Httle is left me but a recol- 
 lection of past fatigues. J'aime I have hardly seen 
 for the day. Mary Nolan, the new nurse, proves very 
 efficient, and does not permit the earnest httle soul 
 to come about me half as much as I really want him 
 to. He is a great toast on the street, and his pet 
 accomplishment is to tell where you have gone. 
 "Walker Blaine has gone to Obrope, I tell you." 
 This you can hear any hour during the day. Ahce 
 and he went out into the country for cream this after- 
 noon, and returned bringing with them a full grown 
 cat. " Tiger " had been missing for a number of 
 days, but yesterday his select and cold remains were 
 discovered in a shoe box, J'aime having shut him in 
 and forgotten him. There was great grief, as you 
 may suppose, but it has been a great comfort to 
 change his name to Ginevra. 
 
 * Sylvanus Caldwell, Mayor of Augusta, and cousin of Mrs. Blaine. 
 Mrs. Sylvanus Caldwell is the "Aunt Hannah" of the Letters. 
 
 [28] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Saturday evening. 
 
 Your Father and I have been this afternoon to see 
 Mrs. Lambard. She got home a week ago ; would 
 have Hked to see you very much. She showed me a 
 good many things she had brought home, mostly 
 Dresden china. You cannot think how high the par- 
 tisan spirit seems to run this election. Your Father 
 has just had sent him from down town a Democratic 
 sheet which that party in lack of a daily paper have 
 just issued. Two thirds of it certainly is devoted to 
 him. Judge Rice ^ and Mr, Vickery are their candi- 
 dates for the Legislature. How glad I shall be when 
 the City and State are well carried Monday evening. 
 We had a letter from Emmons this morning, very 
 brief; he says he is too busy to write, really seems 
 to be studying hard. It is occasion for unbounded 
 happiness on my part that he is happy and doing well 
 at Andover. 
 
 Sunday evening. 
 
 A very quiet day. Out this morning to hear Dr. 
 
 Caruthers, Father with me, to church. Returning, 
 
 he walked with Mr. Farwell and Aunt Cad rode with 
 
 me. Aunt C has forgotten " Pie," and the dog is as 
 
 * Richard Drury Rice, of Augusta, appointed Judge of the Supreme 
 Court of Maine in 1852. He resigned the office in 1863 to accept the 
 presidency of the Portland and Kennebec, now the Maine Central 
 R. R. He was also one of the builders and a vice-president of the 
 Northern Pacific Railroad. 
 
 [29] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 a shadow which flitteth away, so overwhelming is her 
 interest in the election to-morrow. It seems to be of 
 vital consequence to her, but in reality it would make 
 no difference in her basket or her store whether 
 Perham ^ or Kimball governed the State. But I am 
 immensely interested, for I feel there has been a 
 deliberate effort made to break down your Father. 
 Nothing at the bottom of it, I presume, but envy. 
 
 Monday evening. 
 Well, Walker, the election is over, and well over. 
 Every ward in this city is carried by Republicans, — 
 a thing which I think has hardly ever been before. 
 This city is carried by 237 ; other towns have thrown 
 very large votes. Gramp ^ voted among the first, 
 fearing that he might die during the day if he put 
 it off. Poor old Prince has been out all day, and 
 still is going his weary rounds. Father is at the 
 Journal office awaiting the returns. He expects to 
 be out very late. By good rights this letter ought 
 to have gone on the 10 o'clock train to-night, but 
 Joe ^ and Sue ^ have been in, and I could not bear to 
 send it without a closing word. 
 
 ' Sidney Perham, Governor of Maine, and later member of 
 Congress. 
 
 * Mr. Sewall, Mr. Manley's grandfather. 
 
 ' Joseph Homan Manlcy, of Augusta, and ]\Irs. IVIanley. Mr. 
 Manley was chairman of the Republican State Committee and later 
 member of the National Committee for Maine. 
 
 r 30 1 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Everyone congratulated your Father on the elec- 
 tion in this city as a personal compliment. How he 
 would feel to have it telegraphed all over the country, 
 as it was to be, that Augusta, the home of Morrill ^ 
 and Blaine, had gone Democratic. But I must close, 
 for I mean after all to get this letter off. 
 
 Good-by my dearest boy. Everybody sends love to 
 you. I cannot particularize. 
 
 Most devotedly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 Home, September 12th, 1871. 
 My dear Walker, — We have had a great treat 
 this afternoon, namely, your first and second batch 
 of London letters, the last date of which was August 
 80th. Father expected to go to Boston to-day, but 
 as his stay is to be quite a serious one — two weeks 
 at least in Pennsylvania — and as there were a great 
 many telegrams concerning election to receive and be 
 sent away, he concluded to defer his departure until 
 to-morrow, so he was here to read out your letters. 
 First they were read in the spare chamber, Susan, 
 M and I the audience. When they were about half 
 through Alice and Que J'aime added themselves to 
 the circle — the former very indignant that we had 
 
 * Senator Lot M. Morrill, Secretary of the Treasury under President 
 Grant, became a resident of Augusta in 1841, forming a law partner- 
 ship with Senator James W. Bradbury and Judge Rice. 
 [31] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 not sent for her to hear the beginning of the narra- 
 tion — then George was told to put old Prince into 
 harness and go for Aunt Caddy. Of course she was 
 more than ready, so at supper we had reading No. 2, 
 and Aunt Hannah coming in during the evening, there 
 was a third reading, your Father officiating every 
 time. We all think you are doing splendidly ; seeing 
 a great deal, and describing all to us with great 
 accuracy and freshness. But do not write any more 
 on both sides of that paper. Your Father says, use 
 it, if you wish, but write only on one side. You have 
 no idea how impatiently we want to read and how 
 slowly we have to feel our way. I have been up to 
 the dam with your Father to-day and also drove 
 around town a little. The election, as you will see 
 by the papers your Father has sent you this evening, 
 has turned out splendidly — a grand vindication of 
 your dearest dad, that of this town is. All the capi- 
 tal of the Democratic party seemed to be centered in 
 him. 
 
 Thursday morning. 
 Dear Walker, — I have just settled with Mary 
 White, who goes home on a two weeks' visit, and find 
 that I owe her so much that I have just $1.85 left in 
 my purse. Hope you feel richer than I do this morn- 
 ing, with all Europe on your shoulders. Your Father 
 [32] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 got off yesterday noon; started in his usual hurry. 
 At the last moment there was the key of his strong 
 box missing; was fortunate enough to find it care- 
 lessly left on the clock. Think of that! At the 
 Journal office there was proof to correct, cars mean- 
 time in. Then there was the bank, and at every 
 corner some one running to stop him. However, he 
 got off cheerful and bright, for he feels that he has 
 conquered gloriously in this town, and I have already 
 had two notes from him, one sent from Brunswick 
 and the other from Portland. Be sure your journal 
 will be faithfully preserved. 
 
 Augusta, September 17th, 1871 
 in the afternoon. 
 
 My deak. Walker, — If I could get a few minutes' 
 
 rehef from attendance upon M I should be too 
 
 happy. All day we have been inseparable. I have 
 
 read to her, have conversed with her, and lastly have 
 
 written you a letter for her since six o'clock this 
 
 morning. We have got Aunt Fortune married to 
 
 Mr. Brunt,^ and Ellen knows that Alice is going to 
 
 die, and now at last Aunt Susan has been knocked up 
 
 from her bed and has taken up the tale. After one 
 
 chapter particularly devoted to John Humphreys, 
 
 M. said to me, " I suppose Mr. John is about such 
 
 » A character in "The Wide Wide World." 
 VOL. 1—3 [ 33 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 a looking young man as Walker." " Whether he was 
 or was not," said I, " I have no doubt he was very 
 interesting looking." " Well," said she, " I do not 
 think he could be any pleasanter than our Walker." 
 
 Home looks very pleasant tins afternoon, though 
 it sadly misses the three Blaine men. To think of 
 J'aime being the only son with whom I can take sweet 
 counsel ! Your Father is, I suppose, to-day either in 
 Elizabeth or Pittsburg, as I had a telegram from 
 
 him yesterday at P . He has pushed on so he 
 
 may get home sooner. At Boston he saw Mr. Fisher 
 and Mr. Caldwell; had long interviews with both 
 gentlemen ; everything exceedingly vague and un- 
 satisfactory ; still I have great, the greatest, con- 
 fidence in your father surmounting all the discour- 
 agements of the situation. 
 
 Augusta, September 19. 
 Tuesday evening. 
 
 My dear Walker, — When I went out to the 
 
 doorstep this afternoon to pick up the mail which 
 
 Lebbins had carelessly flung into the yard, I was 
 
 delighted to see the end of a bluish foreign envelope 
 
 sticking out — a sure sign of a letter from you. And 
 
 by the way, one of the things about your letters which 
 
 pleases your Father especially is the address. I often 
 
 see him showing it and challenging admiration for 
 
 it. Just as I have got seated at the front parlor 
 
 [34] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 window prepared to work my slow and laborious way 
 through the first sheet — which you will remember 
 was written all over on both sides — Aunt Cad comes 
 in, congratulating herself upon her great good luck 
 in always coming in upon your letters, whereas Aunt 
 Emily says she might come down every day in the 
 week and she should never be here to hear one read- 
 ing. Interruption number 1 was put up with, but 
 when number 2, arriving in the shape of Lizzie Thoms, 
 was seen, patience failed, and I beat a retreat to the 
 sitting room. Here, after I had, I am ashamed to 
 say, snubbed Aunt Susan for coming in, with some 
 irrelevant question, I was permitted to go with you 
 on the two or three days' travel you had sent us. All 
 the places associated with Mary and her brother 
 Murray seem full of significance to me, because I have 
 within a few years read Froude, who bestows, of 
 course, great care and research on the Stuart part 
 of the history. I greatly miss the enjoyment of 
 reading your letters with your Father. We have, since 
 they began to come, read them together, and gener- 
 ally alone, and sympathizing with you and with each 
 other to the fullest, we have felt united over you to 
 a wonderful degree. Always may you give as much 
 joy and satisfaction to our hearts as you have in the 
 way you have improved the first two weeks of your 
 stay in Europe. But to go on with my narrative, 
 [35] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 when I had got through, Aunt Cad took them up, 
 reading and rereading every word, for she pays her- 
 self the compliment of thinking that she has a great 
 deal to do with your first start in life, and that you 
 are, in some sort, her own product. 
 
 Thursday evening. 
 
 I am really almost mortified when I think what 
 commonplace family affairs I write about, and here 
 begins another page of what old Mr. Mulliken would 
 call " the same old cat with a different tail," though 
 I perceive my figure does not in the least hold 
 together. 
 
 The afternoon mail brought a letter from Gen. 
 Schenck ^ full of regret that he was not in England 
 to meet you ; saying that he remembered you per- 
 fectly, and that he expects to leave the Continent to- 
 day, and that if anywhere within his jurisdiction after 
 this time, you must not fail to report yourself to him. 
 Uncle Sylvanus has been in, with Charlie's picture, 
 just sent. Again, good-night, — I hope I shall not do 
 as I did last night, wake up after one sound nap, 
 think about you, whom I fancied from your letter, 
 lonely and homesick ; deluge my poor pillow with a 
 perfect flood of tears, and thoroughly waked thereby 
 have finally to get up, light the gas, and pursue sleep, 
 
 > Gen. Robert C. Schenck, for some time member of Congress 
 and later U. S. Minister to England, 1870-1876. 
 [36] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 the rude sailor boy's blessing, through the pages of 
 a dull story. 
 
 The mail also brought me a letter from your 
 Father, written Sunday afternoon, at Elizabeth, 
 where he was wandering over coal fields and thinking 
 sadly of his mother.^ 
 
 Augusta, September 28, 1871. 
 
 My dear Walker, — Tuesday evening, just be- 
 fore eight, I got a telegram from your Father saying 
 that he was on the train due at that hour, and would 
 expect to find George at the depot. . . . The night 
 was stormy, and George had been dismissed till the 
 next day. Of course there was not a bit of meat in 
 the house. However, it was everything to have him 
 coming home. Mary flew down the lane, and George's 
 father came to the rescue and harnessed. A good 
 supper was knocked up with the help of Mons, and 
 at fifteen minutes past eight your dear dad was 
 comfortably housed, sitting before a blazing fire in 
 the back parlor. He had spent Monday night at 
 Hamilton in company with the Stowes, having, of 
 course, a most brilliant time, Harriet Beecher being 
 in one of her most communicative, social moods. 
 Emmons went back to Andover Monday morning 
 early, looking, your father says, as well as he ever 
 saw him in his life, and appearing like a good boy 
 and a faithful scholar. He thinks he shall lay up 
 
 ^ Mr. Blaine's mother died the previous spring at Brownsville, Pa. 
 [37] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 on his allowance! One hundred dollars Is due him 
 already, though, of course, he has not paid his 
 board. 
 
 Augusta, Thursday afternoon, 
 October 5th 
 
 My dear Walker, — It is a very close sultry 
 afternoon, and although there is not a particle of 
 fire in the furnace, I find myself very uncomfortable 
 sitting at my sewing in my room, so I have come 
 down into the back parlor for the sake of the fresher 
 air. In the library Mr. Sherman is diligently at 
 work making an accurate list of committees, together 
 with the resignations of new Members and the 
 *' outs " — a very nice job indeed. And I heard him 
 tell your Father yesterday he thought he had gone 
 over the names in his anxiety some thirty times. In 
 the kitchen Mary and Maggie sit at their sewing, 
 and in the nursery Bedlam under the generalship of 
 Ahce, has evidently broken loose. There are gathered 
 Que J'aime and M and Alice and Eliza, and as their 
 leader stands in awe of no one, the liberty I permit 
 soon becomes license. Susan has gone over to Nancy's 
 to call on Mrs. Pike. Out in the yard George plods 
 away raking the leaves — a perfectly foolish business, 
 as they come from the trees faster than he can pos- 
 sibly clear them from the walks. Your dear Father, 
 I am happy to say, has been out for a walk, and as he 
 [38] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 turned his face down townward, I am in hopes his 
 admiring constituency will have the pleasure of see- 
 ing him. I think perhaps he never stood so high with 
 them before, certainly he never stood higher. This 
 morning I drove down town with Que J'aime to get 
 the darling some boots, also to canvass the field a httle 
 before making the change in his clothes ; called at 
 Aunt Emily's and took her down with us. At half 
 past 12, just as we were turning our faces homeward, 
 your Father hailed us from Mr. Hendee's to come over 
 and have J'aime's picture taken. His dress was torn 
 and his boots shabby, but I hope we got something 
 that will at least remind you of the little brother. 
 Your Father also sat, and Alice, who came in on her 
 way from school, wanted to, but it was too late. 
 
 This morning we had a letter from Uncle Jacob ^ 
 saying that he had sent the girl with the broken arm 
 fifty pounds of Delaware grapes which she was to 
 share with Alice and J'aime. She is getting along 
 finely, does not even wear a sling. Since I wrote you, 
 your Father has returned from Boston. He was there 
 only one day, but in that time bought me blankets, 
 two fenders, got my mended jewelry from Shreve 
 & Stanwood where it has been ever since you sailed, 
 and to my great surprise he got home on the 4 o'clock 
 train yesterday afternoon, his beloved Kingiake 
 
 * Jacob Stanwood, Mrs. Blaine's older brother. 
 [39] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 (Crimea) still accompanying him. You see, Walker, 
 I write you the most trivial details of our life. I go 
 out but little, and even if I went more, my narra- 
 tives would still run on the same lay. I wrote just 
 such letters to your Father when he was away as you 
 are, and he said the very sight of the home names was 
 a refreshment to him. Your Father thinks it not 
 advisable at all for you to go to Germany with the 
 Washburn boys. As soon as we hear from you in 
 Paris he will write to the Minister ^ about you. 
 
 Augusta, October 8th, 
 Sunday evening. 
 
 My dear Walker, — I have just written a note 
 
 to Mr. Hale,2 giving him Cousin Abby's address. 
 
 He wishes to send her cards for his approaching 
 
 » EHhu B. Washburne of Illinois. Mr. Washburne was one of the 
 few foreign ministers who stayed in Paris during the Commune. The 
 late Hon. R. R. Hitt of Illinois, chairman of the Foreign Affairs 
 Committee, said of him in the House, April 17, 1894: "All the other 
 diplomats, every one of the lords, and counts and marquises hurried 
 away; Washburne stayed — stayed through it all. The stars and 
 garters all disappeared, but the stars and stripes stood fast. His house 
 was pierced with shot. The bombshells fell all about the Legation, 
 but he never failed one day nor one hour from his post. He had the 
 respect and confidence of both the French and German governments 
 when they trustetl no one else. For weeks he was the only means of 
 communication between the contending forces, a pure politician 
 turned diplomat, a dignified, courageous, discreet American minister." 
 
 2 Hon. Eugene Hale, at that time representing the Fourth Maine 
 District in the National Congress, later U. S. Senator, married the 
 daughter of Senator Zachariah Chandler of Michigan. 
 [40] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 wedding, which comes off on December 31st. I heard 
 from him yesterday — the first time for a long while. 
 He says he is very much in love, and I suppose that 
 must excuse him. Also, I have written to Cousin 
 Abby, from whom I had a bright and racy letter this 
 morning. 
 
 Monday evening, before tea. ' 
 
 Another day has come and gone, dear Walker, 
 since I made the above miserable attempt at writing 
 you a home letter, and yet no line from you. A week 
 yesterday morning since we heard from you. Your 
 Father sits in the parlor toasting his feet over the 
 fire, a suspicious dampness having settled upon them 
 in the garden, where he and Tom Sherman have been 
 exercising or exorcising, which you will. I have just 
 been saying to him — "Am I not better to thee than 
 ten sons.? " " Yes," said he, " and if you are better 
 than twenty, I still want the sons." I thought he 
 was uneasy about you, but he says he is not ; still, 
 my dear boy, be particular to send off a letter if of 
 ever so few lines, by frequent mails. 
 
 Your Father and Mr. Sherman are desperately 
 busy over the committees. It is the secret of the 
 power of the Speaker, and like everything else worth 
 anything, is a rock of offense and a block of stum- 
 bling to many, though to others the chief corner 
 stone. 
 
 [41] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Friday your Father expects to go to Boston to 
 participate in the honors to be paid the President, 
 all of which he will see and a part of which be, as 
 he is himself the city's guest. Tuesday he expects 
 simply to come through town with the President on 
 his way to Bangor. The President stops, I believe, 
 about twenty minutes only. He, your Father, hates 
 it, but I suppose it would not do for the President 
 to come into Maine and the Speaker not be here to 
 see him. Mr. Morrill gets rid of the whole thing 
 by starting to Kansas to see M . . . But I sup- 
 pose this information will be more interesting to 
 Mons than to you. I have had a short letter from 
 that youth — as Mrs. Prescott called him — Friday 
 afternoon. The weather had been warmer, so they 
 had had a very good chance at baseball. This was 
 really the gist of the letter. I sent him, or rather, 
 Mr. Sherman did, at my request, on Saturday the 
 Anabasis and Virgil. 
 
 Do you get the Kennebec Journal? Your Dada 
 says he sends it to you every week. I try to keep 
 you posted about everything, but happily little in the 
 shape of news occurs ; no news is good news, you 
 know. We want to hear from you very much at 
 Paris. Do not fail to chronicle every little thing 
 about yourself as well as the larger things. It in- 
 terests me to hear of your cravats. I think of you 
 [42] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 constantly; never wake in the night that my first 
 impression is not of you. 
 
 Be a good boy. Good-night, 
 
 Most devotedly, 
 
 MOTHEE. 
 
 AuGTTSTA, October 14, 1871. 
 Saturday morning, just after breakfast. 
 
 My dear Walker, — I got as far as the date of 
 a letter to you last Thursday afternoon, but just 
 as I got so far. Aunt Emily came in, which of course 
 delayed me for the time, and everything here being 
 very cheerful, she concluded to stay to supper, and 
 when that ceremony was over, I found that no trains 
 were to leave for no one knew how long, all culverts 
 being washed away by the vast quantities of rain, 
 more having fallen in a given time at the hospital 
 than there has been any record of for the last twenty 
 years. So, though it hurt my feelings terribly, I 
 was compelled to let the mail start for Europe with- 
 out any missive good or bad, for my dear boy. The 
 heavy storm broke up all the water works of Mr. 
 Johnson back of the State House, falHng down in 
 floods; the water bringing with it any quantity of 
 earth, has thoroughly altered the topography of the 
 country about Canada Brook, filHng the hollow and 
 making of it a large flat. There, — I 'm glad to be 
 [43] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 through with that sentence, having been interrupted 
 during its laborious construction more times than I 
 have fingers. 
 
 Your Father goes to Boston to-day at 12 to meet 
 the President. He stops at the St. James, and has 
 written Emmons to meet him there this evening. I 
 have had a letter from him this morning full of the 
 Chicago calamity. 
 
 M and J'aime are playing on the sofa. The 
 latter has been trying all the morning for a cat. I 
 heard him before breakfast on the porch calling for 
 George to go out and find him a cat. There are so 
 many on the premises that they go out vei'y much 
 as one would hunt an elephant in Africa. Sure 
 enough, he came in a few minutes ago hugging up 
 a very fair specimen of the feline race. This is a 
 specimen of M's mancEuvring to get the kitten : — 
 *' O J'aime, you be the mother and play that you are 
 out shopping and buy something for the baby's birth- 
 day, a little gold chain or something. I '11 be the 
 nurse and stay at home and take care of the baby. 
 Here, darling, come to nursey." And J'aime, over- 
 powered by the argument, surrenders, and M sits 
 on the sofa fondling and enjoying to her heart's 
 content. 
 
 I don't know how much you may have heard of the 
 Chicago fire. From the prominent newspaper ac- 
 [44] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 counts, alas, there never was, and God grant there 
 never may be anything like it. 
 
 Sunday afternoon, October 15. 
 
 All the family, Eliza and J'aime excepted, went 
 out to church to-day. Heard Professor Barbour ^ 
 preach on the Chicago fire, after which a contribu- 
 tion was taken up. Your Father has already sub- 
 scribed and paid $250., and to-day Alice had $5. and 
 I put in $20 more, and again I shall give when they 
 take up collections for old residents of Augusta. Un- 
 expectedly a double dividend or something of that 
 kind came in yesterday morning from the Eastern 
 Express, and I think it a direct intimation of provi- 
 dence that we should give it to Chicago ; anyhow, it 
 is going that way. Then we shall send off large boxes 
 of clothing, new and half worn. Think of the winter 
 which is before those crowds of people, — any quan- 
 tity of work but no shelter. In five years — your 
 Father thinks less — Chicago will be rebuilt. 
 
 I drove your Father to the station yesterday at the 
 usual hour ; whipped up to Harrington's and bought 
 him some black gloves, as I did not think a hat in 
 mourning and colored gloves looked well together. 
 Came back to the depot and found that the cars were 
 thirty minutes late at least, so Dada and I whipped up 
 the old nag and came back for a lunch. I flew 
 » The Rev. W. M. Barbour, D.D., of Yale CoUege. 
 [45] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 around and got up a cup of tea, cold meat and toast, 
 a delicious pie. M and J'aime crowded in to the 
 feast. I ate and waited on the others, and when in 
 twenty minutes we started again for the train the 
 whole family agreed that they had dined. This time 
 we and the train — a very heavy one — reached the 
 starting point together, and your Father on enter- 
 ing the Pullman had the pleasure of being greeted 
 
 by Mrs. F , never a favorite of his, who, sick 
 
 and alone, had left Belfast in the morning starting 
 for Washington. I was sorry for him, not for her 
 mind you, but could afford no help. So I took in 
 Mr. Bradbury ^ and started for home ; occupied my- 
 self in coming up the hill, while Mr. Bradbury dis- 
 coursed, in trying to decide which was the slowest, 
 he, I, or old Prince. As I had only a lonesome after- 
 noon before me, decided to stop and call at Aunt 
 Emily's. Found them just sitting down to dinner, 
 a very nice dinner, roast chicken, etc., but did not 
 join, though pressed to do so. I suppose Mons and 
 your Father are to-day at the St. James. Tuesday 
 the President goes to Bangor, stops here about 20 
 minutes. I shall go to the depot and get a passing 
 word with your dear Dada, who is to keep with the 
 President till Friday. 
 
 » Hon. James W. Bradbury, Senator from Maine, 1847-1853. 
 
 [46] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Monday evening, 8 o'clock. 
 
 I have heard from your Father this afternoon. He 
 reached Boston at 8-^ Saturday evening. Found 
 Emmons and an alderman waiting for him. Saw the 
 President, the P. M., Mrs. Grant and Nellie and the 
 boy. Breakfasted with them, then went to Dr. Put- 
 nam's church, Roxbury. Emmons and the Grant 
 boy went with Collector Russell to attend service on 
 the School Ship. I believe I never was in Boston on 
 Sunday that Mr. Russell did not appear to invite us 
 to that School Ship. At six they were to dine at 
 Mr. Hooper's. 
 
 Que J'aime fell Saturday morning and nearly broke 
 his precious nose, catching his feet in one of the 
 thousand holes in the old nursery carpet, so I have 
 had it pulled up in a hurry. 
 
 We took in $250 in our church yesterday, the 
 Episcopal $700, the Universalists $350 ; but many 
 of our society subscribed on the papers, as your 
 Father, Mr. Johnson and the Potters. O the suffer- 
 ing, the appalling suffering of the Chicago panic! 
 Most devotedly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 Augusta, Thursday evening, 
 October 19. Before tea. 
 
 My dear Walkeb, — The evening for sending of? 
 
 a letter to you has again come round, and not one 
 
 [47] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 word have I written. But a few lines chronicling the 
 uneventful days since Monday I will at least write. 
 As usual, when I begin a letter to you, Emily has 
 just come in, but as she has turned aside into the 
 parlor, I will leave Aunt Susan to entertain her while 
 I sit on in the hbrary and write. The little family 
 is well. M. has been to school all day ; is fast 
 getting back to her health before the break, though 
 the stiff arm is a perpetual reminder of how hard it 
 is for man to make God's work good when we are so 
 unfortunate as to mar his perfect mechanism. She 
 and J'aime are in the kitchen keeping warm and listen- 
 ing to Eliza, who is crooning over some old Irish tales 
 to them. 
 
 Father is in Bangor, accompanying the President. 
 I took M. and J'aime and drove as near the depot 
 as I dared Tuesday afternoon. There was a great 
 crowd, and Grant was as miserable as is his wont 
 on such occasions. I did not see him, as I sat high 
 up the hill in the carriage, neither did I see the 
 other dignitaries who were present. But I saw, best 
 of all, your Father, who, as soon as he had introduced 
 the President to Mayor Evelyth, hunted us up and 
 spent a delightful quarter of an hour at the carriage. 
 Joe says there were many comparisons drawn between 
 the bearing of the President and the Speaker. Prob- 
 ably the latter never stood higher in the affections of 
 [43] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 his fellow citizens than he does at this moment. After 
 an embarrassed stay of fifteen minutes, the cars left. 
 I think from the newspaper accounts that the whole 
 celebration at Bangor must be a great success. Your 
 Father told me that he dined at Mr. Hooper's Sun- 
 day evening with Agassiz, Longfellow, Holmes, Lowell 
 and other savants ; en j oyed it extremely. 
 
 When the show was over Aunt Caddie came down 
 to tea, and we were fearfully disappointed not to 
 receive a letter from you. Your Father could not 
 believe that I had none for him, and now as late as 
 Tuesday afternoon, none has come. You cannot tell 
 how anxious it makes me not to hear. I knew when 
 I gave my consent to your going to Europe that 
 necessarily anxious days and nights must be mine, 
 but if you are well, you ought at least twice a week 
 to send off a few lines. It is dehghtful — nothing 
 could be more so, to have long letters from you, but 
 a line would keep me from imagining all sorts of 
 disasters. 
 
 A letter came from Mr. Hale Tuesday. He is laid 
 up with a lame leg ; got hurt trying to get on a car 
 at Portland ; cannot be in Bangor, as any risk now 
 endangers the limb for Kfe. Also have had letters 
 from Mary Wilson and Martha, asking to be taken 
 into service next winter; also from James Jackson; 
 nothing from Robert. As is my custom, I dread to 
 VOL.1 —4 [ 49 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 lake up the gay life in Washington. Shall like it 
 no doubt when my dresses are made and I am well 
 initiated. I suppose you see by the American papers 
 all the Catacazy ^ gossip. I don't think his wife has 
 anything to do with the trouble, as it is really all 
 diplomatic, but it seems very hard on her. 
 
 O Walker, that Chicago calamity grows ever more 
 heartbreaking. Five hundred children they say — • 
 though I do not believe it — have been born in the 
 open air. A great many, happily, have not lived. 
 
 Good-night, and God bless you, 
 
 Devotedly, 
 
 MOTHEE. 
 
 Augusta, October 23. 
 My deae Walkee, — This is a summer day witK 
 us, no wrappings needed, a haze hke that of Indian 
 summer hanging over all the out door world. Your 
 Father sits here at the table toiling away over his 
 committees. Hard, hard work! As fast as he gets 
 them arranged, just so fast some after considera- 
 tion comes up which disarranges not one but many, 
 and over tumbles the whole row of bricks. It is a 
 matter in which no one can help him. 
 
 » Constantin de Catacazy, Russian Minister, recalled at request of 
 the U. S. for "his personal abuse of government officials" and "per- 
 sistent interferences . . . with the relations between the U. S. and 
 other powers." (President Grant's Third Annual Message.) 
 [50] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 All the family is as usual this morning. What 
 your Father and I are doing you know. Susan is, 
 I judge from the odor, cake making. M. has gone 
 off hanging on the arm of Maudie, precisely as she 
 did " before the fall " ; J'aime is out with Eliza shuf- 
 fling through the autumn leaves ; Alice at school ; 
 and the girls, where all New England sisters of toil 
 — to use Mrs. Dalton's term — are to-day, at the 
 washtub. The doorbell has been ringing the whole 
 morning, your Father seeing not one in twenty who 
 call. So now you can picture to yourself the menage 
 precisely as it stands. 
 
 Saturday was made memorable by the arrival of 
 your first Paris letter. You cannot think how 
 anxious we were to hear. As I told you in my last, 
 your Father could not believe that I had not a letter 
 for him when I met him Tuesday, still he would not 
 permit me to express the least anxiety ; but when 
 he came Friday afternoon and still no letter, he could 
 not quite conceal his own anxiety. Of course we cal- 
 culated for the despatch bag, and I should have 
 allowed for one day more before quite giving up, 
 but when I came out of my room at the ringing of 
 the breakfast bell Saturday morning, I was greeted 
 by the j oy f ul words — "a letter of the longest kind 
 from Walker ! " Down we sat at the table, and while 
 I poured coffee and tea and otherwise waited on the 
 [51] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 children, your Father read ; then when he had read 
 about half, I took the manuscript and read out while 
 he ate his breakfast. With thankful hearts we read 
 of your getting to Paris and among friends. Now I 
 shall feel entirely differently than I have while you 
 were in London entirely isolated. We like your 
 arrangement about school very much. Of course 
 it is an experiment, but I hope it will work satisfac- 
 torily ; at any rate, you will not fail to master 
 French. 
 
 Friday morning I had a telegram from your Father 
 saying he would not be at home until afternoon. He 
 had left Bangor the night before with the President 
 and gone through to Portland, then after a wearisome 
 procession, at one o'clock he took leave of His Ex- 
 cellency and set his face homewards, and here he now: 
 is and here he expects to stay for at least a week. 
 I suppose there never was anything like the time they 
 had in Bangor ; the speeches were good as they could 
 be, underlying the speeches the best of feeling. Hos- 
 pitaUty flowed like a river, and not one untoward 
 circumstance marred the perfect whole. Your Father 
 stopped with Mr. Hamlin,^ and was obliged to borrow 
 his host's dress coat to wear to one dinner and recep- 
 tion. Don't you think he must have looked funny? 
 
 * Hannibal Hamlin of Maine; U. S. Senator, and Vice-President 
 in President Lincoln's first term. 
 
 [52] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 As Hannibal never wears coats of any other cut, of 
 course he had one in reserve for himself. 
 
 We are still continually sympathizing with Chi- 
 cago. The M's got back to the city Saturday even- 
 ing. Sunday night they went to bed; were called 
 up about an hour after midnight, and taking what 
 clotliing they could carry in their arms, fled for 
 their lives. One hundred and twenty took refuge 
 in the house where they found shelter. There they 
 stayed for a few days, sleeping anywhere where 
 they could improvise a bed and sharing with each 
 other whatever they could obtain. Now they are 
 three miles out of the city, will stay there for the 
 present. 
 
 This afternoon Aunt Susan has been to the vestry 
 to devise ways and means for sending clothes to Wis- 
 consin and Michigan to the burned out people there. 
 Nothing can exceed the misery and desolation of those 
 regions. 
 
 Your Father is waiting to take my letter to the 
 postoffice, so I must say good-night to my dear boy. 
 I long to see you — no words can express how much. 
 I have every confidence that you will not abuse your 
 Father's indulgence. If you make any mistake, be 
 sure to write me or him all about it. Do not be 
 afraid under any circumstances of giving us your 
 fullest confidence. When your Father was in Bangor 
 [53] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 he saw a great deal of Rear Admiral Alden.^ He sails 
 
 very soon for Europe — takes out General Sherman. 
 
 His ship is the Wabash, the flagship of the European 
 
 squadron. He has invited you to go with him, but 
 
 your Father felt obliged to decline because he wants 
 
 you to improve your stay in Paris by the acquisition 
 
 of French. Good-night, be a good boy, and Heaven 
 
 bless and keep you, — 
 
 Mother. 
 
 Augusta, November 12, 1871. 
 My dear Walker, — As you see by the date, 
 this is Sunday morning, and a small portion of my 
 large family is just filing out to church — Susan 
 and Alice. Real genuine and deep snow covers the 
 ground, and as the best carriage is essentially a 
 summer bird, and the old admits all the mud and 
 slush to their dresses, they walk. Meanwhile I sit 
 at home in my own chamber at the east window and 
 write to my dear boy in Paris. I think how the very 
 last time I went to church he also went to the American 
 
 * James Alden, U. S. N., who led Farragut's fleet at the Battle of 
 Mobile Bay. In 1871, at Admiral Alden's invitation, Gen. W. T. Sher- 
 man, then General of the Army, with the consent of the President and 
 Secretary of War, accompanied hiui for a cruise in the Mediterranean 
 on the U. S. Frigate Wabash. General Sherman arranged to be gone 
 five months but made the condition that he should be in readiness to 
 return within thirty days' uutice by telegram. — The Sherman Letters; 
 edited by Rachel Sherman Thorndike. 1894. 
 [54] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Chapel in Paris. The next Sunday morning long be- 
 fore the bells were ringing the little sister was here, 
 and of course public devotions were and are sus- 
 pended for a season. This morning she hes here on 
 the bed, quite a girl I assure you. The only other 
 room occupant is a dreadful trial to me. I call her 
 everything I can think of — Goody, a Witch, a Crone, 
 an Old Hag, a Circe, a Fateful Sister; in fact, she 
 is only a nurse, but if you will transpose the n into 
 a c you will hit her character much better. I have 
 had seven children, but I never longed before with all 
 my heart to be well enough to wait on myself. Her 
 name is Burns, and she says one of my boys used to 
 drive her cow home from pasture for her. Of course 
 it was Emmons, I am morally certain you never did 
 anything of the kind. Just here comes a rush. The 
 door flies open as though a whirlwind had set its 
 shoulder against it, and J'aime projects himself into 
 the room, — almost as fat as Emmons, growing hand- 
 somer every day, and fascinating by every word he 
 speaks. 
 
 I have little to chronicle beside the quiet annals 
 of a convalescent's room. George's grandmother is 
 dead. She died Friday afternoon. As she was very 
 old and very crazy, so much so that the family often 
 feared for their lives, there did not seem to be any 
 good reason why they should send to me for flowers, 
 [55] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 but there they were, my delicate chrysanthemums, 
 blooming in my vestibule windows, and the eternal 
 fitness of things, to their comprehension, required 
 that they should fade and die on granny's coffin, and 
 Susan cut them off untimely. Poor flowers, high- 
 bred things, I really felt for them in their uncon- 
 genial end! 
 
 Father left for New York Wednesday. I could 
 hardly let him go, I needed his reviving society so 
 much, but he had wool and cotton manufacturers to 
 meet in Boston ; dinners, breakfasts and luncheons, 
 all or some, to give and take in New York, and 
 over and above all pressures to resist or permit 
 of congressional committees. He had to go, but felt 
 that my desire to keep him was all right and natural, 
 so, with a man's appreciation of a woman's nature, 
 he promised to buy silk dresses for M. and Alice, 
 to say nothing of half a dozen for myself. When I 
 look at the bed and the little heap of flannel on it, 
 laces, silks, feathers and gew-gaws of every descrip- 
 tion resolve themselves into preposterousness ; but 
 your Father is strong of will and I am weak, and 
 he is determined that I shall be in society this winter, 
 and I know I shall. Very few women with a baby 
 two weeks old would sit up and write a letter — I 
 never expect to have a daughter-in-law to do it, — 
 but there is something within which forces me up, 
 [56] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 recuperativenesss, I suppose it is, for I remember an 
 old country doctor telling me, when I was a year older 
 than Flo Gibbs on her birthday, that I had more 
 recuperative power than he had ever seen in any 
 other person. Since your Father left I have heard 
 from him several times. He spent Thursday even- 
 ing at Aunt Eliza's, — everyone pleasant and pleased 
 to see him, but he sighs after his own bright fire- 
 side, indescribably dear to him. You cannot think 
 how interesting all your letter was to me. I enjoy 
 descriptions of public objects, but infinitely more the 
 least thing about yourself and your personal sur- 
 roundings. Your birds elicited a great cry — " Two 
 
 canaries, O mother ! " I recollect the H girls 
 
 very well, though I never was introduced to them. 
 Their dress at Willard's was very nondescript. I 
 well remember their red slippers, also I think they 
 wore red satin jerkins, or something of that sort. 
 
 Your Father will be dehghted to find that you are 
 getting under headway in French. Let nothing keep 
 you from earnest application. O how fond I was of 
 study when I was your age! I never had any gift 
 at writing, but other gifts I certainly had. In this 
 deficiency I am sorry to say that Mons is my own 
 child. He writes me little, short, unsatisfactory 
 letters, usually mostly taken up with acknowledging 
 a letter of my own, and ending always one way. 
 [57] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 According to his own story he is a perfect Mussul- 
 man for prayers — the evening bell invariably calling 
 him away from his letter. When you receive this 
 letter he will probably be at home spending his 
 Thanksgiving vacation. The Wyman children are 
 getting ready for him. I see they give Alice two 
 apples every day. 
 
 Greatly to your Father's discomfort, I cannot go 
 on until after the hoHdays. On this I take my 
 stand, and he has to submit. He will sleep in the 
 house, have a servant or two, and take his meals at 
 Wormley's,^ and the menage will open with the New 
 Year. 
 
 Good-by now. If this does not hurt me, I will add 
 to my letter to-morrow. Can see Eliza hustling 
 J'aime into the house in slippers, his ruffles en des- 
 habille and a Paris sacque on his shoulders. He got 
 out for a snow-ball. Think of that, November 12th. 
 
 Monday afternoon, 4-J. 
 Dear Walker, — I resume my letter of j'^esterday, 
 though I have httle more that is new to tell. Have 
 just had the pleasure of reading two letters from 
 your Father, one written yesterday afternoon and 
 the other in the evening. This seems very quick 
 
 * " Wonnley's," a hotel on the southwest corner of H and Fifteenth 
 Streets. 
 
 [58] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 time from New York. He does not expect to reach 
 home before the very close of the week. The Presi- 
 dent's whole family, General and Senator Sherman,^ 
 are there to see the Wabash sail. They had been to 
 see Lord Dundreary by the same actor you saw in 
 London ; ^ said it seemed to bring you very near. 
 Was exceedingly anxious to get your letter. I sent 
 it to him by the early mail of the morning. 
 
 The children have been out all this afternoon mak- 
 ing a snow man. In everything of tliis kind Alice 
 is really artistic and this afternoon she has surpassed 
 herself. The baby is crying, so I have got to get off 
 my letter at once, so goodby. As soon as your 
 Father comes to instruct me in the mysteries of the 
 despatch bag, I will send Bret Harte and periodicals. 
 Now good-by, 
 
 Devotedly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 November 26, 1871. 
 Sunday morning. 
 
 My dear Walkee, — A half hour alone with the 
 little sister while she takes her nap gives me an op- 
 
 • Senator John Sherman, of Ohio, General Sherman's brother. 
 
 ^ The elder Sothern enjoyed a tremendous vogue in those days in 
 the part of Lord Dundreary in "Our American Cousin," by Tom 
 Taylor, first produced in 1858 at Laura Keene's Theatre in New York. 
 It was during a performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's 
 Theatre, Washington, that President Lincoln was assassinated by 
 Wilkes Booth, April 14, 1865. 
 
 [59] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 portunity of at least commencing a letter to you. 
 Down stairs Mr. Sherman is trying to put some 
 final touches to the copying of the committees. Alas, 
 if final touches are not soon put to them I am afraid 
 your Father will give out entirely. For the first time 
 in his hfe he says he feels a strain upon him which 
 affects his brain. His head aches badly every day, 
 and at night his circulation is feeble and he is very 
 languid. Tomorrow he leaves for Washington, get- 
 ting there Thursday or Friday. He made his usual 
 preparation last night by having up a barber at the 
 house. The door-bell was ringing continually and 
 people calling on him all the time, so after the ton- 
 sorial professor had been introduced to my room and 
 a large linen spread down for the protection of the 
 carpet, Emmons sat down. His hair had been cut 
 very lately in Boston, but it certainly needed clip- 
 ping, and then Mons was not averse to saving one 
 fee. When he was through we put J'aime into his 
 high chair. The pretty little fellow would not permit 
 himself to wink. When he was cropped, we had up 
 father. It is a work of art now to cut your Father's 
 hair and leave at the same time enough on the head. 
 Happily however this desirable end was achieved, and 
 at ten Monsieur took his leave with $5 out of my 
 pocket book for himself and $3 for Dennis Berry, 
 that poor handless man. Emmons got home, as you 
 [60] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 know, Tuesday afternoon. When he was going to 
 bed he came to the stairway and called down to Susan 
 to know if she would mend his trousers. Of course 
 she would, but when she took hold of them she was 
 perfectly appalled to find one side of the seat almost 
 gone, and not a scrap to mend with, and these were 
 all he had — his new ones not having come from 
 Boston. Your old clothes — all which have not gone 
 to Wisconsin or Michigan — were overhauled, and, 
 
 good luck, one pair of Scotch grey trousers did 
 turn up, which Emmons by never putting his hands 
 into his pockets, has managed to wear. What would 
 he have done without them ? — for the Boston ones 
 proved so small they had to be sent back. You 
 will be amazed to see how large Emmons is ; his appe- 
 tite too is immense. He insists this time on trying 
 the club. His Father is opposed to it, but he says 
 he is bound to save on his board. 
 
 Mrs. Stowell is dead, — she died Wednesday. 
 Emmons' report came by the morning's mail, and is, 
 
 1 believe, quite satisfactory. What did not come 
 and what your Father, Alice, Emmons and I were all 
 watching at the window for for a full half hour be- 
 fore Henry Breen came along, was a blue enveloped 
 letter from you. Your Father would allow no one to 
 go to the door for it but himself. But alas, though 
 there was a very bright letter from Gail Hamilton, 
 
 [61] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 a racy one from Horace White,^ and a gossipy one 
 from Joe Manley, who had ridden over a western rail- 
 way with Colfax ^ and interviewed him, there was 
 nothing from across the water. The detention by the 
 despatch bag is sometimes very much longer than it 
 should be. 
 
 1 have had three dinners this last week got ready 
 for Governor Cobum^ — Tuesday, Thursday and Fri- 
 day. Friday he came, and your Father and he had 
 a very satisfactory business interview. Yesterday 
 John Rice was here to dinner. I seem to have resumed 
 all my cares. The baby is four weeks old to-day. 
 My nurse has been gone a week. I go down to all 
 my meals, cheer your Father if he is down-hearted, 
 coax him out of medicines and into food, am all 
 things to all moods. Then I do the marketing 
 through George, overlook sewing, keep the children 
 in abeyance as much as I can, and over all and 
 through all care for the Httle baby, who is too young, 
 I think, to be trusted to a nurse. I was never in- 
 tended for anything but an old fashioned woman, aU 
 
 » At that time editor and part proprietor of the Chicago Tribune; 
 editorial writer on New York Evening Post from 1883 to 1903. 
 
 2 Schuyler Colfax, Member of Congress from Indiana, Speaker of 
 the House, and at this time Vice-President under Grant. Though 
 exonerated in the Credit Mobilier investigation he retired from poHtics, 
 and devoted himself to giving lectures, his most popular subjects being 
 "Across the Continent" and "Abraham Lincoln." 
 
 • Abner Coburn, Governor of Maine 1862-64. 
 
 [62] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 hands. The modern idea, and the better, is to be the 
 head, and let others serve for hands. 
 
 November 29, 1871 Wednesday evening. 
 
 Dear Walker, — It has just occurred to me that 
 to-morrow being Thanksgiving, I shall have no time 
 for writing letters, so although it is already late, 
 I will sit up long enough to write a few hnes. For- 
 tunately I am not in France, so I shall not have to 
 go to bed to keep warm. It is a stinging cold night, 
 however, the wind blowing a hurricane and carrying 
 away apparently all the heat we should have witliin 
 walls. Emmons has gone to a Thanksgiving ball at 
 Granite Hall, so of course he will not be at home 
 for a long while. I coaxed him into letting me get 
 him a pair of pantaloons made by Bosworth. They 
 turned out so much handsomer than Callows', that 
 he preferred them for the ball ; also, I got him sus- 
 penders, which helped his appearance very much; 
 and at the last moment I produced an old pair of 
 gloves of yours, which I had providentially put away 
 when I was taking care of your leavings. He took 
 a dollar for his own ticket and another for Jimmie 
 Stinson's, and his own supper, so I presume he will 
 turn up to-morrow morning with a good headache. 
 His present purpose is to get up to an 8-^ break- 
 [63] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 fast at Aunt Emily's to-morrow morning, but I shall 
 let him sleep till noon If he wants to. He and Alice 
 are also to go to Aunt Em's to dinner. I will send 
 her a turkey and other things, and they and Aunt 
 Augusta's family and Aunt Hannah's, with the 
 Mason's come here to supper. Aunt Susan has been 
 in the kitchen all day, so you can imagine the turkeys 
 and oysters, the pies and salads, the cake and coffee, 
 which long before you are reading this letter will have 
 gone to join the innumerable company of Thanks- 
 giving suppers. 
 
 This morning, to my great delight — for I had 
 given up expecting anything from the Scotia — your 
 two letters in reply to your Father's turned up. I at 
 once telegraphed him to the Parker House, saying 
 that his surmises were correct, both as to person, 
 money and address, — calling no names, as a tele- 
 gram always seems to be semi-public. His anxiety 
 I knew was great, and he could not get your letter 
 until he reached Washington, as he was to leave at 
 3 this afternoon for New York. He will be so pleased 
 at his own shrewd guessing that he will not be very 
 severe on you, but Mr. S. will not escape. I want 
 to know nothing more about him. To borrow of 
 a boy of 16 traveling for educational purposes under 
 his father's Instructions, and to borrow while he was 
 inviting him to his house, — oh, the bad taste! I do 
 [64] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 not think one hard thought of you, but what would 
 I tliink of your Father doing as Mr. S. has done.? 
 Your letters were admirable. I never had a fear 
 that you had done anything wrong. You made a 
 great mistake in not writing about it, and a mistake 
 in not declining to lend to Mr. S., but I never for one 
 moment feared that you had been wicked. If the 
 money is refunded, it will make no difference in my 
 estimate of the man. 
 
 Tom got away yesterday afternoon, a happy man, 
 as your father had told him he need not go to Wash- 
 ington until New Years. We have had quite a sud- 
 den death in our neighborhood. Callie Breen, nee 
 Williams, died at four o'clock this morning of ty- 
 phoid fever. I only heard of her sickness yesterday. 
 She was 22, so it is two years since she took care of 
 Alice. I saw her to-day, and the color of her race 
 stood out very markedly on her dead face. 
 
 I have just been reading of the execution of Rossel.-' 
 
 * Louis Nathaniel Rossel, Chief of Legion of the 17th Arrondisse- 
 ment of Paris, formerly Captain of Engineers at Metz, whence he 
 escaped after the surrender of that fortress and was made Colonel by 
 Gambetta ; being reduced to his former rank by Thiers, he deserted 
 the government and joined the Commune. He was chief of the com- 
 mission of barricades, and one of the few leaders of the Commune that 
 had any military ability. He was unalile to agree with the Comite 
 Centrale and was subsequently imprisoned, but escaped. After the 
 Commune he was executed at the age of twenty-eight, for bearing 
 arms against France. Of the prisoners taken after the Commune 
 VOL. 1—5 [ 65 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 I know nothing about the pohtics of France, but 
 how dreadful that people must still be condemned 
 in that unhappy country. 
 
 Mrs. Warren Fisher has another daughter — a 
 great disappointment to her, as they are anxious 
 to have a son and this is the fourth daughter. I 
 am sorry to say that Mr. Fisher seems to be fast 
 losing in the esteem of all good men. Every new 
 discovery your Father makes only seems to show a 
 baseness still deeper. Will he ever reach the bottom 
 of his treachery towards himself.'' 
 
 Emmons has been skating all day — fun for him, 
 but hard fare for the horse as he rides to his pleasure 
 grounds, blankets poor old Prince, and comes home 
 only when he is hungry. I expect he takes girls, as 
 he has the best carriage. He is so kind and pleasant 
 and is so bright and gay I can refuse him nothing. 
 I make a very poor mother. Your old grays gave 
 out Monday. If they had gone west and fallen into 
 the possession of a sUm youth, doubtless they would 
 have endured some time longer. Fortunately an- 
 other pair of yours came to light, striped, rather loud 
 in style for you. These are now pressed into the 
 service. 
 
 some twelve hundred suffered various penalties, ninety-five being 
 executed. Thomas March, The History of the Paris Commune, 
 London, 189G. 
 
 [66] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Cousin Abby has written me since she got your 
 letter. She writes me often the brightest and wittiest 
 of letters. She was very much pleased with your 
 writing her. She is going to Washington this winter. 
 But paper, time and baby cry out to say good-night, 
 and I say it, only first repeating how satisfied I am 
 with your explanation. Be always a good boy and 
 dehght your affectionate, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 Thursday evening, December 28. 
 Dear Walker, — After getting off your letter 
 Monday evening I turned my attention to your 
 Father's toilet. I do not know whether or not I wrote 
 you that we were invited to the golden wedding of 
 Mr. and Mrs. Fuller, and that just at tea time, when 
 I was rejoicing in the thought of wearing some of 
 my finery in Augusta, it came out that your Father 
 had no clothes at home except those in which he was 
 then standing, a roughish suit a year old. What 
 Chicago had not swallowed up, had gone to Wash- 
 ington. We were both fuU of regret, as you may 
 believe. The Pater took a candle and made search 
 in the trunk room, but nothing came of it but two 
 gaiters, and ^en those were not alike. To match 
 the gaiters, I myself went westward, and returned 
 triumphant, bringing on my arm a pair of black 
 [67] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 trousers not too much the worse for wear, a swallow 
 tail coat — very much of a swallow, too — made in 
 Paris when your Father was in Europe; lavendar 
 gloves almost new turned up in the pantaloon 
 pockets ; — in short, every essential of a first class 
 society dress was drummed up from one quarter or 
 another, with the single exception of a white cravat ; 
 and at nine o'clock behold us in the narrow sleigh with 
 George for postillion en route. Over my own dress 
 I sported almost $300. worth of black lace, so I hope 
 nothing more need be said about my own toilet. You 
 never saw any one so pleased as was your Father with 
 liis dress. When I went down into the parlor on my 
 way to the sleigh I found all the burners lighted, 
 while he turned himself about and about admiring old 
 clothes as good as new — as good ! a thousand times 
 better in his eyes ! Of the wedding you will not care 
 to hear much. There was a table laden with pres- 
 ents, a handsome supper, a poem by Mme. Dillingham 
 read by Mrs. Beach and sung to the tune of Auld 
 Lang Syne, the house trimmed with Christmas greens, 
 the whole Williams clan, — and last a dance, the jig 
 led off by Mrs. Fuller and Arthur Edwards' grand- 
 father. I was taken out to supper by Dr. Harlow, 
 and saw your father leading in Mrs. Lang. Emmons 
 was invited, but preferred to spend his evening with 
 the Wyman girls ; he told George he might stay in the 
 [68] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 kitchen and he would drive over with us. When he 
 rang the bell Aunt Helen came to the door, so of 
 course Mons had to go in. He did very well, but said 
 coming home he wished his hands had been clean. 
 When he was coming away Aunt Helen brought him 
 a napkin and cake, also Anna Cutler's picture to look 
 at. Emmons got off Tuesday noon. Had a lunch of 
 cold Indian cake and apple pie, and was not other- 
 wise burdened with luggage even to a collar. We 
 have not heard from Emmons since he arrived in An- 
 dover, for Emmons, though a very good talker, holds 
 a more cramped pen than even I do. Father wrote to 
 Mr. Tilton and told him that he and he alone was to 
 blame for the delay in Mons' return. Mr. Sherman 
 came that night. Yesterday morning your Father 
 went to Boston ; hopes to return to-morrow. By the 
 way, they are just taking off the Pullman car from 
 this road and putting it on the other — doing it to 
 appease Lewiston. As it has been well patronized 
 by Augusta people, such treatment seems rather 
 rough. 
 
 Mr. Hale went through town yesterday on his way 
 to Ellsworth. He says he shall stick to Maine, means 
 to buy the old Peters place in Ellsworth. Had I 
 known they were going through I would have seen 
 them, though it was out of the question for me to ask 
 them to stop. I believe our first Washington dinner 
 [69] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 is to be given to them. Your Father has to buy, while 
 in Boston this time, cutlery, table linen, china, and 
 ornamentation generally. I shrink perceptibly when 
 I think of taking up all the ceremonies of Washing- 
 ton life. As we expect to leave Wednesday, I am in 
 all the rush and pressure of preparation. 
 
 To Mr. Blaine, in Washington^ 
 
 Monday evening, December 11. 
 My dear, — I am getting discouraged about the 
 little sister and the receptions and dinners, etc. of 
 the winter. Whom can I leave the baby with so that 
 if she cries I shall not fly the table to your and my 
 unutterable disgrace? It does not seem that I can 
 do much for podsnappery this winter. Professor 
 Barber has been down to see me this afternoon, really 
 overflowing with congratulations on your most happy 
 selections of committees ; says he shall tell you to 
 " cut off the tail of the dog." When Alcibiades did 
 so many fine things that he was afraid of being forced 
 
 1 This is one of the few existing letters to INIr. Blaine, and was 
 probably preserved by being enclosed in a letter to Walker. On 
 Mr. Blaine's return from any journey, it was Mrs. Blaine's invariable 
 custom to destroy any of her letters she could lay her hands on. 
 
 [70] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 into some great office, he cut off the tail of a dog to 
 show that he could do a foolish deed. 
 
 The afternoon mail brought me your letter telling 
 of Charlie Caldwell's prospective promotion, but I 
 have not seen any of Sylvanus' family this evening. 
 I am thinking of having our Society the week you are 
 at home. I fancy it would be a most gratifying and 
 popular thing to do. Shall you be at home the Fri- 
 day before Christmas.'* Be sure to tell me. I am so 
 tired I cannot spell. Do excuse the lifeless notes I 
 write. I certainly must find time in the morning to 
 do a cheerful line. You do not know how this mat- 
 ter of dressing and partying haunts me. I am getting 
 to love the little sister so, and everything savoring 
 of neglect to her is so foreign to my usual hfe. 
 
 To Walker, in France 
 
 December 31, 1871, Sunday evening. 
 My dear Walker, — I must commence a letter to 
 you to-night, even though I write by a poorer fire 
 than yours in Paris. The house is in the last stage 
 of confusion preparatory to the breaking up here 
 and my starting for Washington next Wednesday, 
 and all my good andirons are doing duty down stairs, 
 while here in my room are those tall cold solitaires 
 which, as Charles Lamb once said of a man, would 
 [71 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 cast a gloom over a funeral. Mr. Sherman and Uncle 
 Jacob are both here. I had Miss Sanborn here yes- 
 terday sewing for the little sister, making her a trav- 
 eling cloak. Went down town to make some neces- 
 sary purchases, and when I came home found • 
 
 here. Judge of my feelings! M. sick in my 
 
 bed, the little sister occupying a crib in the same 
 room, Father using the west room, Mr. Sherman 
 the irregular. Do you remember Miss Sanborn who 
 has so often sewed for me with Mrs. Thoms.'* Of 
 course you do. Well, she is to go on to Wasliington 
 with me to help about the children. Martha, the 
 colored girl I have had for two winters, is to be the 
 regular nurse, but Miss Sanborn will be there as a 
 sort of breakwater. I am very much dehghted with 
 the arrangement. 
 
 All day long your Father, I and Tom Sherman 
 have been paying bills. A great family are we, so 
 far as the circulation of money is concerned. To- 
 night we are very nearly square with the world. 
 Devotedly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 [72] 
 
1872 
 
Among Mr. Blaine's Wasliington neighbors at this time were 
 Governor Buckingham, then Senator from Connecticut, Thomas 
 Swan, a Representative from Maryland, Fernando Wood, a Repre- 
 sentative from New York, Benjamin F. Butler, a Representative 
 from Massachusetts, and Hamilton Fish, of New York, Secretary 
 of State. 
 
 General W. T. Sherman, later to become a neighbor, hved at this 
 time in the house on I Street, that had been a gift first to General 
 Grant and then to General Sherman. Mrs. Sherman was a cousin 
 of Mr. Blaine and a daughter of Thomas Ewing, who was Senator 
 from Ohio, and Secretary of tlie Treasury in the cabinets of WiUiam 
 Henrj' Harrison and Tyler, March to September, 1841, and who 
 organized the Interior Department for President Taylor in 1849. 
 It is curious that he was thrown out of both the Harrison and Taylor 
 Cabinets by the death of the President. He had three sons, Hugh 
 Ewing, Major-General in the Ci^^l War, and United States Minister 
 to Holland, 1866-70; Thomas Ewing, Major-General in the Civil 
 War, and IMember of Congress from Ohio, 1877-81 ; and Charles 
 Ewing, Brigadier-General in the Civil W'ar, and later a lawyer in 
 Washington. 
 
To Alice, in School, at Augusta 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, Sunday, January 8, '72. 
 
 My dear Alice, — I suppose you have thought 
 of us as all settled to-day in Wasliington a great 
 many times. We got here last night at five, very 
 tired, very dirty, and very anxious to get rest, a bath 
 and something to eat. It seemed good to see Robert 
 at the carriage door, and have some one to carry our 
 bundles even into the house. And here let me give 
 you a little piece of advice, — to pack everything 
 away before starting on a journey so as to go arm 
 free. We were thoroughly loaded down with shawls, 
 bags, muffs, overcoat, basket and baby. But we got 
 through, and for all our mercies let us be thankful. 
 
 I go back to where I left you when I finished my 
 letter Thursday evening. Father and Emmons came 
 home from the theatre in good season, and after a 
 little chat Emmons went off to his room, and we to 
 bed. In the morning J'aime came in all dressed, 
 Miss Sanborn having taken him his clothes when she 
 went to bed. The next morning, Friday, we got over 
 breakfast about in our usual season. Miss Sanborn 
 and J'aime had theirs in our room. After breakfast 
 just as I finished dressing the baby, cousin Abby came 
 in, and almost immediately after, Jacob. Uncle Jacob 
 [75] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 only stayed a few minutes, as Father had gone out. 
 He said Louisa was coming in very shortly and would 
 bring in some ginger bread and fruit. Afraid of 
 getting detained, I took M. and went off at once 
 to see about a bonnet. Ordered a black velvet hat, 
 and then went over to Holbrooks', where I found 
 Father and Cousin Abby awaiting me. Cousin Abby 
 bought herself an elegant shawl which Mr. Holbrook 
 had shown me the day before, and I bought myself a 
 very pretty black one with a narrow border, suitable 
 for spring and summer wear, for $75. I thought of 
 Aunt Susan, and wished she could have the shawl 
 cousin Abby bought. Your Father wanted me to take 
 it for myself. I also bought myself a black lace cape 
 for $35. Emmons came in and took M. to see 
 Shreve's store. Father had left us some time before, 
 and my next visit was about hair. Here I was de- 
 tained a long time. My hair was all taken down, a 
 long lock cut out, and at last I decided on what to 
 have: two long braids, for which I have paid $72. 
 To get such as I had in my mind would cost me 
 $1,000. After my hair had been redone, I got myself 
 out of the hands of the French and went back to the 
 Parker House. Found Miss Sanborn and J'aime, 
 with the little sister, quietly sleeping. As it was 
 after two, I concluded to order our dinner up stairs 
 and let the others look out for themselves. When 
 [76] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 I got back to the Parker House it was after five, and 
 I was so tired, I was cross. Everyone seemed to look 
 upon my coming as a signal for relief. Burdens were 
 laid down, and I at once commenced taking them up. 
 First of all — the baby, who had endeared herself to 
 every heart by her dehghtful behavior. Cousin Abby 
 was obliged to go away at once, but Frank stayed a 
 long time. Miss Sanborn, your Father and I went 
 down to get a cup of tea and a bit of bread and 
 butter, leaving M. asleep on the sofa, the little sister 
 in the same condition on the bed, and J'aime awake, 
 with Emmons. When we came back we found the 
 little fellow asleep also in his brother's arms. All 
 then had to be waked up, as it was time to go. For a 
 few minutes it was pretty disheartening, but M. soon 
 got back her good humor, and J'aime got to laugh- 
 ing. The little sister was hushed ; and to my great 
 surprise, we found ourselves, our cliildren and our 
 bundles, at the Worcester depot in ample season. 
 For help, Emmons was a host in himself. His Father, 
 good as he is, is not better. He wanted dreadfully 
 to go to Washington, but at the sleeping car we 
 separated, — he going back to the Parker House to 
 return to Andover yesterday morning. The children 
 were so wide awake and so amusing that I actually 
 enjoyed myself the first hour of our night journey. 
 Nor was any of it harder for me than many a 
 [77] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 night at home has been this summer. Before 6 we 
 were all up and ready for another start, and at 6.15 
 we were at the Hoffman House. Here we had a very 
 good breakfast, fried oysters, omelette, tea, coffee 
 and rolls. Another vigorous push, and we were on 
 the ferry; another, and we were in the cars, fortu- 
 nate enough to get a compartment to ourselves. Of 
 course we had a very long and trying day yesterday, 
 but the children all had naps, and though I felt 
 tempted to say with the Bangor sister, " I will not 
 submit," I kept on with the cars, and at five we 
 reached Washington. We were quite fortunate in 
 regard to company also, only a few gentlemen finding 
 us out. In the afternoon Judge Kelly ^ brought 
 himself into the midst of our squalor, a large and 
 very greasy parcel in his hand, inquiring in his mag- 
 nificent voice if we were Pennsylvanians enough to 
 love doughnuts. We all, even to Mr. Blaine, politely 
 took one ; but I was relieved to have him out of the 
 car, for I saw M.'s face in intense disgust. " O take 
 it, take it," said she in her impatience, " it 's no more 
 like Aunt Susan's than, — " but words quite failed her. 
 He said he had so much lunch he had given a great 
 deal to a beggar girl, but doughnuts he would not 
 
 * Judge William D. Kelly, member of Congress from Pennsyl- 
 vania, familiarly known as "Pig Iron" Kelly. 
 
 [78] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 give, he had too much respect for them. Good luck 
 to the beggar girl ! 
 
 We found the house in beautiful order, and at six 
 precisely were called down to dinner. It was served, 
 of course, in beautiful order, Robert taking his stand 
 at the back of Mr. Blaine's chair in his old style. 
 Soup, macaroni, then a splendid roast of beef, slaw, 
 cranberry, celery, etc., apple sago pudding, oranges 
 and apples, and as good a cup of tea as I ever tasted. 
 It seemed to me I had never seen the house look so 
 well. The curtains are all up ; what a tiling that is ! 
 The billiard room carpet is down, — very pretty. 
 Martha, Mary Wilson, James and Robert are here. 
 I expect another maid to-morrow. 
 
 Mr. Hale was in before we were dressed this morn- 
 ing. Went out to breakfast with us, and seemed in 
 every respect just as he used to. He got into the 
 city on the morning train. 
 
 Monday evening. 
 
 Try as I would, dear Alice, I could not get my 
 letter off last night. My trunks came this morning. 
 I unpacked enough to get out my black silk, my red 
 shawl and brown hat ; then left everything and went 
 to Mrs. Creswell's ^ to lunch, — a most elegant affair. 
 
 * Wife of John A. J. Creswell, Senator from Maryland. Postmaster- 
 General under Grant, and later counsel of Court of Alabama claims, 
 of which Walker Blaine became assistant counsel. 
 
 Mr. Blaine in his "Twenty Years of Congress" (1884) says that of 
 [79] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 The ladies of the Cabinet there. Would you like to 
 know what we had? In the first place, — oj^stcrs on 
 the shell, or rather, on shell china plates ; then clear 
 soup, then sweet-breads and French peas, then Roman 
 punch, then chicken cutlets, then birds, then chicken 
 salad, ices, jelly, charlottes, candied preserves, cake, 
 fruit, candy, tea, coffee, and four kinds of wines. Too 
 
 all cabinets theretofore, Franklin Pierce's was the only one that en- 
 dured through the administration unchanged, the changes in President 
 Grant's cabinet being more numerous than in any preceding it. Its 
 members, twenty-five in all, many of whom, or whose wives, are 
 mentioned in these Letters, included: Secretaries of State: Elihu B. 
 Washburne, Hamilton Fish ; Treasury: George S. Boutwell, WiUiam 
 A. Richardson, Benjamin H. Bristow, and Lot M. Morrill; War: 
 John A. Rawlins, William W. Belknap, Alphonso Taft, James Donald 
 Cameron; Navy: Adolph E. Boric and George M. Robeson; Post- 
 masters-General: John A. J. Creswell, James W. Marshall, Mar- 
 shall Jewell, James N. Tyner; Attorne3's-General : E. Rockwood 
 Hoar, Amos T. Akerman, George H. Williams, Edwardes Pierrepont, 
 Alphonso Taft; Interior: Jacob D. Cox, Columbus Delano, 
 Zachariah Chandler. 
 
 Besides these there were A. T. Stewart, the "merchant-prince" of 
 New York, who was nominated for Secretary of the Treasury, but 
 never served; General Sherman, who was Secretary of War and 
 Interior, and Eugene Hale, who was appointed Postmaster-General, 
 but did not enter upon his ser\-ice. President Grant was very desirous 
 of having Mr. Stewart serve but found after nominating him that 
 there were legal disabihties in the way, the act estabUshing the Trea- 
 sury Department, passed by the First Congress at its first session, 
 having provided that no person was eligible for the office who was 
 "directly or indirectly concerned in the business of trade or com- 
 merce." The penalty for making such an appointment included a 
 fine of $3000 and removal from office, and President Grant frankly 
 informed the Senate that he was unaware of the restrictions at the 
 time of making Mr. Stewart's appointment. 
 [80] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 much altogether, your Father thinks, for women 
 folks. 
 
 On my way I stopped at Mrs. Forrest's with one 
 dress. She makes it this week. Invitations are pour- 
 ing in. I have two for Fernando Wood's,^ two for 
 Lady Thornton's. Everything seems just as it did 
 last winter. When I saw the dress at Mrs. Creswell's 
 I felt that I had nothing to wear, but before I got 
 away I discovered that Mrs. Boutwell's bows were 
 worn exactly where the Pinkey sisters wear theirs, also 
 that the skirt of her black silk dress had evidently 
 felt the deadly pressure of an iron, and as one touch 
 of human nature makes the whole world kin, I felt 
 en rapport at once. 
 
 M. and J'aime and Miss Sanborn have had their 
 first noon dinner to-day. M. took the walk and the 
 seat of the scornful ; but it works well. Dear darling 
 little J'aime is, I am sorry to say, very much under 
 the weather. I have a great deal more to say, but 
 cannot take the time to get my letter off. You do 
 not know how nice Martha's and Robert's ways seem 
 to me. The laundress, Hannah Grant, has been here 
 to-day. My other girl comes to-morrow. Martha 
 has been cleaning all day. The Red Room and Mr. 
 Sherman's are all in order. I begin my receptions 
 
 1 Fernando Wood, Democratic Member of Congress from New 
 York, and Mayor of New York City dm-ing the Civil War. 
 VOL. I —6 [ 81 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Wednesday. Mr. Blaine has one Friday evening. 
 My hands are full, but the little sister behaves beauti- 
 fully. Father wants you to have this letter put into 
 the envelope with the Kennebec Journal and sent to 
 Walker. He thinks he will be interested in the chit- 
 chat of it, and I shall never write it over again. 
 Devotedly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 My new dresses were all at the dressmaker's. The 
 reception was very large and very select. Altogether, 
 if I had felt strong, I would have enjoyed it, but it 
 seems to me I am asked to fill immensity with my 
 presence, and I cannot do it. 
 
 To Walker, at Madame Hedler's School, 
 IN Paris 
 
 Afternoon of Tuesday. 
 J'aime is still very sick. Dear Walker, though the 
 doctor declares him better and sees no danger. At 
 3 I left him and went to the White House to pay 
 my respects to Mrs. Grant. Found the reception 
 crowded, though not so much elegant dressing as 
 sometimes one sees. Coming home I sent my card 
 in to Mrs. Wood, wishing to inquire about a school 
 for M. She kept me waiting a long time, and then 
 was full of apologies about her dress ; from which I 
 infer that mothers are the same in palace and hovel. 
 [82] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Wednesday morning. 
 
 I finish this poor letter, dear Walker, by the crib 
 of Que J'aime. Dear Httle fellow, precious as the 
 apple of my eye, he is very, very sick. Last night we 
 found he was rapidly growing worse. His disease, 
 which is remittent fever, has gone to the brain, and 
 although by no means hopelessly sick, he is in great 
 danger. It is four nights since I have been to bed. 
 Up to last night I have taken care of him alone. 
 Last night no one person could have had the care of 
 him. From twelve to four he was the sickest person I 
 ever saw. At four the extreme symptoms seemed to 
 change, and since then he has been steadily improving. 
 Dr. Pope has had the case, but now Dr. Verdi comes 
 with him, and will continue to do so until the case is 
 decided one way or the other. I think he will get well, 
 but the chances are very close. 
 
 We got your letter this morning, also Aunt 
 Caddy's and Almet's. Shall send them east this 
 morning. Cousin Abby came last night. 
 
 Good by, with a heart full of love. 
 
 Mother. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St., WAsmNCTON, January 26, 
 Friday morning. 
 
 My dear Walker, — I can hardly beheve in my 
 
 good fortune. I have just written a long letter to 
 
 [83] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Emmons, uninterrupted by sick or well, and now I 
 commence one to you. Upstairs cousin Abby sits 
 reading " Old and New," and Miss Sanborn plays the 
 piano. J'aime lies asleep on my bed, the httle sister 
 in her crib. We have depended mostly on milk for 
 J'aime's nourishment, and most of it has come from 
 Mrs. Fernando Wood. So much for having neighbors 
 in this Vanity Fair of a city. During the worst of 
 his sickness, two were obliged to sit up with J'aime, 
 but just as late and just as soon as possible I stayed 
 up alone with him. I did this partly to save the 
 strength of others, but mostly because I could not 
 stay away from him. My very life seemed bound up 
 in that of the child. He is now really getting better, 
 but oh, the care he is ! Of course I have as yet had 
 neither part nor lot in the gaieties of Washington. 
 Last night I persuaded your Father to go into 
 Mrs. Wood's, as this was our second invitation. 
 Accordingly he and Cousin Abby went. They were 
 at home soon after twelve, but had had an agree- 
 able time. To-night we were to have a reception, but 
 I did not dare have the noise in the house. Next 
 week I am engaged for two dinners, one Senator 
 Chandler's.^ 
 
 We shall probably ourselves give a dinner Friday. 
 I have a party dress ready — blue silk trimmed very 
 
 * Zachariah Chandler, Senator from IVIichigan from 1857 to 1875. 
 [84] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 freely with duchesse lace, low neck and short sleeves. 
 This afternoon I have been to leave directions about 
 another — pearl color to be trimmed with pink silk 
 and black lace. I shall ring the changes on these two 
 during the season. I feel remarkably well dressed, 
 but most of my dresses are old ones, revamped. We 
 have a new waiter this winter, called Solomon Doug- 
 las. We call him by the last name, though if I could 
 only joke, I should certainly say something about 
 Solemn Douglas, for his manners are truly sepulchral. 
 He has deep thoughts on the dignity of his office — 
 always speaks of me as " The Madam," and while 
 very fond of her, will permit no unsanctioned indul- 
 gence to M. She beats herself out against the rock 
 of his dignity in vain. 
 
 Mrs. Hale comes in to see me quite often. She 
 wants to be received just as her husband is. I hke 
 her very much indeed, think her a noble girl. 
 
 Monday morning. 
 J'aime still improving. We are through with 
 breakfast, and he is dressed, though he does not sit 
 alone. M. is playing about the room with Alice 
 Wood, too happy for anything because she has a 
 play-fellow. Cousin Abby is reading the newspapers. 
 I went out last night to the Congregationahst tem- 
 perance meeting. Heard a nice httle story told of 
 [85] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Speaker Blaine. His strong point seems to be his 
 deadly opposition to tobacco. I was immensely 
 amused, as it was only Saturday afternoon when Dr. 
 Rankin was in at our house, and this nice little talk 
 was detailed the very next evening. 
 
 I have three dinners in view to give, — one to Mr. 
 Hale next Thursday, to the President, Monday, to 
 the Ewing family Thursday. A number of the Oliio 
 Ewings are spending the winter with Mrs. Sherman, 
 all in black — so they do not visit in public. 
 
 Good-by, 
 
 Devotedly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Sunday evening, 
 
 February 11, 1872. 
 
 I got no farther, dear Walker, last night. Your 
 Father came upstairs and got to worrying about 
 J'aime, who was very hot, and so of course I felt no 
 more hke writing. The little fellow has been very 
 feverish all night, but is up and dressed now, feeling 
 as well as he has done. He has a lingering, more 
 properly, a halting convalescence. He is very deaf 
 indeed ; does not hear one word unless it is addressed 
 directly and with effort to him, but we expect that 
 this is only temporary. 
 
 [86] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 As I was saying last night, Mr and Mrs Hale were 
 here ta tea. She looked very pretty indeed. To-day 
 we have many gentlemen to dinner. I am not to be 
 present — a vast relief to me. A new man whom 
 Frank Leslie ^ has imported from England to outdo 
 Nast, Mr. Summer,^ and others. Friday we have the 
 President and Mrs. Grant. Round table at both 
 dinners. Lent will, you know, begin Wednesday, so 
 of course everything for the week past has gone with 
 a double and treble rush. Every available day-time 
 moment I have been out making calls. Tuesday even- 
 
 * Frank Leslie, editor and proprietor of " Frank Leslie's Illustrated 
 Newspaper," a species of journal in the founding of which P. T. 
 Barnum was the pioneer. Mr. Leslie was the original importer of 
 Tom Nast, the famous caricaturist, a native of Bohemia, who resigned 
 to go abroad and make war sketches with Garibaldi's army in Italy, 
 and on his return to America began his cartoons in Harper's Weekly. 
 
 ^ Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, then fifty-nine years 
 of age. In the year previous Mr. Sumner had been removed from his 
 position as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the 
 Senate on account of political difficulties with President Grant's 
 administration, growing out of his opposition to the treaty to annex 
 San Domingo. The removal was characterized by Mr. Blaine in his 
 "Twenty Years in Congress" as comparable only with the earlier and 
 physical assault made on Mr. Sumner in 1856 in the Senate Chamber 
 by Representative Preston S. Banks, a nephew of Senator Buller. 
 On the day following the dinner mentioned in the Letters, Mr. Sumner 
 introduced resolutions in the Senate to investigate the suspected sale 
 of government ordnance and arms during the Franco-Prussian War, 
 an investigation which, commonly known as the French Arms Affair, 
 excited the widest public interest at the time. Mr. Sumner died in 
 1874 at Washington, where his botly lay in state at the Capitol before 
 being buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery at Cambridge, Mass. 
 
 [87] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 ing I dined at Secretary Delano's ; ^ wore blue silk ; — • 
 twenty-two at dinner. Went out to table with Sen- 
 ator Windom,^ but was then separated from him and 
 was left to the tender mercies of Governor Cooke. ^ 
 Had a pleasant time ; Cousin Abby, who sat at table 
 with General Bristow,^ a brilliant one ; so also did 
 your Father. Got home at 11. The next day I had 
 a reception, largely attended ; Gen. Sickles ^ and wife, 
 and Gen. Sheridan, here, among others. Thursday 
 just after dinner my other new silk came home, so 
 your Father insisted upon my going out with him. 
 Accordingly, at 10 behold me starting for Lady 
 Thornton's. Here we had a very delightful time ; the 
 people all very elegantly dressed, and a chosen com- 
 pany. About 12 we went to Mrs. Rathbone's.® This 
 party was as brilliant as a party could be, house, 
 people, supper, lights, everything of the best. At 
 Lady Thornton's I was taken out to supper by Gen- 
 
 ' Columbus Delano of Ohio, Secretary of the Interior under 
 President Grant. 
 
 2 William Windom, Senator from JMinnesota, Secretary of the 
 Treasury under President Garfield, and afijain under Harrison. 
 
 ' Henry D. Cooke, brother of Jay Cooke, and Governor of the 
 District of Columbia, 1873. 
 
 * Benjamin H. Bristow, Secretary of the Treasury under President 
 Grant. 
 
 * Gen. Daniel E. Sickles, New York; then Minister to Spain. 
 
 ^ Wife of ^lajor Henry Rathbone. U. S. A., who was with Presi- 
 dent Lincoln at the time of his assassination. 
 
 r 88 1 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 eral Banks,^ home by Gen. Burke,^ and got to bed at 
 two. Found the children all very comfortable on my 
 return, as they had been during my absence. These 
 were my first parties for the winter. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St., Sunday afternoon, Feb. 18, 1872. 
 My dear Walker, — Lunch is just over, and 
 after in vain trying to get J'aime, who is having a 
 fractious day, into good humor, I have abandoned 
 him to his fate, meaning the tender mercies of his 
 Father, Miss Sanborn, Cousin Abby, M., Annie and 
 Martha. Here the door bell rings. Douglas answers 
 it. Some one to see the Speaker. Douglas distantly 
 answers that indeed he does not know whether Mr. 
 Blaine is home or not. If the gentleman will walk 
 into the parlor he will see. Enter gentleman, and 
 upstairs Douglas. Returning, he announces that 
 Mr. Blaine has gone up to see Mr. Sherman, a fib 
 with a circumstance ; and Douglas coming through 
 the library where Mr. Sherman and I are writing, 
 says he shall never get to heaven in this world, and 
 
 ' (Jen. N. P. Banks, of Massachusetts, Member of Congress and 
 ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
 
 ^ Dennis Francis Burke, who enlisted for the Ci\41 War with the 
 69th Recriment of New York. He was a native of Ireland and on a 
 ^^sit to Dubhn in 1866 was arrested for a Fenian and confined for 
 seven months in Mountjoy prison. On his return to the United States 
 he became assistant appraiser of the New York Custom House and 
 held the position till his death in 1S93. 
 [89] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 vanishes loolcing exceedingly pleased, for him, at the 
 prospect. Whereupon Mr. Sherman says to me in 
 an aside that he does not see what his idea of heaven 
 in this world can be. 
 
 Friday we had our Presidential dinner. Oh, how 
 glad I am to have it over! Father wanted to defer 
 it until Emmons came, but I could not let it over- 
 hang so long. The President is so heavy in every- 
 thing but feeding, — there he is very light. He 
 talked incessantly about himself. I have a certain 
 sympathy with him, for I think him an honest man, 
 and indeed he feels dreadfully assailed. Sir Edward ^ 
 sat on my other hand. After dinner was over and the 
 guests had departed. Father, Miss Dodge, and my- 
 self went to the Wellington to attend the reception of 
 the Japanese Minister. I went out to supper with 
 the Minister himself, a lively little Japanese, rather 
 taller than the average of his countrymen, speaking 
 English perfectly well. The Japs seemed to be per- 
 fectly delighted at seeing so many ladies. Mrs. 
 Schurz ^ said when she left. Monsieur Mori ^ was 
 standing motionless, his arm tight around a young 
 
 ' Sir Edward Thornton, British Minister to the United States. 
 
 ^ Wife of Senator Carl Schurz of Missouri. 
 
 ^ An embassy from Japan under Mr. Iwakuri came to the United 
 States at this time to study with the Japanese Minister, Arinori JMori, 
 the repubhcan institutions of America. The members were extensively 
 entertained in Washington. 
 
 [90] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 lady's waist. Imagine it ! In the morning I was at the 
 Capitol ; heard Mr. Beck ^ reply to Mr. Brownlow, — 
 a personal explanation, mostly in bad, bad taste; 
 interesting to me because of the perfectly impartial 
 ruhng of your Father, though to do it he had to 
 decide against Mr. Stephenson,^ Mr. Hale, and Mr. 
 Garfield. Thursday, Gen. Thomas Ewing and sev- 
 eral other gentlemen were here to dinner, — a pleas- 
 ant time. Wednesday I had no reception. It was 
 Ash Wednesday, also Valentine's Day. 
 
 Tuesday we were invited to a great many places, 
 but did not go out at all. The day was very bad, 
 and we were in the evening too tired for anything. 
 The day before — Monday — which carries me back 
 to my last letter, we had had a large dinner party — 
 a most successful dinner. Charles Sumner was here, 
 Mr. Hendricks,^ a good many newspaper men — 
 
 1 James Burnie Beck, Senator from Kentucky, 1877-90; at this 
 time Member of the House of Representatives. William G. Brownlow, 
 Governor of Tennessee during the reconstruction period, and later 
 United States Senator. Mr. Brownlow's loyalty to the national cause 
 during the ante-bellum years cost him separation from his family, loss 
 of property, imprisonment and finally banishment from the Con- 
 federacy. In earlier years he was a Methodist preacher and long bore 
 the nickname of Parson Brownlow. His editorship of the Knoxville 
 "Whig, printed in the mountains of Tennessee, anti-Jackson and 
 pro-Clay, was vigorous enough to give it wide influence. 
 
 ^ Representative Isaac Stephenson, of Wisconsin, Mr. Hale of 
 Maine, and General (afterwards President) James A. Garfield. 
 
 ^ Afterwards Vice-President Hendricks, but then out of office, and 
 visiting in Washington, his term in the Senate having expired in 18G9. 
 [91] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Frank Leslie people, and so on. Miss Dodge dined 
 last night at the Chandlers', and was taken out to 
 dinner by Gen. Sheridan. She had a most delightful 
 time. To-morrow we have all the Ewings to dinner, 
 and Tuesday we have tickets for Sothern. I shall 
 think of you as I listen to Dundreary. 
 
 We get down to breakfast soon after nine. Father 
 sits down in his seat, and at once proceeds to bury 
 himself in the newspapers. Douglas the slow gradu- 
 ally works around among the mutton chops, the grits, 
 the butter, the apples, the ham and the drinkables, 
 and by the time everything is as cold as a stone, 
 eating begins. Father does not even offer the steak. 
 As we take the morning papers, and the mail is 
 always large, you can imagine how social we are. 
 I dare not abandon the children ; so while Cousin 
 Abby and the Pater satisfy the hungry minds, I look 
 out for the hungry little folks, and when I and they 
 are through the readers wake up and are ready to 
 be waited on. Just as we were getting through this 
 morning, somebody or other remembered our dinner 
 party of to-day, and then it was discovered that no 
 orders had been given for the dinner — the bill of 
 fare not even made out ! Such an explosion as then 
 followed! However, everything is all straightened 
 out now. But Father wants this letter to send. I 
 have no time to see what I have said — it is full of 
 [92] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 love, be sure of that. Only one thing — I have 
 written and written to Emmons letters which were 
 to go to you, but he fails to send them. This is 
 why you are sometimes so long without hearing. 
 Good-by, — lovingly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 (Fragment) 
 
 We have seen by the papers that Mr. Washburne 
 is coming home, but the latest intelligence seems to 
 be that he is not. We should have tried to have him 
 make this his home. 
 
 To go on with my narration, Friday evening we 
 had ourselves an elegant reception. I shall exhaust 
 the vocabulary of adjectives. For a wonder, I really 
 enjoyed myself. This is only our second reception, 
 yet it is the last. The first winter I had seven. Sat- 
 urday afternoon we were all to go to Mrs. Swayne's 
 matinee. She is to be married next Thursday, start- 
 ing for Europe Saturday. Your Father and Cousin 
 Abby went at five, he coming back to dine at Welcker's 
 at six. At seven I dressed and went, and about nine 
 Cousin Abby and I came home — a very pleasant 
 time. 
 
 Yesterday all of us out at church. And now you 
 have a very bald, but a faithful account of the fes- 
 tivities of this week. I have written this much under 
 [93] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 all sorts of difficulties : baby not dressed, M. hug- 
 ging, J'aime crying for me. Father giving all sorts 
 of orders about flowers and getting very wroth at 
 the stupidity of others ; Mr. Sherman doing fifty 
 things at once. A call from Mr Hale, who has come 
 to ask Cousin Abby to fill a vacancy at their table. 
 
 My dear, dear boy, good-by, I intended writing 
 a longer and better letter, but I could never write 
 one with more love. 
 
 Devotedly, 
 
 MOTHEE. 
 
 821 Fifteenth st., WAsmNGTON, March 3, 1872. 
 Saturday afteruoon. 
 
 My dear Walker, — It is curious to watch a Lent 
 evolve itself in Washington. Everything in the sea- 
 son is hurried, piled up three deep — Lent comes so 
 early this year, and with Lent everything ceases. 
 Observe now my arrangements already entered into 
 for the coming week, and from one week, learn all. 
 This is Sunday. To-night there comes for tea Mrs 
 Shepherd Pike, very likely others. Previously I go 
 with Father to Capitol Hill to make a few visits. To- 
 morrow at twelve I go to the White House to assist 
 in the formal reception to the Japanese. Mrs. Fish 
 has been in twice about it to-day already, Mr. Fish ^ 
 
 * Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State under Grant. 
 [94] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 once. The most punctilious arrangements are made 
 for the ceremony. As this is the first ambassador 
 this country has ever received, it behooves us to be 
 particular. Your Father puts some one in the chair, 
 and then hastens down himself to assist in the cere- 
 monies. All the ladies are in full dress, morning 
 costume, no bonnets. In the evening I go to the 
 opera to hear Parepa in Figaro. Tuesday evening 
 I go to the Masonic Temple to assist in another re- 
 ception to the Japs. Mrs. Fish, wife of the Secretary 
 of State; Mrs. Colfax, wife of the President of the 
 Senate; Mrs. Blaine, wife of the Speaker of the 
 House, and Mrs. Banks, wife of the Chairman of 
 the Committee on Foreign Affairs, — are the ladies 
 to receive. Wednesday I have a reception, and in 
 the evening go to the opera again to hear Parepa. 
 Thursday we are engaged at the Bristows, and Sat- 
 urday afternoon Father takes M. and Miss San- 
 born to the matinee. I am so sorry for Emmons that 
 his vacation does not commence this week. 
 
 Thursday afternoon. 
 I am just up from down town, where I have been 
 buying a little frippery for to-night. I went to the 
 Wliite House yesterday as I anticipated. All the 
 ladies save myself were in high necks and long sleeves ; 
 I just the reverse, but I covered my neck with a 
 [95] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 handsome cape, and was very much complimented 
 on my appearance. The ceremonies Avere all gone 
 through with according to programme. The Presi- 
 dent and Cabinet and a few officers received the chief 
 of the Japanese dignitaries, and then they were 
 brought into the Blue Room and presented to Mrs. 
 Grant and her ladies. Mrs. Grant had Mrs. Colfax 
 on her right, myself on the left. I was quite un- 
 prepared for the womanliness cordiality and thor- 
 oughly unaffected kindliness of Mrs. Grant's recep- 
 tion of these semi-heathen. I could not have done 
 half so well. Fortunately I knew Mr. Mori, so that 
 I could break the dread spell a little. Another thing 
 also helped me personally very much. The chief 
 interpreter turned out to be a young Mr. Rice, son 
 of Elisha, and nephew of Judge Rice. He went 
 from Augusta to Japan at the age of ten. Of course 
 he got introduced to me and we had a great deal to 
 talk about, to the evident admiration of our Asiatic 
 friends, who looked on with longing eyes. In the 
 evening Cousin Abby, Miss Sanborn and myself took 
 a carriage and went to Parepa's opera. The sing- 
 ing and acting were superb. I am sorry to say the 
 house was poorly filled, — not over twenty in the 
 audience that I kneAV, and by this time I know pretty 
 much everybody of note. The night was horribly 
 cold, and we were glad enough that I had had the ex- 
 [96] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 travagance of a carriage. Father opened the door 
 to us at our first summons. The poor man had lost 
 Parepa and had nothing to compensate. Over one 
 hundred and twenty-five guests sat down to Mr. 
 Brooks' dinner in a room built over a stable — Mr. 
 Robeson seated between two Japanese digTiitaries, 
 neither of whom, of course, could speak one English 
 word. The dinner, Father said, seemed to be served 
 by the acre, and after standing it as long as he could, 
 he concluded to slip out. As soon as they saw your 
 Father start, Mr. Voorhees ^ and Mr. Beck also arose, 
 and I should not be surprised to hear that quite a 
 stampede then commenced, but afraid of the conse- 
 quences, our Father beat a hasty retreat home. 
 
 I ought to tell you a great deal about last week, 
 because I did not write you after Monday, but it 
 all seems to have faded out of my recollection. Fri- 
 day evening I had a large dinner party; but as it 
 was mainly odds and ends, I mean looking up people 
 to whom I owed a dinner, I was, with a few excep- 
 tions, indifferent to the people. I went out to dinner 
 with Judge Swayne,^ and had myself a very nice time, 
 Judge Swayne being always agreeable to me. The 
 
 * Representative, later Senator, Daniel W. Voorhees of Indiana. 
 
 ^ Noah SwajTie, of Ohio, appointed Associate Justice of the United 
 States Supreme Court by President LincoLa ; father of General Wager 
 Swayne of New York. 
 
 VOL.1 -7 [ 97 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 dinner itself was perfectly delicious, but the flowers 
 were not so pretty as usual. 
 
 Wednesday, 10 o'clock. 
 I am sorry, dear Walker, to have, after all, to 
 conclude my letter in a hurry. I assisted in the re- 
 ception last night — Mrs. Colfax, I, Mrs. Fish and 
 Mrs. Banks. When supper was announced Iwakuri 
 went first, having on his right arm Mrs. Colfax, the 
 Vice-President on his left; then came Mr. Mori, 
 Mrs. Fish, and your father on the other arm. Then 
 the second Ambassador, I on his right arm, Secretary 
 Fish on his left. Who came after I know not, every 
 faculty of mine being absorbed in analyzing my feel- 
 ings. So curious ! Not one word could my poor 
 Asiatic understand of my language, and Mr. Fish 
 having the whole Diplomatic Corps to keep straight, 
 was continually looking around and calling out to 
 some greater or less dignitary to fall into line. When 
 we had marched back from the supper room into the 
 hall all our formal duties were over. We got home 
 about twelve. This morning have been up to the 
 House to see them received by your Father. Immense 
 crowd there. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. WAsmNGTON, March 12th, '72 
 My dear Walker, — Please date your letters more 
 accurately. Your Pater blows a blast which might 
 [98] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 reach across the Atlantic when he sees one of your 
 missives commencing with a Friday morning or a 
 Tuesday or a Monday, and so on. We heard from 
 you Sunday morning, and I yesterday sent the letter 
 to Augusta. Emmons was coming away from An- 
 dover, so I did not detain it for him. It will be hap- 
 piness enough for him to be with us. I have the good 
 dinner he writes for all ordered, but about an hour 
 ago came a telegram from New York saying that he 
 had lost the connection and could not be here till ten. 
 
 This week is jogging along very quietly, a great 
 contrast to last. I am trying to get calls paid up, 
 though the dreadful weather sadly interferes. Such 
 a spring! It snows all the latter part of the day, 
 melts in the forenoon, thaws in the afternoon. 
 
 Friday evening, being already as tired as I could 
 be, I went with your father to a Maine sociable. 
 Ever since we have been in Washington there has 
 been a hearsay about our going to a Maine sociable, 
 so Friday evening with the inevitable snow storm for 
 our accompaniment, behold us starting forth. 
 
 Tuesday evening. 
 
 I had just got so far, dear Walker, when Mrs. 
 
 Hale came in to make a little friendly call. As 
 
 Eugene is in New Hampshire stumping, she is very 
 
 lonely, so I had her come in and succeeded so well 
 
 [ 09 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 in entertaining her that she did not go till it was 
 time for Cousin Abby to go to Miss Ripley's ; ^ with 
 whom we were to take lunch. We had a very nice 
 little table all to ourselves, and at three came away. 
 Sent Robert to the Arlington for a carriage, and at 
 once went out calling with Cousin A, Took Miss 
 Sanborn and the darling J'aime along for a ride. As 
 M. was making a call on Alice Wood, we had no 
 trouble with her. Called every moment till dinner 
 time, came home, ate dinner, and here I am. I dis- 
 miss the Maine sociable as I see that was the topic 
 I was on when interrupted, — with one word. Your 
 Father and I stood around a few moments warming 
 us at the stove, school fashion, not seeing one person 
 we knew. Finally about half a dozen left their places 
 in the dance and came up to see us, and all the others 
 being strangers, we soon felt at liberty to come away. 
 So much for a Maine sociable. Thursday evening 
 we were at Mrs. Bristed's ^ at a ten o'clock supper. 
 Only twelve at table, including Mr. and Mrs. Robe- 
 son.^ Mrs. R. is a woman of undoubted talent. She 
 
 * Elizabeth Ripley, niece of Senator Buckingham of Connecticut 
 and Mrs. Blaine's next door neighbor in Washington. 
 
 ^ Wife of Charles Astor Bristed, the author, grandson of John 
 Jacob Astor. 
 
 ^ George Maxwell Robeson of New Jersey, Secretary of the Na\'y 
 from 1869 to 1877. He was married in January, 1872, to Mary 
 Isabella (Ogston) AuUch, a widow. Mr. Robeson was also Acting 
 Secretary of War for a time on the resignation of William W. Belknap. 
 
 [ 100 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 is extremely entertaining. At twelve and a half we 
 came away. I went out to supper with Mr. Robeson. 
 Father took out Mrs. Bristed; Senator Bayard/ 
 Cousin Abby. Two of the others were foreigners. I 
 felt very dull, but believe the others had a good time. 
 Wednesday afternoon I had a reception, and that 
 same evening heard Parepa ^ in " Bohemian Girl." 
 Got along very well till the third part, when I could 
 have fallen headlong, I was so sleepy. Saturday, 
 Father, Cousin A. and your sister M. went to a 
 matinee. Your Pater came home as slangy as Win- 
 throp Fish, saying and re-saying, " It 's a fraud." 
 Every part was shorn and clipped, and the voice of 
 the prompter was audible enough to mar all the 
 effect. At six he. Father, dined with the territorial 
 delegates, and at eight I, thoroughly worn out, be- 
 took myself to bed. Sunday I was not out for the 
 day, the walking I thought too bad. 
 
 His conduct of the Navy Department was " investigated " by Congress 
 but the House Judiciary Committee failed to sustain any charges 
 against him. 
 
 ' Thomas F. Bayard of Delaware, then United States Senator, 
 later Secretary of State in President Cleveland's first term and first 
 Ambassador to Great Britain. 
 
 * This was Parepa Rosa's third and last visit to America, her 
 death occurring in London in 1874. During her second visit she 
 married Carl Rosa, her second husband, in 1867 and remained in this 
 country four years, attaining great popularity. She was born in 
 Edinburgh in 1826 of a Scotch mother and a Wallachian father. 
 Parepa's full name was Euphrosyne Parepa de Boyesku Rosa. 
 [101] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Yesterday I made calls, the inevitable snow accom- 
 panying me in all my visits. In the evening we all 
 went to the billiard room for amusement. Cousin A. 
 and Father played, and such wild strokes never were 
 seen before. I waited until each had pushed along 
 six counters, when I descended to the library to read 
 Oliver Twist. I believe I wrote you that the billiard 
 room has been carpeted, so we have done nothing else 
 in the way of furnishing. 
 
 Wednesday morning. 
 
 Emmons got here at ten and a half last evening. 
 He missed the train yesterday morning simply be- 
 cause he had not been particular about the time table. 
 Rather green in him, your Father thinks. I need 
 not say that we have all been alive this morning. 
 Your big brother first went all over the house in 
 his night gown ; next he put on his coat and trousers 
 over his night shirt and again perambulated, and 
 lastly he dressed himself en regie and came down to 
 breakfast. All we wanted was to have you here. 
 Mary Wilson got every dish for Emmons she could 
 think of, and to one and all he did full justice. I 
 was in hopes I should have an Augusta letter to send 
 along with this, but there has been a large mail 
 burned at Springfield and I have no doubt my letter 
 has gone that way. I am going to have a reception 
 to-day. One and all send love. Oceans from mother. 
 [ 102] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 I cannot bear to send this paper blank, so I will 
 at the risk of repetition say that your Father dines 
 with the Japs at the White House this evening and 
 that I go at nine to receive with Mrs. Grant. I have 
 offered to take Emmons, but he will have none of it. 
 Also we have Saturday evening a large party of 
 gentlemen, over one hundred, mostly members of the 
 House. As I shall only receive, I do not dread it 
 much. After Mons had had his supper, he and your 
 Father went up for a game of billiards. Of course 
 Mons distanced his partner a long ways. There is 
 a great excitement over the ousting of the Erie ring,^ 
 but all this I trust to the papers to inform you of. 
 Your Father seems very much opposed to your leav- 
 ing Paris. He is anxious for you to be sure of 
 French, at the same time he likes to have you do 
 everything you want to. If you would like to, he 
 would prefer your staying another year in Europe, 
 but I do not think I could give my consent. At any 
 rate, I should come over with Emmons and travel for 
 the summer. 
 
 Good-bye, devotedly. 
 
 Mother. 
 
 ' See Mr. Charles F. Adams' and Mr. Henry Adams' very inter- 
 esting account of the struggle between Jay Gould, Commodore Van- 
 derbilt, and other interested parties for control of the Erie Raikoad. 
 (Chapters of Erie and Other Essays.) 
 
 [ 103] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, March 18th, 
 
 IVIonday morning. 
 
 My dear Walker, — Another letter from you, 
 and no date beyond the unsatisfactory one of Fri- 
 day. Just think how your Father must have talked. 
 Anything but greenness in my children, might almost 
 be his motto ; and here comes Emmons from Andover 
 without consulting the New York time tables, con- 
 sequently he loses his connection and in consequence 
 thereof his dinner at home, and his bag which he 
 had left in the rack, and before we have recovered 
 cur breath, comes another letter from you which is 
 to be kept for a journal, and yet no date. 
 
 Emmons is having a very quiet but satisfactory 
 vacation. He manages just to get up at nine, comes 
 down in his Father's sHppers, eats a breakfast com- 
 posed of his favorite dishes, stands up at the last. 
 Is always to be found, when the others go up stairs, 
 in the billiard room. About eleven he comes down, 
 puts a few finishing touches to his dress, and goes 
 off to the Capitol. Lunches there, and is at home 
 any time in the latter part of the day. Some even- 
 ings he goes to the theatre, often he is at home. 
 Last night (Sunday) we all went in to see the Hales. 
 Coming home we called at Governor Buckingham's, 
 [ 104 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 where we had an old fashioned Yankee visit. To- 
 night Miss Ripley dined here, also Mr and Mrs 
 ]\Ierrill, Mrs Arms, George F. Townsend and wife 
 and George Stinson, a family dinner, but very en- 
 joyable I have no doubt. Saturday evening Father 
 had his press company, — over a hundred here. 
 Everything to eat and drink that money could buy, 
 fine music from the band and a good time altogether. 
 No ladies at all. Friday night Emmons went to the 
 theatre with George Stinson. I went, for a wonder, 
 to the Capitol. Heard little beyond the roll call. 
 Thursday your Father got up sick, or rather he 
 was sick and did not get up. Some dreadful dish at 
 the President's dinner had disagreed with him. I 
 had a carriage and went up with him to the Capitol. 
 He staid just long enough to call the house to order 
 and instal Mr. Dawes ^ in the chair, and then came 
 directly home. But the fresh air did him good and 
 we at home had a most enjoyable day. At dinner 
 v/e had several very agreeable gentlemen. Friday 
 morning we had more gentlemen to breakfast. From 
 these minutias you can see that we are again leading 
 a Washington winter. It is company all the time. 
 Everything goes very smoothly in the kitchen. 
 
 ' Henry L. Dawes of Massachusetts, fourteen years in the House 
 and sLx in the Senate; then chairman of the Ways and Means 
 Committee. 
 
 [ 105] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Washington, April 2nd, Tuesday morning. 
 My dear Walker, — Breakfast is over ; market- 
 ing for the day decided on. J'aime and M. rigged 
 for out-door play; the baby just flitting out for 
 her promenade ; Father off for the day. Mr. Sher- 
 man reckoning up the month's expenses for me ; and, 
 as I am chief referee in this last clause, I will im- 
 prove the odd minute by commencing my to-morrow's 
 letter to you. Unfortunately I recapitulated every 
 item of the last days to Emmons, and now to relate 
 them again is renovem dolorem and not to be done 
 with any piquancy. Thank God, there are no grief s^ 
 properly speaking. We are all well, and unusually 
 prosperous. J'aime's little cheeks are rounded out 
 to almost normal health. Nothing fairer or sweeter 
 than the little sister can be seen. This afternoon we 
 all, or we three, dine at Mrs. Sherman's. I am also 
 invited to Lady Thornton's, but the Sherman invita- 
 tion coming first, I was pre-engaged. To-night the 
 great Calico Ball comes off. My first interest was 
 to go to it, but on sober second thought I concluded 
 not. I did not care to go into the calico costume, and 
 for sweet charity the ten dollars which my ticket 
 would cost will go as far as though it went through 
 the circumlocution office of a ball. To-morrow I have 
 a reception, and as Lent is over, it begins at once to 
 be quite a formal affair, including lunch. Thursday 
 [ 106 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 I give a lunch to ladies, all Maine ladies ; intend to 
 have what Emmons would call a swell table. No 
 wines, of course, but round table, flowers, and all 
 manner of goodies to eat. 
 
 Yesterday your Father dined with the Japanese 
 ambassadors ; dinner very long and tedious, and 
 long before the ices made their appearance he was up, 
 had sHpped out of a convenient door, and was at 
 home. 
 
 Easter Sunday we all went, true to our persuasion, 
 to hear Dr. Rankin ; were repaid by hearing " Praise 
 God Barebones " sort of hymns, a very gloomy ser- 
 mon, and not one flower to relieve the chilliness of 
 the services. For the children's sake I wish our service 
 had more magnetism. M., however, did not wor- 
 ship with us. She did her praying with AHce Wood 
 at St. Matthews, where her poor httle back was 
 tortured by having nothing to lean against and 
 her poor knees scraped raw by constant kneeling. 
 But the music, to use her own words, was just 
 lovely. 
 
 Sunday afternoon we had Miss Gary ^ to lunch, 
 would have had Nilsson,^ but she had told people who 
 
 1 Annie Louise Gary, the famous singer. Her father was Dr. Nel- 
 son Howard of Maine, and her mother's name Maria Stockbridge 
 Gary. She married Gharles Morison RajTuond of New York in 
 1882. 
 
 * Christine Nilsson, the famous soprano, a native of Sweden, made 
 
 [ 107] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 wished to call on her that she would be at home that 
 afternoon, so we could not have her. Besides Cary, 
 there were here her friend Mr. Fitch, George W. Cur- 
 tis,^ Cadwallader ^ and Fanny Washburne. The lunch 
 was nice as could be, beautiful flowers, and the com- 
 pany very agreeable. I liked Mr. Curtis much better 
 than I thought I did, and Cary is full of knowledge 
 connected with her profession, — always interesting 
 to outsiders. She is from Wayne in Maine. Of 
 course the great event of last week was the opera. 
 I heard Nilsson twice, Thursday and Saturday in 
 Faust and Lucia. Cousin A. heard her twice in 
 Mignon and Lucia; Emmons twice in Faust and 
 Mignon ; Father all three times. Her acting is 
 perfectly superb. It makes me feel that there 
 is a remnant of the grande passion left in the 
 world. Of her singing I do not feel competent to 
 
 her first \asit to America from 1870 to 1872 under the management of 
 M. Strakosch and returned in the winter of 1873-74. She sang 
 Elsa in "Lohengrin" at Covent Garden, London, but had created 
 the part before this in America, the opera bemg sung in this country 
 before it was heard in England. 
 
 1 George William Curtis, the well-known author and publicist, 
 was in Washington from 1871 to 1874 as one of a civil service com- 
 mission of seven members appointed by President Grant. President 
 Hayes later offered Mr. Curtis his choice of foreign missions, but he 
 dcchned in favor of the presidency of the New York Civil Service 
 Reform Association. 
 
 ^ John L. Cadwallader of New York, Assistant Secretary of 
 State, 1874-77. 
 
 [ 108] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 speak, but when I hear and see acting, I can tell 
 whether it is good or bad. I was very sorry Emmons 
 could not hear her in Lucia, but he had to start for 
 Andover Saturday morning. When you are collect- 
 ing things to bring home, if you can pack sizable 
 articles, I should like a glove and handkerchief 
 box, and a jewelry box to match. Of course I do 
 not care more for them than for any other thing, 
 only I happen to think of them. You had better 
 bring the children, Alice and M., Roman sashes, 
 I have so many silk dresses to make over for them. 
 The time for your return will very soon be here, as 
 your Father fully expects to send for you in June. 
 Stick to your French, as I want you to be able to 
 speak it. Good-bye for the present. 
 
 Wednesday morning. 
 We had a very pleasant dinner yesterday at Mrs. 
 Sherman's. No one there beside the family but Mr. 
 and Mrs. Casserly,^ Mr. and Mrs. Doyle,- and Gen. 
 Charles and Mrs. Ewing. We stayed so long our 
 driver came away, so Mrs. Sherman had to send us 
 home. All the letters I send came from Augusta last 
 night. As I send them a faithful transcript of every- 
 
 * Eugene Casserly, Senator from California. 
 
 * Mr. and Mrs. John T. Doyle of Menlo Park, California. 
 
 [ 109 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 thing that takes place in the family, I do not see why 
 they find fault with my letters. 
 
 Cousin Abby carries on all her work here. She has 
 a business and attends to it precisely as though she 
 were a man. W pays her for the editing of liis mag- 
 azine; then she writes for the Harpers and the In- 
 dependent. Mary Caroline Pike is now to be con- 
 nected with the magazine. Good-bye my dear boy, 
 Most devotedly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, April 9th, Tuesday evening. 
 
 My dear Walker, — While the heavens empty 
 themselves of the sweet rain we all are panting for, 
 and Mr Sherman, my only company, studies out his 
 phonographic page, I will anticipate to-morrow and 
 commence a letter to you. 
 
 Notwithstanding the great heat, the three babies 
 upstairs are one and all afflicted with colds. Miss 
 Sanborn and Annie have been running all evening 
 with lumps of sugar, moistened with paregoric, and 
 at last the camp is still and I in petticoat and Father's 
 slippers and dressing sack, have found my way down 
 stairs to the library table. I find Miss Dodge just 
 gone upstairs for the night, and Tom Shci-man the 
 sole occupant of the room. Father is out dining at 
 [ 110 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Welcker's with Whitelaw Reid of the Tribune. The 
 day has been hot and sultry beyond comparison, and 
 I who have been out both morning and afternoon, am 
 overcome with heat. This morning I was out on er- 
 rands intent; this afternoon Miss Ripley, Cousin 
 Abby and I went over to Georgetown to call on Mrs 
 Cook, and coming back stopped at Mrs Grant's re- 
 ception, a moderately handsome reception, — the 
 President too sick to be down stairs. Nelly Grant 
 has sailed for Europe. She is with Mrs. Borie ; ^ is to 
 go wherever her friends go this summer, travelKng 
 in Switzerland and other places, and in the fall will 
 be in Paris, where she will purchase her trousseau 
 and then come home for the winter. This I have 
 from her mother. 
 
 Almost everything of the gay kind has come to a 
 pause. Yesterday I was out driving a little while 
 with Mrs. Hale. Sunday while we were at lunch, 
 Mr H came in. He was delighted to see some 
 baked beans; sat down, and did to them ample jus- 
 tice; then stayed a good two hours. He did enjoy it. 
 
 Last Thursday I had my Maine lunch. Everything 
 went off splendidly, seventeen ladies at the table. As 
 no one declined, I had my company as originally 
 
 * "Welcker's," a well-known restaurant at that time, situated on 
 Fifteenth Street below H. 
 ' See page 80, note. 
 
 [Ill] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 planned. Mrs. Morrill came in her bonnet, the only- 
 one, and was suavity itself. As she went to IMrs. 
 Bowcn's ^ lunch and was the only lady without a bon- 
 net, and came to mine the only lady with, I am afraid 
 she will think Washington lawless. My table was 
 very handsome and the courses many and good. And 
 as many of my guests were from boarding houses, 
 ample justice was done Mary's good cooking. Here 
 are the courses : for I am too stupid to write any- 
 thing sensible tonight : Oysters on shell, mock turtle 
 soup, broiled chicken and fried potatoes, sweetbreads 
 and peas, asparagus, Roman punch, partridge and 
 salad, ices, charlottes, jellies, sweetmeats, fruits, 
 coffee and tea. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St., W-^raNGTON, April 11th, 
 Thui-sday evening. 
 
 My dear Walker, — According to promise, I 
 begin my journal letter. Emmons's letter came down 
 from the Capitol yesterday, just as I was getting off 
 my mail to you, so I put it into the package, though 
 I had no time for explanation. As soon as your 
 package was off I dressed and went to the Capitol 
 with Miss Ripley who had invited Cousin A. and 
 myself to drive with her. We heard a not uninterest- 
 ing powwow on Ihe Appropriation Bill. Had a very 
 pleasant time, and finally came home with Mr. and 
 
 ' Mrs. Thomas M. Bowen, wife of the Senator from Colorado. 
 [ 112 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 Mrs. Hale and Father in Mrs. Chandler's carriage. 
 Cousin A. coming with Miss Ripley. In the even- 
 ing we had callers all the time, while I was re- 
 duced by sleepiness and fatigue to the verge of 
 insanity. So much for Wednesday. To-day, Thurs- 
 day, Miss S. concluded to go to Mt Vernon, so 
 directly after breakfast she was off, a little basket 
 on her arm, not so snowy white and bare. I took pos- 
 session of the nursery, and with Annie for lieutenant, 
 had a most dehghtful, satisfactory morning. Mr. 
 Chew, having just sent down from the State Depart- 
 ment your most welcome package of letters there, 
 March 26th, I have the enj oyment of reading the con- 
 tents aloud to Cousin Abby. We sit in her room, the 
 red, and M. hangs out of the window and talks to 
 J'aime playing in the yard below. The day is like 
 a midsummer one. Letters read, I talk over the 
 situation, and almost decide I will go with Emmons to 
 Europe, but leave this final decision, as I do every 
 other, to Father's ultimatum. After dressing we go 
 out for calls, among others, Mrs. Butler's and Mrs. 
 Ames' ^ — the latter looking transcendently beautiful. 
 The General insists upon our going up to look at liis 
 boy, but we do not. I also called at Gen. Humphrey's^ 
 
 » Wife of General Benjamin F. Butler of Massachusetts. General 
 Butler's daughter. 
 
 2 Brevet-Major Andrew Atkinson Humphreys, a graduate of 
 VOL. I —8 [ 113 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 to attend tlie reception of his son. At six am on the 
 doorstep, and find your Father already in the house ; 
 dinner. Miss Sanborn gets home from Mt Vernon, 
 having had an interesting but a lonely day. When I 
 come in, your Father sits in the sitting-room reading 
 your letters. I open up on the going abroad ques- 
 tion. Evidently he will none of it, though originally 
 the plan was his. If I go abroad he wants to go Avith 
 me. It js cholera year, and he does not believe in 
 being on the Continent this summer. He has made 
 up his mind to have Walker come home, and wants to 
 see him himself. Besides, his education will be better 
 to return now and go again, and he wants Walker to 
 go into a French family, stay awhile, and then travel 
 a little, returning in June. So you see, my dear boy, 
 that you are D.V. — (which Cousin A. says now 
 means Dolly Varden) to bring your blessed self home 
 very soon. I am so delighted at the prospect, and 
 there seems so much to tear myself away from, that I 
 am perfectly satisfied. May you be so too. Good- 
 night. 
 
 Yesterday got up at eight, dressed myself and 
 washed and dressed the baby, who came out from my 
 hands hke one of those shining ones whose angels do 
 always behold the face of my Father. After breakfast 
 
 West Point, at that time chief of the Engineers, U. S. A. He died in 
 Washington in 1883. 
 
 [114] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Miss Ripley came in to ask Cousin A. and myself to 
 go driving with her. Were only too happy to accept. 
 Drove on the Avenue and the paved streets generally. 
 Did a little shopping and came home in season for 
 lunch. Found an elegant bouquet from Mrs. Grant 
 awaiting me. Father came home soon after three, 
 and electrified me with the information that five 
 gentlemen were coming to dinner. As we had 
 designed for ourselves only a supper-dinner, you 
 may suppose there was no time to be lost. Mary 
 Wilson, however, proved equal to the occasion, and 
 at the appointed hour all the stated and stately 
 courses showed themselves on the board. We had 
 Secretary Boutwell,^ Mr. Dawes, Roberts,^ May- 
 nard ^ and Kelly. What a thing it is to have good 
 and efficient servants. After dinner there was busi- 
 ness talk, and Cousin A and I were released from 
 attendance. 
 
 Friday we had Governor Perham,^ Mr Frye and 
 Mr Bingham ^ to dinner. Very pleasant time. 
 
 » George S. Boutwell of Massachusetts, Secretary of the Treasury 
 under President Grant. 
 
 2 Marshall O. Roberts, the well-known merchant and philan- 
 thropist of New York. 
 
 3 Horace Maynard, Member of Congress from Tennessee. 
 
 * Sidney Perham, Governor of Maine and RepubUcan Member of 
 Congress. WiUiam P. Frye, Representative from Maine. 
 
 5 John A. Bingham, Representative from Pennsylvania; special 
 Judge Advocate when the Lincoln conspirators were tried, one of the 
 {115] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Monday. 
 The day is very rainy. At home till twelve, then 
 went down town in waterproof and with umbrella to 
 buy a few little things for Miss Sanborn. Made 
 safe purchases — a pretty fan, two neckties, and two 
 pocket handkerchiefs. Got home too late for ordi- 
 nary lunch, and had just sat down for a cup of tea 
 to recuperate with, when Mr. Mitchell came in, an old 
 friend of your Father's. I myself knew him a little 
 eighteen years ago. He was polite enough to say that 
 he would have known me anywhere, could not believe 
 my hair was at all gray, etc., etc. He stayed about 
 an hour, and then it was time for me, as soon as I 
 had snatched a hasty cup of tea on my own account, 
 to attend to the putting up of Miss Sanborn's lunch. 
 As she expected to live out of her lunch basket till 
 she reached California, you may suppose that I had 
 to have my thoughts about me, or to have, to use a 
 favorite phrase of Shepherd Pike's,^ my eyes for my 
 charges. However, I filled basket and box ; thought 
 of paregoric, cologne, wine, pickles, lemons and 
 
 movers for the impeachment of Andrew Johnson, and Minister to 
 Japan, 1873-85. 
 
 ' James Shepherd Pike, diplomatist and author, of Calais, Maine, 
 associate editor of New York Tribune, 1850-60, and United States 
 Minister to the Netherlands in 1861-66. He bequeathed $15,000 to 
 the Calais Public Library on condition that the money should be used 
 to purchase no book that had not been out at least ten years. 
 [116] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 sugar, and everything else which might be required, 
 and after a hearty dinner, with Tom Sherman for 
 escort to the depot, in the rain and darkness, Miss 
 Sanborn did really get away. She has been with me 
 fifteen weeks, and I had only one sentiment as the 
 door closed upon her, that of unbounded relief. She 
 is a good creature too. 
 
 Tuesday. 
 This has been a most satisfactory day to your 
 Father in the House. Not only has he succeeded in 
 getting Mr. Dawes to report from the Ways and 
 Means, but after reviewing Mr. Beatty's^ course, the 
 House sustained his ruling with only six dissenting 
 votes. You will get the whole from the Globe, which 
 Tom Sherman sends you by this mail. I don't see 
 how I could, but I did forget to chronicle in yester- 
 day's journal, that I had just after breakfast a long 
 
 and most dreary call from N . He had as usual 
 
 nothing to talk about but Alabama state claims. 
 
 Heaven knows they are nothing to me. N never 
 
 had any judgment as man or boy, in California, 
 IMaine or Alabama ; and while the blood in our veins 
 is just the same, in taste, association, reminiscence, 
 expectation, opinion and manner of life, we are al- 
 together opposed. Nothing in common but blood; 
 
 * Gen. John Beatty, member of Congress from Ohio. 
 [117] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 and yet he walks into my house as though he had a 
 right ; takes me from my family, and gives me abso- 
 lutely nothing. Your Father says he seems to stand 
 in quite wholesome awe of him, which is really an 
 encouraging symptom. In the evening he came again, 
 and again yesterday, but this morning has gone to 
 
 Maine on a thirty days' furlough. Poor E (his 
 
 wife!) I pity her. Mrs. Hale called this afternoon 
 and took Miss Dodge and myself to call on Mrs. 
 Grant. Had the usual pleasant White House recep- 
 tion. This evening we have been to the Capitol to 
 attend the Morse ^ memorial services, really very in- 
 teresting, and your Father presided in a truly hand- 
 some manner. For particulars vide Chronicle sent by 
 Thomas Sherman. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St., Washington, April 21st, 
 Sunday morning. 
 
 My dear Walker, — I seem to be up and down 
 stairs by myself ; no breakfast ; no family. So I 
 improve the shining moment by thinking of the Blaine 
 family in France. The difference in the longitude of 
 the two continents will not permit me to imagine you 
 waiting breakfast or church, but all the same, what- 
 ever you are doing or proposing to do, my heart as 
 you wander turns fondly to thee. 
 
 * S<ainiiel Finley Breese Morse, the inventor of the telegraph, born 
 1791, died April 2, 1872. 
 
 [ 118] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Sunday evening. 
 I have to begin all over again. It seems hardly- 
 possible, and yet, I have not been able all day to re- 
 sume my letter. We had breakfast of course, then 
 immediately came the getting ready for church, then 
 church, and services over, home we came. Found 
 Martha standing in the bay window, the charming 
 little sister on exhibition. Stayed lovingly with her 
 till lunch was announced. This over, in came ]\Ir. 
 Hale, and at three, Mr. King ^ came by appointment 
 to carry your Father and me to drive. Went out to 
 Silver Spring, old Mr. Blair's ^ place. Afternoon 
 perfect. Roads in good condition, good horses, and 
 comfortable open carriage. Father and Mr. King 
 occupied themselves entirely with each other. Mrs 
 K and I did not get beyond our depth with each 
 other. I asked her the New York prices of goods and 
 she told me. Got home at six, supper at seven. Gen. 
 and Mrs. Fry ^ called, and right away Gen. Porter.* 
 
 * Horatio King, of New York, Postmaster-General under President 
 Grant. 
 
 * Francis Preston Blair, born at Abingdon, Va., 1791, came to 
 Washington in 1830 to establish the Globe newspaper for President 
 Jackson as the organ of the administration, and was a member of 
 Jackson's famous "Kitchen Cabinet"; also Democratic candi- 
 date for Vice-President in 1868. He retired, in the administra- 
 tion of Polk, to his farm at Silver Spring, Md., where he died in 
 1876. 
 
 ' Gen. James Fry, U. S. A., Provost Marshal General. 
 
 * Gen. Fitz-John Porter. 
 
 [119] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 The Frys are gone and Gen. P. is now closeted with 
 your Father. Baby crying. Good-night. 
 
 Tuesday morning. 
 Dear Walker, — I am just through with scrawl- 
 ing a letter to Emmons, and now resume my pen to 
 perform the same kind office to you. You have no 
 idea how cold and backward the spring is. No shade 
 yet from the trees, and large fires necessary. Cousin 
 Abby and I have at this moment the sitting room to 
 ourselves, she reading one of Trollope's stories, I 
 writing. The little Blaines have all been out, M. 
 to school, the little sister with her nurse and J. 
 with his. Miss Sanborn we have heard from as far on 
 her weary way as Council Bluffs. If her brother is 
 as glad to see her at San F. as I am not to see l:ker 
 here, she will have nothing to complain of. Last 
 night we had two Mr. Hales from New York, Mr. 
 Eugene Hale, Mr. Wadsworth of Kentucky, and Mr 
 Ambler of Ohio, to dine with us, also Mr Frye, — 
 most delightful company, and as we have been living 
 very quietly now for some time, I enjoyed the change. 
 Apropos of nothing, one thing I would like to have 
 you bring me is a thread lace black parasol cover. 
 Get it rather large and have some lady like Mrs 
 Washburne to advise you. Your Father says it is 
 [ 120 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 not worth while for you to attempt much shopping. 
 He would not be willing to have you shirk the duties, 
 and with duty you do not gain much. Of course you 
 will want to get souvenirs for home friends. If you 
 want to get Alice a silk dress, I have no objection. 
 I should think fourteen yards would be enough. 
 Don't forget M.'s doll. Get the little sister some- 
 thing that will last, — a chain and locket, or some- 
 thing of that kind, ditto for Alice, ditto for M. 
 Get Emmons buttons and studs, as he says he is com- 
 pletely out of jewelry. Write to see if your father 
 is willing you should bring him home a watch, that 
 is, if you think you could purchase to advantage 
 there. Does it not seem good to be writing of things 
 which look towards home.'' 
 
 Wednesday morning. 
 
 Mrs. Miller told me yesterday at the President's, 
 whither I went with Miss Ripley, that laces are now 
 very high in Paris but cheap in Germany. Use good 
 judgment, therefore, in regard to cover for parasol. 
 It is no use attempting anything with this letter. 
 My ideas are all wool gathering. My interruptions 
 have been numberless. I shall have to trust to the 
 contemporaneous correspondence I send with this, 
 and to your good heart to make amends for and 
 [ 121 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 excuse this wretched letter. I saw Mrs. Howard ^ yes- 
 terday at the White House, and with her Mrs B , 
 
 mother of your Andover schoolmate. She was very 
 genial to me; inquired for you. She had come on 
 from Illinois to see her son, who has been spending 
 his vacation with Guy, but he had left Friday and 
 Guy Monday. Mrs. Howard ^ said they seemed very 
 uneasy about their rooms. I guess they had rather 
 a dull time with the Freedmen and the babies. The 
 General himself is off in the Apache country. We 
 got a good letter from him Friday. Good-bye, love 
 from everybody, 
 
 Devotedly, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Wednesday morning, May 1st, 1872. 
 My dear Walker, — I am just congratulating 
 myself on an excellent habit lately inaugurated — 
 Can a habit be lately inaugurated.? — of getting 
 up for a half past eight breakfast; so now at 9:15 
 we are all at liberty to go our several ways. Fatlier 
 to the parlor, crowded full of gentlemen; Shermy 
 to his writing table ; Cousin A. to the baby, the petted 
 
 * Wife of Gen. O. O. Howard, U. S. A. Gen. Howard was at this 
 time Commissioner of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Aban- 
 <loned Lands — the so-called Frcedmen's Bureau. 
 [122] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 darling of upstairs, down stairs and my lady's cham- 
 ber, M. and J'aime with spade and shovel to the 
 yard, and the Mama to her best and dearest of boys. 
 
 Monday evening we three went to hear Aimee in 
 Grande Duchesse. She was really fascinating. Her 
 dresses are just as pretty as they can be. Altogether, 
 with the music and the applause and the pretty 
 dresses, I felt myself completely en rapport with her. 
 Monday also I went out calHng. If I am half so 
 persevering in a better cause as I am in returning 
 my thousand and one calls, I shall win heaven at last. 
 
 We expect now to adjourn about the 1st of June. 
 Do you want me to come to New York or Boston 
 or wherever you may come in on your return, to meet 
 you.'' Oh, the joyful day! 
 
 Everything political, English and American, seems 
 to be in a sort of a snarl.^ But things I believe will all 
 come out right. Your Father was so impressed with 
 the fatal influence which any concession on the part of 
 Mr Fish would have on our political situation, that 
 he went in to talk over matters with him Sunday 
 
 >The arbitration of the Alabama Claims, as arranged by the 
 Treaty of Washington, was in progress at this time in Geneva, with 
 grave danger of failure of arbitration. On May 13th Earl Russell 
 said in the House of Lords, — "The case seems to be now between 
 the honor of the Crown of this country and the (re-)election of 
 General Grant as President." Quoted by J. F. Rhodes — "History 
 of the United States from the Compromise of 1850 to the Restora- 
 tion of Home Rule in the South in 1877." 
 [ 123 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 evening. Was there till a very late hour. Commer- 
 cial interests bring heavily to bear on the question. 
 
 821 FiFTEKNTH Sx. WAsmNGTON, May 7th, 1872. 
 Tuesday, in the evening. 
 
 My deae Walker, — To-morrow will be your sev- 
 enteenth birthday and I ought to write you some- 
 thing very good, good in itself, doing you good, and 
 good for me to write. But, alas, my surroundings 
 are not favorable, for though at home alone, I have 
 been lying down with Que J'aime to get him to sleep, 
 till all the juice of the poppies is in my eyes. The 
 night is very warm too, and light enough to write 
 by adds to the heat. Your Father has not been home 
 since morning. He dined with Mr. Roosevelt ^ at the 
 Congressional, sending word to me by Tom Sherman 
 at dinner time to come up to the Capitol and go to 
 the circus with him. But as I could not bear the idea 
 of leaving the children at their most lonely hour, 
 as the circus repelled rather than attracted, I got 
 Cousin Abby to consent to make all things straight, 
 and myself stayed in this dear home. A third 
 reason for staying, and stronger than the two 
 others, was that I wanted to write you. 
 
 I shall not attempt any advice to the good boy, 
 
 ' Robert Barnwell Roosevelt, Democrat, from New York, uncle 
 of President Roosevelt, and author of the bill originating the U. S. 
 Fish Commission. 
 
 [ 124] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 who I do not believe needs it, for how can one have a 
 better guide than conscience? But I do from the 
 bottom of my heart thank you, Walker, for all the 
 anxiety you have spared me. I have always trusted 
 you, so has your Father, and never have you abused 
 the trust. Continue ye in this love. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, May 15th, 
 Wednesday morning. 
 
 My dear Walker, — I do not think you will get 
 home to be in this city with us, as we all hope Con- 
 gress will adjourn in June. They are so busy now 
 in the House that I do not see your Father at all. 
 Yesterday, it is true, was almost entirely lost with 
 bad management in Committee of the Whole. I had 
 such a sense of loss during the day come over me, 
 remembering how I had scarcely exchanged one word 
 with your Father, that I dressed and went up to the 
 Capitol, Cousin Abby with me. But to no good. 
 Not only did I not see your Father, but we did not 
 even hit the same car, he getting home before me. 
 Dinner was hurried, and he left the table for the 
 Capitol long before the meal was through. I sat up 
 for him till eleven, knowing that he would be quite 
 used up with fatigue. He was, and got to bed just as 
 soon as he could. I feel that so much strain as he 
 labors under cannot be good for him, and while I do 
 [ 125] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 not dare, from his peculiar temperament, hint at such 
 a thing, I try in every way I can to break the con- 
 finement. And just now people are constantly com- 
 ing to him to talk on the presidential question. What 
 can be done with the situation, occupies all heads, 
 and some few good people put their hearts over the 
 bars. But no poHtics in home letters. We are all 
 getting along more comfortably. The weather is 
 cooler ; the children play both morning and after- 
 noon in the square, and are well and happy. I am 
 greatly anxious to get to Augusta, but the house will 
 not be ready for us for several weeks. Do you think 
 you could bring me one large choice engraving for 
 the mantel of the library at home? Something his- 
 torical or classic or fancy even ; of course I would 
 have it framed in Boston. How glad we shall be to 
 see you at home. Only think how short a time since 
 we went out on the Tripoli to Boston Lights. 
 
 I have an invitation to dinner at Secretary Fish's 
 next Tuesday. Everything of a society kind seems 
 about over, and I am truly sorry to have to look out 
 an evening dress again. To-night Gen. Banks and 
 a few other gentlemen dine here, entirely informally. 
 Monday evening Gen. Garfield, Mr. Freihlenberg, and 
 Sargent ^ of California dined here. Your Father is 
 much attached to General Garfield. 
 
 * Aaron A. Sargent, born in Massachusetts; Representative iu 
 [ 126] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 Have just been interrupted by a call from Miss 
 Ripley. She is expecting Mr. and Mrs. Goff ^ there 
 to-night and is anxious for Cousin A and myself to 
 call. Promised to do so. Saturday evening we had 
 several gentlemen to dinner, some from Iowa, Mr 
 Wheeler from New York, and others. Nice dinner 
 and very agreeable people. Friday your Father dined 
 with Senator Cameron ^ at Wormley's. Thursday 
 Mr. and Mrs. Charlton Lewis ^ of New York, Judge 
 Black,"* Pay Director Cunningham, and Mr. Bridge- 
 man of the Boston Advertiser, dine here. Mary 
 Wilson goes to Newport the last of the month, and 
 then during the few days we may be here, Hannah 
 cooks for us. No company then. I take home this 
 summer four colored maids. 
 
 Your Father thinks I shall write you about twice 
 
 Congress from California, 1861-73; Senator, 1873-79, and after- 
 wards successively Minister to (Germany and Russia. He died 
 in 1887. 
 
 » Nathan Goff of West Virginia. Appointed U. S. District Attorney 
 of that State by President Johnson and later Secretary of the Navy 
 under President Hayes; appointed in 1892 by President Harrison 
 judge of the 4th U. S. Circuit. 
 
 2 Simon Cameron of Pennsylvnia, Secretary of War and Minister 
 to Russia under President Lincoln. 
 
 3 Charlton Thomas Lewis, U. S. Deputy Commissioner of Internal 
 Revenue, 1863-64, managing editor of New York Evening Post, 1870- 
 71, an authority on prison associations and life insurance. 
 
 * Jeremiah Sullivan Black of Pennsylvania. See also note, page 
 236, Vol. I. 
 
 I 127 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 more. He expects to be in Boston at the Jubilee 
 June 20th, also wants to go to Saratoga. Would 
 like to have you and Emmons at the Quarterly Cen- 
 tennial of his class. Hopes to be in New York to 
 meet Walker when he comes. Good-bye, my dearest. 
 Lovingly, 
 
 MOTHEB. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, May 29tli, 
 Wednesday morning. 
 
 My dearest Boy, — This is about the last letter 
 I shall attempt to write. Your Father says he shall 
 write once more to you at Liverpool. We are all 
 looking forward eagerly to your coming home. Con- 
 gress is to adjourn Monday. I am rather expecting 
 to get away Wednesday. If it were not for Ahce, 
 I should stay till the next week, as the house at home, 
 is I fear in the direst confusion still. We are all 
 very comfortable here ; the weather still so cool that 
 we feel no impatience for the relief of a more northern 
 latitude. Your friend Mr. Gonya has turned up. 
 He called to see your Father at the Capitol last 
 Thursday. Of course we were very glad to see him, 
 first on your account, and afterwards on his own, as 
 he proved himself a very nice gentleman. He was in- 
 vited to dinner on Friday, and then because of even- 
 [ 128] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 ing session it was postponed until Saturday. Satur- 
 day we had a round table dinner. Mr. and Mrs. Bates, 
 whom you saw in Paris, — they brought letters of 
 introduction from Gen. Schenck, — Mr. Shellabarger ^ 
 of Ohio, and four ladies from the same state, Mr. 
 Packer ^ of Pennsylvania, and Mr. and Mrs. Hale and 
 Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll.^ I went out with Mr. Gonya. 
 He felt very badly, as he had come from New York 
 with only a business suit on, but of course no one but 
 himself cared for that. He said a great deal about 
 you, and I was particularly pleased to hear him say 
 that you were of great advantage to him because you 
 spoke French so well. He called again Monday even- 
 ing, but would not come in as we had company for 
 dinner. Was very sorry not to see him again. 
 
 Emmons is going with your Father to Washing- 
 ton, Penna. the last of June. Am writing him to- 
 day to be sure to have plenty of nice clothes. Think 
 he finds it almost as hard as you did to get along 
 on the allowance. The Hales get away from Wash- 
 
 * Samuel Shellabnrger, member of Congress from Ohio. 
 
 * Asa Packer, founder of Lehigh University. 
 
 ' Robert G. Ingersoll of Illinois, the famous orator. In Mr. 
 Ingersoll's speech nominating INIr. Blaine at the Republican National 
 Convention in Cincinnati in 1876 occurred the now historic phrase 
 "plumed knight," which became so popular as applied to INIr. Blaine. 
 It is interesting to note that Mr. Blaine himself never liked this 
 apiiellation, thinking that it suggested "white feather" as much as 
 "Helmet of Navarre." 
 
 VOL. 
 
 [ 129 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Ington Saturday. Mr. H. was here to dinner again 
 Monday. 
 
 As I said in my last letter, do not be particular to 
 buy the things I have specified. Anything else will 
 do just as well as lace or sash or picture. You will 
 find the old house all renovated and everybody I hope 
 in the best of health and spirits to meet you.^ 
 
 To Miss Dodge, in Hamilton 
 
 Augusta, July 16th, 1872. 
 Mr. Blaine and the boys, the elder ones, have just 
 driven off to church — three fans, a cotton umbrella 
 and a horse and buggy amongst them. The Papa 
 took the umbrella, Emmons drove, and Walker fanned, 
 and I only hope they may step far enough heaven- 
 ward to pay for the earthly trouble — for Mons in 
 harnessing broke out into a heat which nothing could 
 allay — his Father in the supreme moment of de- 
 parture turned round to tell us how large his head 
 felt, while Walker with the prospect of three or four 
 favorite girls to flirt with, was eminently content. 
 J'aime and M. were in the yard to see them off, 
 J'aime all currants and raspberries from his throat 
 to the hem of his frock, but clean as to the face, and 
 sweeter than honey in the honeycomb ; his last word 
 
 • Walker landed in Boston early in June, 1872. 
 [130] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 to the martyrologists being " Hulloa ! " a greeting 
 which they seemed to think a pitiful satire. 
 
 To Mrs. Homan 
 
 Autumn, 1872 ( ?) 
 Dear Neighbor, — The storm prevents my ven- 
 turing in, so I take this more formal method of 
 inviting yourself, Mr Homan and Mrs Manley to 
 tea tomorrow evening at 6-^^. Doors open at any 
 hour after dinner, company extremely informal; ex- 
 cuses not in order. Do you think it would be more 
 christianlike to invite Miss Town? I cannot bear to 
 hurt her feelings. If you say so, I shall. Good-bye, 
 affectionately yours, with a cough. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 Friday afternoon. 
 
 [131] 
 
1876 
 
 " The session in the House preceding the presidential contest of 
 1876 was a period of stormy and vehement contention. . . . ]\Ir. 
 Blaine became the subject of a violent personal assault. Charges 
 were circulated that he had received $64,000 from the Union Pacific 
 Railroad Company for some undefined services. On the 24th of 
 April, 1876, he rose to a personal explanation in the House and made 
 his answer. He produced letters from the officers of the Company and 
 from the bankers who were said to have negotiated the draft, in which 
 they declared there had never been any such transaction, and that 
 Mr. Blaine had never received a dollar from the Company. Mr. 
 Blaine proceeded to add that the charges had reappeared in the form 
 of an assertion that he had received bonds of the Little Rock and 
 Fort Smith Railroad as a gratuity, and that these bonds had been 
 sold through the Union Pacific Company for his benefit. To this he 
 responded that he never had any such bonds except at the market 
 price, and that, instead of deri\'ing any profit from them, he had in- 
 curred a large pecuniary loss. On May 2nd a resolution was adopted 
 in the House to investigate an alleged purchase by the Union Pacific 
 Railroad Company, at an excessive price, of certain bonds of the Little 
 Rock and Fort Smith Railroad. It soon became evident that the 
 investigation was aimed at Mr. Blaine. An extended business corre- 
 spondence on his part with Warren Fisher, of Boston, running through 
 years and relating to various transactions, had fallen into the hands of 
 a clerk named Mulligan, and it was alleged that the production of this 
 correspondence would confirm the unputations against Mr. Blaine. 
 When Mulligan was summoned to Washington, Mr. Blaine possessed 
 himself of the letters, together with a memorandum that contained a 
 full index and abstract. On June 5th he rose to a personal explana- 
 tion, and, after denying the power of the House to compel the pro- 
 duction of liis private papers, and his willingness to go to any extremity 
 in defence of his rights, he declared his purpose to reserve nothing. 
 Holding up the letters, he exclaimed : " Thank God, I am not ashamed 
 to show them. There is the very original package, and with some 
 
sense of humiliation, with a mortification I do not attempt to conceal, 
 with a sense of outrage which I think any man in my position would 
 feel, I invite the confidence of forty-four millions of my countrjmen, 
 while I read these letters from this desk." 
 
 The demonstration closed with a dramatic scene. Josiah Caldwell, 
 one of the originators of the Little Rock and Fort Smith Railroad, who 
 had full knowledge of the whole transaction, was travelling in Europe, 
 and both sides were seeking to communicate with him. After finish- 
 ing the reading of the letters, Mr. Blaine turned to the chairman of the 
 committee and demanded to know whether he received any despatches 
 from INIr. Caldwell. Receiving an evasive reply, Mr. Blaine asserted, 
 as within his own knowledge, that the chairman had received such 
 despatches "completely and absolutely exonerating me from this 
 charge and you have suppressed it." A profound sensation was 
 created and General Garfield said: "I have been a long time in 
 Congress and never saw such a scene in the House.'" 
 
 The Repubhcan National Convention was now at hand and Mr. 
 Blaine was the most prominent candidate for the presidential nomina- 
 tion. ... On June 11th, the Sunday preceding the Convention, 
 just as he was entering Church at Washington, he was prostrated \\ ith 
 the extreme heat, and his illness for a time created wide apprehension. 
 The advocates of his nomination, however, remained unshaken in 
 their support. On the first ballot he received 285 votes out of a total 
 of 754, the remainder being divided among Senator Morton, Secretary 
 Bristow, Senator Conkling, Governor Hayes, and several others. On 
 the seventh ballot his vote rose to 351, lacking only 28 of a majority, 
 but the union of the supporters of all the other candidates gave Gov- 
 ernor Hayes 384, and secured his nomination. Immediately after the 
 Convention, on the resignation of Senator Morrill to accept the Secre- 
 taryship of the Treasury, Mr. Blaine was appointed Senator to fill 
 the unexpired terra, and in the following winter he was chosen by the 
 Legislature for the full ensuing term." 
 
 Appletori's Encyclopaedia of American Biography. 
 
To Emmons at Harvard 
 
 Washington, June 4, 1876. 
 I have been very anxious to hear from you to know- 
 how you were enduring, like a good son, the fiery 
 ordeal through which your father is passing. 
 
 Its fierceness no one but himself can know, but 
 walking it, he feels peculiarly for you and Walker. 
 
 The defeat in the convention is as the small dust 
 of the balance to him, though no one better knows 
 than himself the prize for which he was contending. 
 But the thought which takes the manhood out of 
 him is that you and Walker, who are just entering 
 life, may, perhaps, be forced to see, not only aU 
 your proud and happy anticipations disappointed, 
 but yourselves put on the defensive. 
 
 He has been upstairs looking up the order of a 
 speech for the House to-morrow, but it is very likely 
 it will never be made, as every new-comer has dif- 
 ferent advice to give. 
 
 I find it difficult to command my thoughts, but 
 there is one thing I must say, though I presume and 
 hope you will laugh at my fears. I have been afraid 
 you might go into Boston and do something to 
 Mulligan ; but you have sense enough to know that 
 nothing could be worse for your Father than noto- 
 [ 135] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 riety of that kind. Keep yourself as patient and 
 hopeful as you can. ... All of us are well, and your 
 father has a great reserve of pluck and resource. 
 
 To Mr. Joseph H. Manley 
 
 Sunday afternoon. 
 June 4, 1876. 
 Washington. 
 
 My dear Friend, — The only tears I have shed 
 in all this bitter time have been over your letter. I 
 could not read unmoved what you say of him, for 
 you confirm what I have always said, that those who 
 know liim most, love him best. I dare to say that he 
 is the best man I have ever known. Do not misunder- 
 stand me, I do not say that he is the best man that 
 ever hved, but that of all the men whom I have 
 thoroughly known, he is the best. 
 
 You must not think, dear Joe, from the tone in 
 which I write that we are cast down, or if cast down, 
 discouraged, but can one tread the wine press so long 
 alone and not some time give out.'' 
 
 We are full of courage, though perfectly aware 
 that now is the crisis. Is n't the suspense hard to 
 bear and does it not require almost more than mortal 
 wisdom, to decide whether to do, or to leave alone.? 
 I think Mr. Blaine will decide to do, though before 
 [ 130] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 tomorrow, something or somebody may turn him 
 from what is now his fixed purpose. But if there 
 ever was a time when there were reasons for his being 
 nominated, those reasons are doubled and intensified 
 by all this precaution. Why should the great Re- 
 publican party play into the hands of Confederates 
 whether they hail from the farther South or from 
 Kentucky ? 
 
 I have never been enthusiastic for the nomination. 
 The intensest feeling I had was that it should not go 
 to Bristow. But now I want Mr. Blaine to have it 
 and to go to it, as it were, on men's shoulders. I 
 hate to hate but I am in danger of that feeling now. 
 I have written with great abandon and perhaps im- 
 prudently but you will confine all I have said to 
 yourself. 
 
 If you are staying with Abby, please give her my 
 dear love and believe me most sincerely yours, 
 
 Harriet S. Blaine. 
 
 To M. IN Augusta 
 
 Newhall House, Milwaukee,* 
 October 26th, 1876. 
 Thursday, 3 p. m. 
 
 My dear M., — Yesterday I spent at Peoria, quite 
 
 a memorable day to me. We left Grand Rapids about 
 
 * Mr. Blaine was at this time campaigning for Hayes in the 
 Northwest. 
 
 [ 137 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 eleven o'clock Thursday morning, reached Chicago 
 about eight, had two hours there for supper and a 
 little rest. We were met at the depot by some gentle- 
 men with a carriage and were driven to the Grand 
 Pacific. There I found a beautiful room awaiting us 
 and a supper already ordered. The supper was as 
 delightful as the room, and I had quite a nap in my 
 bonnet before we were obliged to move. We reached 
 Peoria about six in the morning, and before I had an 
 idea we were there, and while still struggling with my 
 buttons, I heard Mrs. Ingersoll's well remembered 
 voice asking for me. There she was at six in the 
 morning, about a dozen gentlemen in attendance, three 
 carriages, herself dressed beautifully in a brown silk 
 costume, all ready to take us to the very middle of 
 her heart and home. I took my overskirt over my 
 arm, put a veil over my hair, pinned my crimps, went 
 through the introduction with as much dignity as I 
 could muster, and was soon at the Ingersoll mansion. 
 Eva came running down to the gate to meet us and 
 Maude stood at the door. Then there was Mrs. 
 Parker, Mrs. Ingersoll's mother, a delightful lady 
 looking not much older than myself, Mrs. Farrar, 
 Mrs. I.'s sister, a young lady of twenty, Mr. F. and 
 a little girl, a varied and agreeable family. The 
 house is large and handsome and handsomely fur- 
 nished, but it was as the small dust in the balance com- 
 [ 138] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 pared to the hospitality which was lavished upon us. 
 Perhaps I never felt so welcome anywhere in my life. 
 At ten o'clock Mr. Ingersoll, who had been away 
 speaking arrived, and nothing could exceed the 
 warmth of his welcome. At nine we had breakfast. 
 Mrs. I. had ordered it for seven, but for some un- 
 explained cause, which no one seemed to trouble them- 
 selves about, it was two hours late. No matter, it was 
 a loaded table when we got it. Three kinds of meat, 
 not to mention fried oysters, potatoes in different 
 styles, cakes, etc. Here arose a difficulty. Mr. Far- 
 rar was very nervous, and as soon as he found what 
 was expected of him, had disappeared. His wife 
 sent for him to wait on the table, but he never came 
 back. Mr. Blaine did not want to carve, pleading 
 that he never did it at home, and was moreover so 
 hungry, he should hold out only for three or four 
 plates. So Susan Sharkey was called in from the 
 kitchen, was introduced to us as Miss Sharkey, stood 
 up and served us all impartially to the three prin- 
 cipal dishes, not troubling us to give a preference. 
 She was a most wholesome, respectable looking woman, 
 as indeed were all Mrs. Ingersoll's maids — five — 
 and after she had performed the work required of her, 
 she withdrew without a word. I took a great hking 
 to her. She has lived with Mrs. I. thirteen years. 
 The house was thronged with people all day, and 
 [ 139] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 every man who came in wanted to be introduced to 
 me. One woman who came, by the name of Stanley, 
 said she saw I did not remember her, but that I used 
 to go to school to her in Hamilton.^ Of course I 
 was able to convince her that my name was not Han- 
 nah Augusta or Mary Abby. 
 
 In the evening there was a great crowd came up 
 to serenade your Father. They gave three cheers for 
 Mrs. Blaine also and Mr. Ingersoll did his best to 
 make me go onto the steps and acknowledge the com- 
 pliment, but I need not say that for this I was too 
 modest, so he did it for me. At eleven we came down 
 to the sleeping car and went to bed, though we did 
 not leave P until one o'clock, reaching Chicago at 
 seven. Two nights that I have been in the sleeping 
 car. 
 
 We breakfasted at the Grand Pacific, and at once 
 left for this city, arriving between twelve and one 
 o'clock. Have just had dinner, and Father has now 
 gone off to make his speech. I was not prepared for 
 the enthusiasm which everywhere greets your Father. 
 Every attention which can be thought of is showered 
 upon him. At breakfast this morning I saw Horace 
 Williams, who spoke to me of Uncle Sylvanus's death, 
 but I had heard it just before through a telegram 
 from Charles Caldwell asking us to come to Alton. 
 I have been very much tempted to leave your Father 
 
 * Two cousius of Mrs. Blaine's went to school in Hamilton. 
 [ 140 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 and spend Sunday with them, but have now given it 
 up, as your Father did not quite Hke the thought of 
 separating. I am very sorry not to have been at 
 home at this time. I must not forget to mention 
 that at St. Joseph, quite a large town in Michigan, 
 where a great crowd had gathered at the depot, I 
 was very much taken aback to hear proposed " and 
 three cheers for his honored lady, who is also pres- 
 ent." Almost as good as " His Lady fanned her 
 wounded knight." I think the compliment was very 
 likely suggested by Dr. Stratton, an old friend of 
 the family from Winslow, who Hves in St. Jo. He is 
 a man of position I imagine in the community, though 
 St. Jo is not a very aristocratic looking place. I 
 saw Mr. and Mrs. Frye at the depot here a moment 
 this morning. They had come from Green Bay to- 
 day and were starting for home. Emma is at Stam- 
 ford at school with Alice, and Mr. and Mrs. F go to 
 Washington in about four weeks. It seemed quite 
 homelike to see them. I must dress now, as some 
 ladies are coming to call on me. With love to all, 
 most affectionately, 
 
 MOTHEE. 
 
 [ H.1 ] 
 
1877-1879 
 
The family spent the winter of 1877-78 in Augusta, Mr. Blaine 
 being in Washington when his official duties made it necessary. 
 
To Miss Dodge, in Hamilton 
 
 Augusta, January lOtb, 1877. 
 
 My dear Abby, — I have but a moment. Supper 
 is just ready. Mary is waiting for me to decide 
 whether it is worth while to open a can of peaches 
 for that meal. Jamie is fighting the dogs in the 
 kitchen, and Mr B is directing a letter to Miss Mary 
 A Dodge, Augusta Maine, in anticipation of your 
 winter residence. 
 
 I have a room for you as good as the Chamber of 
 Peace, — the windows open to the rising sun, and 
 two of them hold the sun while he runs his race. I 
 shall give you up the library while the master of the 
 house is away. It is never used, and you can take 
 possession. In short, I hope to establish you in com- 
 fort if not in luxury. So much for what I can do 
 for you. What you can do for me goes without say- 
 ing. I shall float instead of sinking, shall enjoy in- 
 stead of sulking, shall eat and sleep, shall have a 
 motive and a stimulus, and shall now and then do you 
 the honor to ask your opinion. I ought not to write 
 another word, for every thought in my head and all 
 the strength of my hands is given to my party of 
 Friday evening. What do you think of providing 
 standing room and supper for over five hundred 
 VOL. I — 10 [ 145 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 people? Five hundred will not come, but so many are 
 asked, and all the preparations have gone through my 
 head. The ices and salads are made out, but our 
 kitchen furnishes the rest. Do you know that one 
 quart of ice cream will suffice for ten persons, and that 
 one quart of oysters will satisfy only five.? Then we 
 are making thirty-two charlottes. If this seems small 
 and irrelevant talk to you, remember that you troubled 
 Whittier with a new old gown. I hear he refers to it 
 as new, but undoubtedly it is the lavender. And by 
 the way, you will need that dress here. Augusta is 
 not gayless, and I want you to do honor to the family. 
 Since I have been writing there has been a fierce storm 
 between the Jameses. It ended in a graceful capitu- 
 lation on the part of the elder, followed by a perfect 
 abandon of affection on that of the less, and H. 
 kept time to the march of events by crying her eyes 
 out because " Papa was not going to let Jamie go 
 to the Exhibition." Do not feel concerned, we are 
 all going, a happy family together. Did Mr B. re- 
 member to tell you about M. sending Jamie down 
 town with five cents to buy her some stick cinnamon.? 
 He returned with a package of slippery elm. M. 
 could think of nothing but Elizabeth's poultices. 
 Most affectionately, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 [ 146] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 To M., Visiting in Marquette 
 
 Augusta, August 1st, 1879 
 Friday before dinner. 
 
 My dear M., — It is now several hours since my 
 
 dearest daughter took her hegira, and already I seem 
 
 to have volumes to tell her. How the dust of your 
 
 chariot wheels had not subsided before I found myself 
 
 engaged in a little round with Alice, who hoped she 
 
 should never be called selfish again, seeing she had not 
 
 hesitated to give you her lisle thread gloves, when 
 
 yours, through your own carelessness, in the supreme 
 
 moment of your departure, were found wanting. In 
 
 vain your Father assured her that lisle thread gloves 
 
 grew on every bush and that he would make her a 
 
 present of half a dozen pairs — the little maid would 
 
 have her will, and said, " Nay, we are even." And 
 
 then the three who were left, Alice, the Pater and I, 
 
 adjourned to the billiard room, where I looked on 
 
 at this child beating what Emmons and Ely would 
 
 call her Governor out of his boots, dropping her 
 
 cue in the middle of a game and vanishing without 
 
 ceremony, as she remembered that the ice cream for 
 
 her picnic was unordered — and old Barbara Frietchie 
 
 had hardly taken up the cue she threw down when 
 
 Mr. Hale appeared in the door, having arrived from 
 
 Bowdoinham. The minute I saw him, of course I felt 
 
 [ 147] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 anxiety about the dinner, and while I seemed to be 
 in the very act of welcoming him with empressement, 
 I found myself in close confab with CaroHne in the 
 kitchen, discussing fish, soup, vegetables and dessert. 
 Old Caroline was not to be moved from her serene 
 foundations. It requires brains to apprehend, and 
 I have always known that hers were all starch. 
 
 Not to tire you with particulars — I had hardly 
 resumed my manners in the billiard-room, when Fred 
 appeared with the horses to tell me that Emmons had 
 gone off in a prodigious hurry, at the last moment, 
 to Hallowell, Miss M. was feeling so badly, and that 
 he had shouted back to Mr. Sherman to send down for 
 him. So as your Father and Mr. H. were by this 
 time deep in a discussion over the next issue of 
 Honest Truth, I determined to take advantage of 
 the carriage and have a drive, so behold me rattling 
 down, beneath the fiercest rage of that ten o'clock 
 sun, in my white sacque and old silk skirt, sheltered 
 only by a parasol, while Fred in front bent forward 
 to meet the heat half-way, as lovingly as a fire- 
 worshipper. We found Emmons comfortably seated 
 in the shade of one of the piers of the bridge, his red 
 stockings alone distinguishing him from the common 
 tramp. All the women of the little house opposite 
 were engaged in watcliing him, and if it had been 
 anybody but my own son, I should say he was winking 
 
 [ lis ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 at them, but I suppose no son of mine would be guilty 
 of such vulgarity. I was pleased enough to find that 
 it was not the doldrums on your part, but carelessness 
 on his, which had sent him kiting to Hallowell, and 
 oh, was it not lucky that Providence sent his fingers 
 into his pocket to feel the trunk cheque, to impell him 
 to swing himself onto that rear car, before it was too 
 late to get it into your keeping ! Who after this will 
 say that Providence does not interest itself in small 
 things .? Well, good-bye. All things are as they were. 
 I am writing at the old desk of blessed Congressional 
 memory, and through the open window come from 
 the library the dulcet tones of Joseph Manley, the 
 undertow of Bigelow, the careful intonations of Mr. 
 Hale, your Father's powerful thread, Tom's inter- 
 rogations, as he keeps the thread of the letters he is 
 answering, and the smoke of Emmons' cigarette. I 
 have been into the dining room and have selected a 
 tablecloth for dinner, my one effort at good form in 
 housekeeping, and now comes H. dressed for the picnic 
 in one of her beloved calicoes, to see if she can wade. 
 (Do say yes, Mama, — it will break my heart to have 
 to stand on the shore and see Tuly going in.) Most 
 affectionately, 
 
 H S B 
 
 [149] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Augusta August 3rd 1879, 
 Sunday noon 
 
 My deab. M., — We are just home from doing the 
 honors of the Arsenal and the Hospital to Mr. Henry 
 Field,^ who came on the eight o'clock train, com- 
 ing down from Montreal yesterday, leaving that place 
 at I-Y2 ill the morning. For five weeks he has been 
 salmon fishing on the river of Mr Stephens, Presi- 
 dent of the Montreal Bank. He is as brown as a 
 nut, and came on with all the fishing rods that the 
 fashion of the time demands. I need not say that he 
 is exactly our old Washington friend, in the new 
 setting of Augusta. Tomorrow, he and Emmons 
 leave for Mt Desert, via Portland. He looked all 
 around the church in search of a face pretty enough 
 for Emmons, with a mental reservation for himself, 
 I dare say, but saw none worthy of his heart. And 
 in fact, our congregation did present rather an un- 
 usually unattractive exterior. The Free Will Bap- 
 tists had emptied themselves into the pews, but that 
 did not improve matters, and after Mr F. had allowed 
 
 his eyes to wander from Mrs C 's and Mrs 
 
 F 's mourning, there was only Deacon Hallett's 
 
 pew within the range of his vision. The music 
 
 * Mr. Henry Field of Chicago. 
 [ 150 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 was good, as it was rendered by Pinkham, but the 
 preacher ! He was unbearable. It was humiliating 
 to find yourself sitting under his voice. He was 
 aggravatingly handsome, and posed before us, in a 
 thousand attitudes to show off his physique. May 
 I never hear of or see him again ! 
 
 Your Father got home at two tliis morning, very 
 tired and perhaps a little cross. He had a fine meet- 
 ing at Saco, his prominent auditor being Orville 
 Baker,^ who turned up from Old Orchard, in attend- 
 ance on Mabel Boardman, Mr. Phelps's - niece, you 
 know, and Alice's school friend. And this morn- 
 ing's mail brought Emmons a very nice letter from 
 Mr. Ellis, which proves a grateful supplement to 
 your postal, and I think of you to-day, resting 
 and cooling in Detroit, and embarking on the Lake, 
 with a satisfaction I could not call up yesterday, as 
 I imagined you flying over the torrid belt of central 
 New York. 
 
 > Orville Dewey Baker of Augusta, Attorney-General of Maine, 
 1885-88; died 1908. 
 
 ^ (Sometimes referred to in the Letters as William Walter, or 
 W. W. P.) William Walter Phelps of New Jersey represented the 
 Englewood District in Congress in 1873-75 and 1883-89; was 
 United States Minister to Austria in 1881-82, to Germany 1889-93; 
 lay judge of the Court of Errors and Appeals of New Jersey, and 
 represented America at the Samoan Conference in Berlin in 1889. 
 He died at Teaneck, N. J.. 1894. 
 
 [151 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 6:30. Emmons, your Father, Mr. Reed,^ and Mr. 
 Field, — you see I do not pay much attention to 
 precedence — have just started on a drive, your 
 Father holding the reins. As Mr. Reed is on the back 
 seat, imagine the way in which his eyes will wander 
 from those horses. And H. has just come driv- 
 ing into the yard with Fred, who has been up to 
 Aunt Emily's for cake, and who now has gone to 
 take his little Emily to drive. And I have got 
 through the afternoon by taking a nap on my sofa, 
 by a pitcher of lemonade under the trees, by a chap- 
 ter or two in Our Mutual Friend, and best and last 
 of all, by a telegram which that dearest and best of 
 youths, Philip Ely, has sent me from Detroit. It 
 seems as though I had been in your visible presence, 
 and it has done me a world of good. Excepting the 
 telegram, the afternoon has been rather flat. 
 
 HSB 
 
 Augusta, August 5th 1879 
 Tuesday 10:30 a.m. 
 
 My dear M., — I am just through with a great 
 
 scare, it is this, it is this ! Your Father had a note 
 
 from Mrs. L this morning, to the intent that she 
 
 and Mrs F would pass through town on their way 
 
 from Mt Desert and would be glad to see him at 
 
 * Thomas B. Reed of Maine, afterwards Speaker of the House. 
 [ 152 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 the station. Of course he went down all prepared 
 to bring them back with him, but luckily for me, 
 Mr. C, Mrs. L.'s father, is due this morning, so 
 I had the satisfaction inexpressible, as I was watch- 
 ing stealthily from the sitting room window, to 
 see your Father driven up in state by Frederick, 
 but no lovely bonnets or feminine hats brightening 
 the void at his side. For the heat is intense, and to 
 sit through all the hours of this scorching day, in 
 one of my many black dresses, not thoroughly inter- 
 ested for one moment, but wearisomely polite in 
 every one, seems, now that I know it will not have to 
 be, more than I could bear. Old Caroline too has a 
 reprieve. The family consists of your parents, Alice, 
 
 Jamie and H , and Mr Sherman. Life has lost 
 
 all its flavor. I cannot eat. I have dyspepsia, and 
 as a consequence everything is stale, flat and un- 
 profitable. My state of mind is perfectly senseless 
 as you will discover, but it is due to the stomach, not 
 the heart, so I will not apologize for it. And I have 
 had another letter from Mr. Bishop,^ and the Bishops 
 will not stop on their way to Moosehead, but on their 
 return. I am so glad for Emmons, who went away, 
 feehng that he was hardly doing the fair thing by 
 me to run away just as they were coming. 
 
 ' William Darius Bishop, Member of Congress from Connecticut, 
 and president of the New York, New Haven and Hartford R. 11. 
 
 [ 153 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 The same mall which brought Mrs. L's note, 
 brought me a letter from Mr. Ely at Rochester, 
 — thank him for it, and ask him to send me word 
 what of his wardrobe was left behind, and I will have 
 it looked up, if it still lingers in the land of the leal, 
 of which I have doubts, as Emmons was obliged to 
 start for Bar Harbor yesterday with one of his own 
 handkerchiefs, one of his Father's and one of Jamie's. 
 Their united wardrobes could only furnish the three. 
 
 Saturday August 9th. I have no idea, my sweet- 
 est daughter, what is already written on this paper 
 as it has been laid aside for days, but no good thing 
 is to be lightly flung aside, so I resume on its unoc- 
 cupied space, and proceed at once to tell you that it 
 is Saturday afternoon, and warm though not too 
 warm, and that I am alone in the parlor, and that 
 Aunt Emily in solitary state is in the library, and 
 Aunt Caddy in Alice's room, and Aunt Susan is 
 driving Alice up to Mr. Farwell's. Mr. Frye ^ was' 
 here to breakfast — he came yesterday afternoon and 
 spoke in the evening. I went to hear him and was 
 quite captivated. He and your Father have now gone 
 to Mt. Vernon, driving over. They are to reach 
 home about nine, and Mr Frye drives over to Lewis- 
 
 ' William Pierce Frye, at this time Member of Congress from 
 Maine ; later he succeeded Mr. Blaine in the Senate. 
 [ 154 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 ton in the morning. Just before they got away, 
 Mr Hale turned up, dined with us, and now he has 
 left for Norridgewock, and Tom Sherman too has 
 gone off, so were it not for the Aunts, the two 
 Harriets would represent the state. 
 
 Augusta, August 13th 1879 
 Wednesday afternoon. 
 
 My deae M., — This letter will treat of the Hon. 
 Zachariah Chandler. He arrived yesterday morning 
 at ten, and as he came up the steps Mr. Bodwell,^ 
 whom I never expected to regard with feehngs of 
 lively gratitude, appeared to invite him to Hallowell 
 to inspect the granite works there. It is so unusual 
 for me to receive any assistance in the entertainment 
 of a visitor, that my first feeling when I saw them a 
 few minutes later, driving off together, was, that I 
 had been defrauded. Interrupted by a call from Her- 
 bert Davis, who is in Augusta, writing up his uncle's 
 affairs, and who I sincerely hope will write himself 
 into his uncle's will. Emmons invited him to come 
 down to-morrow to play tennis, and I supplemented 
 the invitation with another from myself to take tea. 
 To revert to Mr. Chandler — he has gone ; he went at 
 ten this morning, or rather at nine, as at that hour 
 Emmons took him over to see the Lambard mansion. 
 
 ' Joseph Robinson Bodwell of Hallowell, Governor of Maine 1887; 
 died in oflBice on December 15th of that year. 
 [ 155 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 I went to Granite Hall last night to hear him, and 
 sat directly behind Julia Armitage. She has groA^Ti 
 into a most beautiful, graceful girl, quite a young 
 lady. Mrs. Baldwin and Mrs. Johnson, her aunts, 
 had been over in the afternoon to call on Mr. Chand- 
 ler, and were at the hall, so we all sat on the plat- 
 form together. Now, I am just up from down town, 
 and Milhe is putting supper on the table, so I hurry. 
 Aunt Emily is here. She has come down to see if 
 Ahce and H will go to Squirrel Island to-morrow, and 
 they are going and I have asked Maud and Bess to go 
 too, and they have accepted, and I have bought a new 
 lunch basket and bananas and peaches and pears, and 
 five cents worth of caramels, and a bottle of blacking, 
 and elastic, — was there ever a picnic when I did not 
 have to buy hat elastic ? — and blueberries for tea. 
 
 And Mr. Chandler says fish pudding is a Michigan 
 dish, so perhaps it was Ellsworth that borrowed, and 
 not Marquette. At any rate, we had a very nice 
 one for dinner to-day, only there was no one to eat 
 it, nor the broiled chicken which came after. I could 
 not even venture on my usual wing, greatly to Em- 
 mons's disgust, who declared his own appetite affected 
 by my lack of sympathy, and there was no one but 
 Tom to help out, as Father came on the four o'clock 
 train from Vassalboro', having had a charming day 
 on his travels, spending two hours at Brunswick. 
 [ 158 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Altogether he had quite a splendid time, and when 
 he got onto the train there were Judge Rice and Mrs., 
 returning ignobly by rail from Rockland, for the 
 party which left Augusta so gaily in coach and four, 
 as one might say, only got as far as Rockland. There 
 the cream-colored ponies fell sick, there also Judge 
 Rice lay down, Mrs Rice also, and Mrs Goodwin, and 
 yesterday Mrs G. drove home all the " teams," and 
 the patriarch of the tribe came to-day with his wife, 
 very bright and very happy to find himself travelling 
 in orthodox fashion. Emmons came on the Pullman 
 at 2 o'clock yesterday morning. As usual I got up 
 and unfastened the door, then went to his room to 
 find that Maggie Nurse had forgotten to Hght it 
 and remove his shams. By the way, the Honorable 
 Zachariah took an afternoon nap on his yesterday, 
 and a shocking sight they are to-day. So I amused 
 myself by repairing Maggie Nurse's neglect, then 
 went to bed again till five, when I got up to get up 
 your Father, who at six left for Vassalboro'. With 
 great devotion and difficulty I got him down stairs 
 in season to make a comfortable breakfast, when I 
 delightedly passed him and his bag and his winter 
 overcoat and Emmons's summer one, and his own 
 alpaca, into Frederick's hands, who speedily but with 
 much anguish for the old phaeton, convej'^ed him to 
 the station. But I am forgetting Mr Chandler. He 
 [ 157 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 is my text. He made a very good speech indeed, 
 though when Joseph Manley at the table just now- 
 said that he gave the best illustration of the bond- 
 holder he had ever heard, your Father declared he 
 took it bodily from a speech he made last fall in 
 Detroit. 
 
 Augusta, August 14th 1879 
 My dear M., — Here I am sitting up in my best 
 black summer dress, which however is fast taking on 
 a shining face, preparatory to a tea drinking with 
 Herbert Davis, but alas! instead of a long table 
 where face answers to face, all up and down the 
 sides, only us four and no more, will sit down to 
 our fried chicken to-night; for at six this morning 
 Alice and H got off to Squirrel Island, and a time 
 we had to get them off, as we slept till five and a half, 
 and there were Maud and Bess and Alice Farwell and 
 Aunt Emily to collect on the way. 
 
 Emmons alone has represented the junior part of 
 the Blaine family, and has most agreeably fulfilled 
 the function, correcting proof for Honest Truth, 
 reading, endorsing and sending telegrams, borrowing 
 my last V to send to John Goodenow, of whom he had 
 borrowed one at Old Orchard, tearing down town a 
 dozen times for his Father, carving a mighty sirloin 
 of roast beef for dinner, the knife so sharp it went 
 [ 158] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 into it like butter, to use his own words — for I have 
 myself bought a whetstone and instructed Millie in 
 its use, and I only wish Philip Ely of blessed memory 
 were here to use the carver, — playing billiards every 
 minute in which your Father found a minute to whistle 
 " For he might have been a Prussian " and to hold a 
 cue, and finally getting your Father to the station 
 with his three coats and his bag — though I packed 
 the bag, and Maggie Nurse collected the coats, and 
 Millie and Maggie and Tom and Emmons and I all 
 joined in the search for the hat, which finally, retain- 
 ing its crown and rim, when any respectable hat 
 would have given up the ghost, was found under all 
 the newspapers and all the books, having evidently 
 been used all day for a cushion by every sitter down 
 in the library. I hovered on the outskirts to bid him 
 good-bye, afraid to come recklessly to the front lest 
 he should want some money, and I have only three 
 silver quarters in my dear little purse, that cunning 
 little leather pouch which Jamie gave me, and, M., I 
 have drawn so much money this month, how can any- 
 one who never listens to or enters into a detail, under- 
 stand it.!* But M. is off on her travels, and Jamie on 
 his, and Emmons has been, and Alice and H to-day, 
 and from the grain that feeds the horses to the butter 
 that spreads the bread, I pay for everything. I often 
 think I am the heart, I feed the arteries, I fill the 
 [ 159 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 veins, if I stop pulsating it is death, for debt is death. 
 But Father is gone, and I have my siller, and all day 
 it has rained in showers, and though Emmons is 
 marking out his tennis, an immense cloud is lowering 
 exactly over the lawn. 
 
 Sunday afternoon August 17th, 1879. 
 
 My dear M., — I have but a moment in which to 
 write. Mr. and Mrs. Hale and Clarence are here, 
 and Mr. Smalley ^ of the New York Tribune, and 
 Dr Updegraff ^ of Iowa have been here to dinner, 
 which is just over, and now Emmons has gone to 
 sleep in his chair, with one of his dreadful headaches. 
 It is very rainy and cold — two furnace and two 
 open fires attesting to the truth of my statement. 
 
 Mrs H, Clarence, Emmons, H and I went to 
 church and heard Mr Ecob preach an admirable ser- 
 mon, and I have stolen into the annex while the doctor 
 prescribes for Clarence, simply to tell you that your 
 Father is unalterably opposed to Walker's going to 
 Marquette. I presume arrangements can and will be 
 made for you to return by the way of St Paul, and 
 tomorrow, I intend to set myself vigorously to work, 
 to find out about passes, routes, etc., and shall then 
 
 1 E. V. Smalley, correspondent of the New York Tribune. 
 
 * Thomas Updegraff, Republican member of Congress from Iowa. 
 
 [ 160] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 send the result of my investigations to you. The 
 Hales leave to-morrow afternoon and the Camerons 
 come next Friday. I shall be really delighted to see 
 Philip Ely again in Augusta, and will write him to 
 say so myself. Emmons starts off speechmaking in 
 about a week. 
 
 H S B 
 
 To Walker, in St. Paul 
 
 Augusta, Aug. 18 1879, Monday. 
 My dear Walker, — M. objects to her letters 
 going through St Paul. She imagines it gives them 
 a stale flavor, and probably they are not as appetiz- 
 ing to you as a dish prepared for your own palate. 
 Be this as it may, I write now to you as collectedly 
 as may be, with Mr. Davis ^ (Governor) and Mr. Bart- 
 lett in the room. The conversation too is on Maine 
 politics, that most interesting and discouragmg of 
 topics, for here are the Democrats coming into the 
 conventions and capturing the Greenbackers in vari- 
 ous counties, and your Father so occupied that after 
 he emerges from his chamber in the morning, I do 
 not require nor receive so much civility as a word 
 from him, and sometimes I am so deeply disgusted 
 
 1 Daniel F. Davis, Governor of Maine 1879-80, died in 1897. 
 VOL. I —11 [ 161 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 with American politics, our whole system of popular 
 government, with its fever, its passion, excitement, 
 disappointment, and bitter reaction, that any sphere, 
 however humble, which gives a man to his family, 
 seems to me better than the prize of high place. 
 Mrs. Hale came Friday evening with your Father, 
 who boarded the train on which she was, not at Etna, 
 but at Newport, — he having — after being driven 
 to Etna from East Corinth — procured a ride for 
 himself on a handcar to Newport, that he might see 
 Mr. Dexter about the old wagon. The night was 
 dark, and first he lost his hat, for which they re- 
 traced their steps some half mile, and then his bag 
 was found missing, and for this they went back two 
 miles, but found it not ; but the next morning at ten 
 the express delivered it, much the worse for its travels, 
 the Pullman having gone over it. The contents were 
 found spilled along the side of the track. One shirt 
 was cut all to pieces, the toilet apparatus was never 
 found, and the bag was ruined. But it never seemed 
 to enter his dear head that the escapade was a risky 
 and foolish one and not to be expected from a man of 
 his habits. And although he saw Mr. D., he forgot to 
 ask the price at which the wagon was sold, so we are 
 in as much uncertainty as ever. Clarence came from 
 Portland and spent Saturday with us, stopping in 
 Gardiner to hear Eugene speak that morning, and 
 [ 162 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Emmons drove down after tea in the darkness and 
 rain, carrying along Mr. Updegraff. Do you know 
 who he is.? And at eleven or shortly after, they all 
 arrived at this hospitable mansion, where a couple of 
 bottles of champagne and a good supper helped out 
 the welcome which was awaiting them. 
 
 While at breakfast yesterday, Mr. Smalley's card 
 of the N. Y. Tribune was sent in. Your Father was 
 not up, but Emmons saw him and told him where to 
 go to church and invited him to dinner at two. The 
 day was dreadfully rainy, but Mrs H, Clarence, 
 Emily, H, and I, braved the discomfort of a wet ride 
 for the sake of hearing Mr. Ecob, who gave us a 
 delightful sermon. And then we came home to find 
 your Father still in bed, where he stayed till dinner 
 time, when he got up and came down to enact the 
 host in his most delightful manner, carving, talking, 
 making welcome in his own inimitable way, till Mr. 
 Smalley only tore himself away to write his letter to 
 the Tribune (which I hope will be good reading to 
 you some morning in the St. Paul Gazette) coming 
 back to tea, while Mr. Updegraff made no pretence 
 of going, but stayed right on till eleven o'clock. 
 Mrs. Milliken came to tea and sang hymns and Pina- 
 fore all evening. 
 
 Clarence went this morning, and your Father and 
 Updegraff and Smalley and Gov. Davis to Winthrop 
 [ 163 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 at one, first having a hearty dinner here, and then 
 at four Mr. H. left for Waterville, and it has rained 
 and rained and rained ; and now, at eleven in the even- 
 ing, Emmons has just gone for Mr Hale, and the 
 Winthrop team has returned and they have all had 
 supper here ; and now with the heavens opening and 
 the floods descending, Emmons returns, bringing Mr 
 Hale and followed by Dow bringing up Mr. Dobson 
 and Mr. Campbell, who are to go back on the Pullman 
 and who will spend the intervening hours in the 
 library. The Camerons are coming next Friday. I 
 am glad this dreadful rainfall will be over before 
 they come. 
 
 To IMiss Dodge 
 
 New York, November 9th, 1879. 
 Here I am, having a most delightful second visit. 
 Mr. Blaine is with me. We are just from church, 
 all but Mr. Blaine, who spent the precious hours in 
 which I was learning how to bring up a family, in 
 writing an article, as many pages of closely covered 
 manuscript lying on the table testify ; and as the 
 children are too old to be now set in other grooves, 
 perhaps he is the happier for not being made to see 
 how much we have left to nature and to Providence, 
 [ 164] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 which we ought as parents to have pursued and 
 trained. Mr. Blaine, as you know, is in the best of 
 health and spirits, while Grant is booming along, and 
 welcome, if I were the only one to be consulted. 
 
 To Emmons 
 
 Augusta, November 21st, 1879. 
 
 This is one of my tavern weeks — the board being 
 spread for all who come. The Republican crowd 
 melted away by Wednesday, Mr. Reed going that 
 day at noon. The last news, or report of the 
 situation, is the convening of the Superior Court at 
 Augusta, Monday, the Chief Justice in the chair — 
 though that is not the name of his seat. 
 
 Your Father is in the best of spirits, though what 
 is to be the end of this audacity ^ no one knows. He 
 expects now to leave town Sunday, though I do not 
 believe he can. George Weeks and Mr Sprague are 
 now in consultation with him in the library. Have 
 you an overcoat for Mr. Brown.? If you have not, 
 I shall be under the painful necessity of giving him 
 
 • Referring to the famous "State Steal," an effort made bj' the 
 Democrats to count in fraudulently their candidate, Alonzo H. Garce- 
 lon, as governor, instead of Daniel F. Davis, the rightfully elected 
 candidate. 
 
 [ 165] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 a new one, as I cannot see him drive in your Father's 
 old blue flannel. Is the heavy overcoat hanging here 
 yours, and shall I give it? It looks too handsome. 
 Caroline has cooked 250 chickens since July, and is 
 now beginning on turkeys. She is more to be dreaded 
 than the foxes, which have killed off all the Caldwell 
 turkeys, on which I always depend for Christmas. 
 My pen will not permit of further writing, but my 
 love knows no limitations. 
 
 [ 166] 
 
1880 
 
"As the presidential convention of 1880 approached, it was 
 apparent that Mr. Blaine retained the same support that had adhered 
 to him so tenaciously four years before. The contest developed into 
 an earnest and prolonged struggle bet\veen his friends and those who 
 advocated a third term for General Grant. The convention, one of 
 the most memorable of American history, lasted through six days and 
 there were thirty-sLx ballots. On the first the vote stood : Grant 304, 
 Blaine ^84, Sherman 93, Edmunds 34, Washburne 30, Windom 10, 
 Garfield 1. On the final ballot the friends of Blaine and Sherman 
 united for General Garfield, who received 399 votes to 306 for Grant, 
 and was nominated. On liis election, Mr. Blaine was tendered and 
 accepted the oflSce of Secretary of State." 
 
 Appleions Encyclopaedia of American Biography. 
 
 Mr. Blaine remained in Washington, though he was urged to be 
 present at the convention in person, and his telegram turning over his 
 two hundred and fifty delegates to Garfield gave the latter his nomina- 
 tion. Before election President Garfield appointed Mr. Blaine 
 Secretary of State. In his letter of acceptance, December 10th, 1880, 
 Mr. Blaine v.Tote: "I wish you would say to Mrs. Garfield that the 
 knowledge that she desires me in your Cabinet is more valuable to me 
 than even the desire of the President-elect himself. Indeed, I would 
 not think of going into the Cabinet at all if Mrs. Garfield was not 
 friendly and favorable. Please read this letter to her and her alone." 
 
To M., AT Farmington 
 
 Fifth Avenue Hotel 
 
 New York, May 15th, 1880 
 
 Saturday evening 
 
 Dear M., — Your Father is dining out with Mr. 
 Reid/ who has a dinner party, and I, after taking 
 mine with Mr. Hale, who has since left for Boston, 
 find myself alone in the most untidy room in New 
 York, I have picked up and picked up, till, hope- 
 less of improvement, I now sit surrounded by bundles, 
 cards, newspapers, letters, wardrobe, and everything 
 else pertaining to hotel life of a week's duration. 
 The mantel is decorated with a long line of bouquets, 
 some of them faded and some of them fresh, and all 
 depending in more or less drunken attitudes from 
 various tumblers. Bandboxes adorn the sofa, my 
 shawl and your Father's overcoat occupy two chairs, 
 his brown gaiters are on the what-not, a long rock 
 of granite, which has been bored out from under this 
 hotel, adorns one corner, three parasols, one mine, 
 one Alice's, and one a broken down thing belonging 
 to one of Muscovite's & Russell's women, the three 
 others. A likeness of the candidate, for which I have 
 had to pay a V, looks down darkly from among the 
 
 * Whitelaw Reid of New York, editor of New York Tribune; 
 Minister to France and present Ambassador to Great Britain. 
 [ 1G9] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 flowers, and string and wrapping paper and the 
 press of New York meet the tired eye, turn it where 
 it will. This afternoon I have been to the matinee to 
 see Neilsen in " As You Like It." 
 
 Sunday: The Chandler party put an end to my 
 writing last night, and now just home from Dr Col- 
 lier's church, I will add a line to say good-bye. I 
 have had a good time in New York, but now am 
 anxious to go back. Probably, however, we shall 
 stay till Wednesday. I do not know what to say 
 to you about the week of the Convention and com- 
 ing home. I wish you would conclude yourself to 
 stay. I am almost sure a combination will be made 
 against your Father, and then I would rather you 
 were in Farmington. You must write to your Father 
 personally and let him decide. I have thought lately 
 he would get it, but now I am very doubtful. His 
 rivals are desperate. 
 
 With love, 
 
 H S B 
 
 (Fragment) 
 
 Mr. Sherman was waked by messenger from the 
 telegraph office, who told, from the sidewalk below, 
 that there was great excitement in Chicago, and they 
 [ 170] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 thought Mr. Blaine ought to know it. They had 
 been up once and found it impossible to rouse any- 
 body ; " the incidental mention of Blaine's name by 
 a Californian roused gallery and convention to wild 
 cheering for five minutes." Then Mr. Hale tele- 
 graphs : " The Grant men made a point of seeing 
 who could howl loudest and longest, and cheered and 
 hurrahed and waved flags for fifteen minutes — Con- 
 kling himself condescending to wave. After they 
 had tired themselves out, the Blaine men took it up 
 and shouted twenty minutes." Mr. Hale says the 
 Grant men got enough of it. Four of their tallest 
 men mounted on settees and Hale mounted on their 
 shoulders and waved the flag, expecting every minute, 
 he said, that he should fall and break his neck. Think 
 of the position for a man who is not an acrobat! 
 Meanwhile Mr. Blaine went off to bed dead sleepy, 
 and is this morning reading the papers with pro- 
 voking indifference. He is not, of course, indifferent, 
 but he is self-possessed, and when I heard him talk- 
 ing yesterday, with all the force and fire of the 
 Senate, I thought it was a pity to take him away 
 from the Senate after all. Mr. Chandler telegraphs, 
 as things are now he considers the chances of Mr. 
 Blaine's nomination as 4 to 1, but not to be counted 
 on till it comes. 
 
 [171] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 To Emmons, at the Haevard Law School 
 
 Augusta, June 27th, 1880. 
 
 Dear Emmons, — You cannot imagine how de- 
 lighted I was to get your letter this morning, as I 
 have become really anxious to hear from you. For 
 do you know, this is the first line you have sent me 
 since I reached home. 
 
 Orville Baker and Joseph Manley have just gone 
 from here, where the former has taken tea. I wish 
 to take advantage of the Pullman which to-night com- 
 mences its Sunday trips, and get you to do me a 
 favor or two. First, will you see what you can get 
 a little pony carriage for.'^ I do not mean a donkey 
 cart, but a little phaeton or something of that kind, 
 also a saddle and a harness. H's pony came last 
 night, and is the dearest little thing you ever saw, 
 perfectly docile and without a flaw, four years old, 
 and will weigh, I think, about 500 lbs. If you will 
 find out the several costs, I will decide how far I 
 think I can go. H. is in ecstasy over him, and 
 Jamie has been leading him about all day, calling 
 with him on Will North and perambulating the back 
 and front yard. I have written thanking Mr Cameron 
 for the pony. I enclose you a card which came to 
 you from the Arsenal. Alice and I are invited. I 
 have no idea when your Father will turn his face home- 
 [ 172 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 ward. The Hancock ^ nomination makes Garfield's 
 prospects problematical in the extreme. It has been 
 very hot to-day. I enclose a letter from your Father, 
 though I have someAvhat anticipated its contents. I 
 shall be delighted to see you. With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To M., AT Fakmington 
 
 Augusta, October 19th 1880. 
 Dear M., — Yesterday in anticipation of your 
 Father's return, I washed up all the pens, cleaned out 
 all the inkstands, and laid out such supplies of paper, 
 envelopes, stamps, etc., as our limited supply of sta- 
 tionery would permit. All this I did on the hope 
 and supposition, based on a letter written almost a 
 week ago, that he would be home Monday afternoon. 
 And sure enough, while we were at dinner, came the 
 telegram, bearing the welcome date of Portsmouth, 
 so at 3 :35, the schedule time now of the arriving 
 afternoon train, Emmons and I had the satisfaction 
 of seeing him emerge, bag in hand, from the car, 
 smiling and well, and full of enthusiasm for Garfield 
 and the Republican triumph. Need I say, that we 
 brought him home with banners flying, and that the 
 Queen of hearts flew around and got him some sup- 
 
 ' Major-General Winfield Scott Hancock, U. S. A., was the 
 Democratic candidate for President in 1880. 
 
 [ 173] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 per, or dinner, whichever you choose to call it, for 
 he had spent Sunday at Hamilton and had been sent 
 away on eggs ! But there ! Tread lightly on poor 
 Cousin Abby's ashes, for she has reason to sit in 
 them herself, having made the mistake of criticising, 
 in public letters, the course of the Boston Advertiser 
 towards the Woman's Deposit Company, and here it 
 is, all broken up — and the President and Cashier 
 arrested, the money lost, and the principal shown 
 to be one of the most abandoned wretched adven- 
 turers on the face of the earth; so that C. A.'s 
 name seems to be associated in the minds of the pub- 
 lic, and a losing public, which is never goodnatured, 
 with that of a woman viler than V. W., and it is 
 one of those unfortunate cases which no one can help. 
 To sympathize with her, is to pain her so much, 
 that Father all the time he was there, never ventured 
 to speak of it. 
 
 Emmons is to go to Chicago and into the railroad 
 business. Will enter Mr. Hughitt's office. Mr. 
 Hughitt is the General Manager of the N.W.R.R. 
 and Emmons will take his chance in showing what is 
 in him — if good, then promotion, if no aptitude, 
 then the acceptance of that humiliating fact. He 
 was to go the first of November, according to your 
 Father's plans, but as he has accepted an invitation 
 from Lila Cameron to be usher at her wedding on 
 [ 174] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 the 18th of that month, he will not enter upon his 
 new field quite so soon. If he could only make up his 
 mind to stoop and bend to his work, I should have 
 no fears, but he cannot work playfully and bring 
 anything to pass, which reminds me of yourself. 
 In doing, there is great reward. I cannot imagine 
 your not loving to study. And if you will study, 
 you will learn. If you learn, you will be learned. If 
 I could only have known, when your age, the high 
 plane on which I should deploy, I might have been 
 the equal in attainment of any woman in Washing- 
 ton, and oh, that it had been given me to know in 
 that my day ! 
 
 H S B 
 
 Augusta October 24th, 1880. 
 Dear M., — How are you and how have you 
 spent your Sunday? This is how it has spent itself 
 with the old folks at home. First, a good breakfast, 
 at which everyone came strolling in as suited him or 
 her best. Then church, which, beginning with me, 
 who always go, rounded up with Philip and Emmons 
 and Jamie, Alice, H. and your Father. Mr. E. 
 gave us an old sermon, which, never good, is now 
 poor, and then we picked up Aunt Susan and made 
 an unsatisfactory call on Green Street, and then came 
 [ 175 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 down to all the brightness and warmth and good fel- 
 lowship of home. Orville Baker had come down with 
 Emmons and dined with us. Need I say that the 
 dinner was good.'' And your Father was bright and 
 full of talk, as was everybody else, and after a while 
 Emmons and Philip started in the buggy, with two 
 robes it was so cold, for Gardiner, nor are they yet 
 returned, having stayed there for supper. And these 
 familiar exercises have been varied by calls from 
 Bigelow, Mr. Manley and all the Manley children. 
 
 But after all, we are not exactly gay. Emmons 
 is sober over his proposed experiment in Cliicago, 
 and Philip is going away Friday, which coming de- 
 parture seems to cast its shadow before, and your 
 Father cannot help, at odd moments, falling back into 
 reveries over the past and what he fancies its mis- 
 takes, so that although not blue, we are serious, which 
 is better than being frivolous. I have not a word of 
 anything like news to tell you, and I know I ought 
 to fill up the remainder of this sheet with advice, but 
 will you not consider it all said.? You know that it 
 hurts me to part with you, and why I do it, and that 
 the habit of reading and study and fixing the atten- 
 tion is more valuable than the knowledge you will 
 acquire at school, though that is something worth, 
 and I lay on you the burden. 
 
 [ 170 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Augusta October 25th 
 Deab. M., — The day which I had intended 
 giving to Emmons' night-shirts, has gone to his 
 friends. " That poor boy," Maggie Nurse says, 
 " has nothing to be sick in if he should be taken," 
 so I made up my mind early this morning to devote 
 my last yard of Willimantic to him. But up speaks 
 the telephone and Gardiner calls for Emmons, and 
 he listens, and then I hear him say, " All right, I will 
 meet you at the station. We shall be delighted." 
 And it needs not my prophetic heart to tell me that 
 we shall have company to dine. Yes, Mrs. Richards 
 and JNIiss Thornton will come up in the dummy to dine 
 and to drive, and I must hie me to the kitchen and to 
 Caroline, for ducks and a steak are not enough for 
 hungry visitors. Here is my bill of fare — Soup, 
 roast beef et cetera, ducks, celery and jelly, apple 
 pudding, mince and apple pies, grapes and pears, 
 coffee, claret and champagne. Everything well 
 cooked, Emmons carving beautifully, then the drive, 
 Philip of course making the fourth. And listen to 
 the sequel, they all came back to supper ! And now 
 at nine they have just left, and as it is not quite bed- 
 time, and yet I am not in the mood for reading, I 
 thought I would tell you all about it. 
 
 VOL. 1-12 [ 177 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Wednesday evening, October 27th 1880 
 Dear M., — My object in writing, is to send 
 you a nice letter, which I received from Walker this 
 afternoon. His first letter was written in such a 
 homesick mood, I could not bear to read it, and just 
 as I was making up my mind to write him, coun- 
 selhng him not to stay in St. Paul unless he had his 
 own entire consent to it for a residence, he tells me 
 he is glad to be there, but I found Emmons has 
 carried off the letter to Gardiner, whither he and 
 Philip have gone on one of their frequent visits, 
 carrying my Chinese lanterns, my tin holders, and 
 relics of my candles, to contribute to Mrs. Richards' ^ 
 illumination. The day after our illumination, Mr 
 Piper came to me to see if I would let him have some 
 of my lanterns to send to Burnham. He had received 
 an order and had not enough in his store to fill it, 
 wanting two dozen. So I sent that number to Burn- 
 ham with my compliments, supposing of course that 
 they were to light up a Republican celebration, but 
 they contributed to a Fusion illumination, as the 
 Argus informs me, and the Burnham managers have 
 also sent acknowledgments to me. Is n't it funny ? 
 
 * INIrs. Henrj' Richards of Gardiner, daughter of Julia Ward Howe, 
 the "Laura E. Richards" who has delighted the hearts of so many 
 children. 
 
 [ 178] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 I have had a bad headache all day, but am now almost 
 free from it. And strange to say, the library is un- 
 visited. Your Father is walking up and down the 
 parlor, while H. is picking out on the piano some 
 of her old Zeverley pieces, for the benefit of both the 
 Jamies. Capt. Boutelle spent last night with us, 
 leaving this afternoon ; is en route from New York, 
 where he has been speaking. We are quite hopeful 
 over the prospect next Tuesday, and I will try to 
 send you the result. 
 
 H SB. 
 
 Dear M., — I am putting up your box, so you 
 must be content with a line, as of course you will, 
 now that Garfield and Arthur are elected. 
 I^Can you believe that the long vigil, not tonguelcss, 
 is over, and that we are all saved for four years, and 
 I hope forty times four.? For now there is no danger 
 that any of the tomfoolery of the Hayes policy will 
 be tried, and I hope there are no sunken rocks to 
 make shipwreck of the new administration. Your 
 Father and I have picked out Garfield's Cabinet for 
 him, and have devoted to him for two mornings our 
 waking, but not risen, hours. Do you take in 
 that the House is Republican, and the Senate a 
 tie, which gives the casting vote to the Republican 
 [ 179] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 V.P? Oh, how good it is to win and to be on the 
 strong side ! Your Father leaves to-morrow for New 
 York, then goes Emmons next, and Alice to Boston 
 and then to Washington. I am glad we are going 
 early. 
 
 H SB. 
 
 Thursday afternoon. 
 
 Augusta, November llth, 1880 
 Thursday evening 
 
 Dear M., — When this you see, think of me, 
 all alone with Jamie and H. and six servants to 
 wait on us. Emmons and Alice are to leave to-night 
 on the Pullman, and it adds inconceivably to the 
 dreariness of the situation, that it is raining in tor- 
 rents, and Emmons, bluer than ever, has just gone 
 down in the rain and his rubber overcoat, to bid good- 
 bye to the Aunts, who are already perfectly discon- 
 solate. There is a gleam of comfort in that, for being 
 perfectly disconsolate, nothing can add to their 
 weight of woe. And Ahce, having put off her farewell 
 calls and her blanket for the Bradbui-y baby till the 
 last moment, is trying with impatient fingers to 
 stitch pink satin ribbon to the ends of one and her 
 rubbers to her own extremities. Excuse this hor- 
 [180] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 rible sentence. It is not in the least what I meant 
 to say. 
 
 I have had a day, and my poor little namesake, too 
 sleepy to sit up, is afraid to go to bed lest no one will 
 wake her, so I can hear her discoursing to the kitchen 
 crowd, with whom she is always in high favor. Your 
 Father is still away, though certain to return Satur- 
 day, and with him, I expect Mr. and Mrs. Chandler, 
 and the Hales are to come Saturday morning, so I 
 shall certainly have numbers on Sunday. But I am 
 heart-broken at losing Emmons. He ought to go, but 
 the iron enters my soul. 
 
 Walker writes that he is just entering on his law 
 career, has his office and a partner. I do not know 
 that I am glad that he has the latter, though he liim- 
 self seems much pleased, but I cannot allow myself to 
 be anxious, lest I break down under my varied anx- 
 ieties. I wish somebody would order tomorrow's 
 dinner for me! Such a dreadful time as we had 
 illuminating. The cannon knocked down all the 
 candles, and there were my pretty carpets and floors 
 all splashed with wax. Such a scene of devastation 
 as the next morning showed! Smoke and cracked 
 glass, candle grease over everything, nails and slats 
 everywhere, children with colds and cross servants, 
 and a billiard room full of unreturnable lanterns, 
 and Garfield and his wife ofif buying tables and chairs I 
 [ 181] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Your Father has heard Bernhardt and pronounces 
 her splendid. I am delighted that you enjoyed your 
 Hartford trip and that your dresses suited. Your 
 watch is safe in my bureau drawer. I did not send 
 your hat because your goodies did not leave room in 
 the trunk. With love, 
 
 H S B 
 
 Augusta November IGth 1880 
 Tuesday afternoon 
 
 Dear M., — Or Emmons, or Walker, or Ahce 
 — say, which shall it be, for all are dear, and all are 
 away. When did I write any of you.'' The day that 
 Emmons left, last Thursday, wasn't it? Well, he 
 left on that most melancholy evening, and most mel- 
 ancholy train, the evening Pullman at eleven o'clock, 
 and at that positive and still not culminating hour 
 of the night, I found myself alone with my mem- 
 ories and anticipations, and Jamie, H. and the 
 servants. 
 
 I stayed up until one o'clock, unable to resolve to 
 seek a sleepless pillow. Emmons had never been more 
 tender and affectionate, and I had a wellspring of 
 grief. 
 
 Later: I shall not resume the thread of my above 
 
 discourse, but I shall try another. Mr. and Mrs. 
 
 Hale and Mr. and Mrs. Chandler have been here 
 
 spending Sunday. The Hales left yesterday after- 
 
 [ 182] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 noon, the Chandlers still here. Have not had a wholly 
 satisfactory visit. The Chicago convention talked 
 over, with not sufficient frankness to heal the hurt. 
 Sunday night all the Richards came up to tea, bring- 
 ing with them Mr. P , a cousin, Emmons stayed 
 
 in Boston a day or so, both Mr Chandler ^ and your 
 Father seeing him there. Sunday night he went to 
 New York, but before he left Boston he sent me a 
 telegram, asking for his lavender trousers, which 
 nearly drove me wild, as I could find nothing of the 
 description among his leavings. Imagine his feelings 
 when he opened the box containing three pairs of un- 
 mentionables, varying in color from gray to claret 
 brown ! I suppose he is in Harrisburg to-night. 
 H.'s arithmetic is on the tapis, so I must say 
 good-bye. 
 
 HSB. 
 
 . Augusta November 28th 1880 
 Sunday afternoon 
 
 My dear M., — When I tell you that I am alone 
 in the house, with the servants, Jamie having gone 
 
 out and H over the river, to pass the night 
 
 with Tuly, you will not expect much variety to this 
 letter. 
 
 Indeed, this large house, with its few tenants, is 
 absolutely oppressive, more especially on Sunday, 
 
 * William E. Chandler, later U. S. Senator from New Hampshire. 
 [ 183] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 when I am driven to books uninterruptedly. I can- 
 not remember when I wrote you — I know that I 
 have written since Thanksgiving to Walker, Alice 
 and Emmons, and to your Father twice a day. He 
 left for Washington Wednesday, stayed that night 
 at Hamilton, coming up to Boston Thanksgiving 
 morning, went on to New York and dined with Mr 
 Elkins,^ then to Washington by night train, Lewis 
 letting him into the house a little before seven. 
 Found everything there all right, and after a break- 
 fast from Wormley's, was to go to see Garfield. I 
 spent my Thanksgiving very quietly. 
 
 Emmons is, I judge, quite pleased with his advent 
 into business. He writes me nice long letters, giving 
 me details which I dearly love — which letters I 
 should herewith transmit, but they have gone to your 
 Father. Jack too tells me, that he feels within him 
 latent ambition, and means to fan it into a flame, so 
 that men shall take notice of him as a not degenerate 
 son of a noble father. Your Father, going away, left 
 me as his parting legacy an injunction to entertain 
 at tea Mrs. B. and her daughter. So to-morrow I 
 have them and the neighbors. How are you getting 
 along.'* Write often to your affectionate, 
 
 Mother. 
 
 * Stephen B. Elkins, delej^ate in Congress from New INIexico, and 
 later U. S. Senator from West Virginia. 
 
 [ 1«^ ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 To Miss Dodge 
 
 Augusta, December 3rd, 1880. 
 I am left absolutely alone with my servants, every 
 want anticipated, not a room in the house not at 
 summer heat, sunshine and open fires vieing with 
 each other, four horses and pony in the stable, 
 sleighs and robes in abundance and the beautiful 
 snow; every longing satisfied, with full salvation 
 blessed — what can I need? My sins — that is, my 
 sinners. First of all, I miss Mr Blaine. I cannot 
 bear the orderly array of my life. I miss the en- 
 velopes in the gravy, the bespattered table linen, the 
 uncertainty of the meals, for you know he always 
 starts out on his constitutional when he hears them 
 taking in dinner. I miss his unvarying attention, 
 and as constant neglect. When alone with him I am 
 not my own — when others are in, go as you please 
 is the rule, and the alternation suits me exactly. 
 Then the boys — oh, how I miss them. They know 
 all I ever knew — and I have forgotten much — they 
 are fresh and untiring as the sun which never sets — 
 they are loving and want sympathy — old enough 
 to be companions, too young to assert their rights, 
 taking everything as of grace, and of their fulness 
 I am a partaker. Blessed relationship — the man 
 child to his mother. 
 
 [ 185] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 To M., AT Farmington 
 
 Augusta December 5th 1880 
 Sunday eveuing 
 
 Dear M., — I am getting off a huge mail to- 
 night, to your Father, to Alice, to Jacky, to Briggs 
 of Boston and to Clarke of Boston, bookseller. The 
 purport of the last two you can imagine, each envel- 
 ope containing a violet colored check. Then my 
 spirits are not good, and it is snowing and raining 
 and I like decision in the elements and in the councils, 
 and we are lonely, the two H's, who sit here by the 
 sitting room fire, both writing, one a story, the other 
 a love-letter. But loneliness is nothing, provided 
 you are right minded. Possession of yourself — to 
 say to yourself, do this and she doeth it, and go away 
 from that, and she goeth, — is to have your life ad- 
 justed to the will of God and moving to the eternal 
 harmonies. 
 
 HS B 
 
 [ 186] 
 
1881 
 
To Walker, in St. Paul 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, Jany 16th 1881 
 My dear Walker, — I am so anxious to put my- 
 self once more into communication with my family 
 that I have braced myself up with a half bottle of 
 champagne so as to get off that miserable sofa, and 
 write at least a short letter. There I have been lying 
 since Tuesday, when I went to a dehghtful little 
 party at Mrs. Bancroft's,^ but during the night I 
 was attacked with illness, and since then when not 
 actually suffering, I have been so dyspeptic and rest- 
 less, that hfe has been a burden to me. I am getting 
 better all the time, but the wrestle with returning 
 health is almost worse than losing it. 
 
 Meanwhile, M. has gone, leaving as she always 
 does, a great void, though her and your little sister 
 has kept me company all the morning, a truly sweet 
 restorative, reading to me selections of her own from 
 Tennyson, Shelley, Swinburne and Emerson, with 
 comments and criticisms truly suggestive, and hav- 
 ing at last read Godiva, I have looked up for her 
 Esau's (pronounced by her " Essau's ") rough hands, 
 an allusion she had no conception of the meaning of, 
 which veracious history she is now mastering, with 
 
 * Wife of George Bancroft, the historian. 
 [ 189] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 the single comment that if a person could believe it, 
 he must certainly become religious. 
 
 It is a very interesting time to be sick. Last night 
 we had a grand dinner party. The Chief Justice,^ 
 the General,^ the Secretaries of State and Interior,^ 
 the German,^ French ^ and English Ministers,^ Mr. 
 Dougherty,^ and Mr. Schlesinger,^ Mr. Bancroft and 
 Mr. Morton,^ and Mrs. Robeson and Mrs. Lawrence.^*^ 
 An elegant dinner, beautiful table, and distinguished 
 and brilliant company, all of which of course I lost. 
 Alice and Jamie went to the theatre, G. H. to the 
 table, and the two Harriets to bed. And to-night we 
 have another smaller dinner, which I must also lose. 
 
 Do you remember how much you seemed to have 
 to give up when your shoulder was dislocated.'^ Now 
 that I am absolutely mending, your Father is in gay 
 spirits. My attack completely broke him up. Had 
 it not been so pathetic, it would have been amusing. 
 He would not go to the Senate, thought himself sick, 
 
 ' Morrison R. Waite of Ohio, Chief Justice, 1874-88. 
 
 " Gen. William T. Sherman. 
 
 3 William M. Evarts of New York and Carl Schurz of INIissouri. 
 
 * Karl von Schlozer, German Minister. 
 
 * Maxime Outrey, French Minister from 1877-82. 
 ' Sir Edward Thornton. 
 
 ^ Daniel Dougherty, the well-known lawyer and orator of Phila- 
 delphia, called the "Silver tongued." 
 
 * Sebastian Schlesinger, a foreign banker. 
 
 * Levi P. ]\Iorton, then INIember of Congress from New York. 
 *** Mrs. Bigelow Lawrence of Washington. 
 
 [ 190 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 broke all his engagements, and excused himself to 
 everybody on the ground that he could not leave me. 
 In my room he sat on my bed or creaked across the 
 floor from corner to corner by the hour, making me 
 feel a guilty wretch to cause him so much misery. 
 He is a dear, dear old fellow. 
 
 I think he will go to Mentor very soon. Garfield 
 has written for him, and though he does not want to 
 go, he will not refuse. All the world is paying court 
 to the coming or expected Secretary of State. So- 
 cially you know it is about the best position. John 
 Hay ^ will, I think, stay in a little while. 
 
 We have not taken any further steps about the 
 new house, but are fully determined upon it. This 
 will go into the market at once unless a private sale 
 can be effected. We intend to put up a very nice and 
 expensive house. I can write no more. Excuse the 
 writing, which the champagne makes worse than 
 usual. With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 • John Hay of Ohio, President Lincoln's private secretary; 
 Secretary of State under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt; at that 
 time (1879-81) First Assistant Secretary of State. 
 
 [191] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 To M., AT Farmington 
 
 Washington, January 17th, 1881, 
 My dear M., — Here I still am, in the same 
 old room, on the same old sofa, under the same old 
 afghan, hardly knowing whether I am better or worse, 
 and dreadfully bored with the trouble of getting well. 
 I was at breakfast and lunch, but the sight of so 
 much food making me loathe the little I had hoped 
 to eat, I concluded to dine in my own room, and here 
 I am still, delightfully quiet and rested, and not in 
 the least lonesome, though alone. 
 
 I must get well however in good earnest now, as 
 people are beginning to send me in goodies, and this 
 you know, I cannot bear. To be petted is not my 
 forte. The Saturday and Sunday dinners passed off 
 beautifully, flowers, table, dinner and guests unex- 
 ceptionable. Your Father was highly gratified at 
 everything, and so with the second dinner, which 
 much smaller, passed off equally well. I have ac- 
 cepted three dinners for this week, so you see I am 
 expecting to be well. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 [ 192 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 821 Fifteenth Street, 
 Washington, January 23rd, 1881. 
 
 Dear M., — I suppose you will like a letter, even; 
 from a headachy mother, who has nothing in her 
 head but the ache, is not conscious of an idea, and 
 worst of all, is innocent of gossip. 
 
 Nevertheless, that mail to-morrow afternoon must 
 keep faith to the letter, however it fails to the spirit. 
 I am down stairs alone, where I have just been writ- 
 ing a note to Senator Pendleton,^ accepting an invita- 
 tion to your Father to dine with him on Saturday, 
 and finding the pen run smoothly over the paper, I 
 am determined here to scrawl my scrawl to you rather 
 than upstairs, where Alice, C A and H are in full 
 possession of my room, with its triple blessing of 
 windows. 
 
 Did you know that I have staying with me Mr. 
 Cowles, the brother of your Miss Cowles, and his 
 sister Susie? Well I have, and am enjoying the visit 
 very much, as they are bright, sympathetic and lov- 
 ing and lovable. Your Father got away to New York 
 on the Limited of yesterday — will return on Wednes- 
 day. Every day after I was able, till he went away, 
 we drove out to look at the lot. You know I was 
 not carried away with it, which proved almost too 
 much for your dearest dad. However, after a dozen 
 
 ' George F. Pendleton of Ohio. 
 VOL. 1-13 [ 193 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 voyages by land and water, to that snow covered 
 eminence, I am ready to avouch that the sun will visit 
 the dining room every morning at breakfast, that 
 though the house will stand east and west, yet that 
 can make no difference to the center of the circum- 
 ference, that the drainage Is good, that it is a com- 
 manding site, and with Don Cameron's ^ assistance, 
 can combine all the advantages of space, air and light 
 and greensward. To-night, Stanley Pullen, Mr. and 
 Mrs. Putnam of Portland, Lizzie and Virginia Cam- 
 eron are coming to tea. I have cucumbers, lettuce 
 and tomatoes from Harrisburg. Last night I dined 
 at the EngHsh Legation. The table was perfectly 
 imposing, with its candles, its silver, glass and flowers, 
 and the dinner was admirable, — but oh, how stupid 
 
 it was! Even Mr. A 's, where I was the night 
 
 before, was brighter. 
 
 Washington, March 14th, 1881. 
 Monday afternoon 
 
 Dear M., — What are you doing in peaceful 
 
 Farmington, while Czars are dying and Czarowitches 
 
 mounting the throne? Imagine what a family matter 
 
 that assassination*^ must have seemed, when Alice 
 
 1 James Donald Cameron of Pennsylvania, Secretary of War 
 under President Grant, and later U. S. Senator. 
 
 ^ Emperor Alexander II of Russia, assassinated March 13, 1881. 
 M. Bartolomei was then the Russian Minister to the United States. 
 [ 194] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 came running to the door yesterday as I came from 
 church to tell me of it, and when I saw Bartolomei 
 himself, sitting in my own parlor, and crossing and 
 recrossing himself, while he prayed devoutly before 
 reading the despatches, for all the news there was for 
 hours, was contained in the telegrams to the Secre- 
 tary of State. Poor Emperor, dogged to his death 
 at last! I think he must be enrolled among the 
 martyrs. 
 
 To come to the augustae res domi, Saturday after- 
 noon I stood up with Mrs. Garfield, while all the 
 American people, who wanted to, came to pay their 
 respects to her and the President. It is not any of 
 it so bad as I expected, and much of it is really 
 amusing. 
 
 Friday evening March 18th 1881 
 Dear M., — I have spent the entire day in my 
 room, where your Father, I am sorry to say, is in 
 bed, having taken last night a frightful cold at the 
 White House, where the President and Mrs. Gar- 
 field received the Senate and their friends. Your 
 parents and the private secretary, with Alice and 
 Mr. Mahone,^ who had dined with us, and C. A. 
 made our party. Then Walker and Philip went 
 to the British Legation to Lady Thornton's last 
 
 » William Mahone, U. S. Senator from Virginia. 
 [ 195 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Thursday. The Secretaryship grows more and more 
 agreeable. Tuesday your father and I assisted at 
 the Requiem Mass for the Czar. I had never antici- 
 pated going into black for any of the European sov- 
 ereigns, but with Mrs. Hale's assistance, I did. She 
 was here when I was dressing, and pinned my old 
 black lace cape on to my old black chip, so that I 
 went en regie. Wednesday, I dined at the English 
 Legation, and sat between the host and Lord George 
 Campbell, who is a brother of the Marquis of Lome. 
 Jacky gets along beautifully. Letters are already 
 coming addressed to the Honorable Walker Blaine, 
 and at the Elhott Shepherd ^ dinner the other night, 
 he made a speech. The house is filled with flowers 
 all the time, an immense horse shoe, surmounted by 
 a ship of state, fills our parlor table. Dinner Is just 
 over, and I am writing in your old room, not liking 
 to turn up the light in the other, where your Father 
 is asleep. Goodnight, with love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 WASmNGTON, March 24th, 1881 
 Thursday morning 
 
 Dear M., — To insure the successful completion 
 
 of my proposed task now, I must begin it early 
 
 in the morning. So having guided your Father 
 
 1 Col. Elliott F. Shepherd of New York at that time owner of the 
 Mail and Express. 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 through the intricacies of his toilet and presided 
 over his eggs and tea, during wliich I have also 
 worked off a towel initial, I commence the duties and 
 pleasures of the day by writing this to-be letter, first 
 apologizing for its brothers and sisters which never 
 reached Farmington. Truth to tell, the new position 
 gives me a mighty wrench. I thought my hands full 
 before — I find they were empty. Your Father has 
 just gone to the Department. Did you notice the 
 nominations sent in yesterday? ^ They mean business 
 and strength. 
 
 To-night we, JMiss Dodge, your Father and I, dine 
 at the Outreys, and AHce and Walker tea at Mrs. 
 Berry's. All the afternoon I shall be paying visits, 
 and the letters, notes, accounts I have to notice be- 
 fore then, make my heart sink into my shoes. Mr. 
 Hitt^ is to be the Assistant Secretary, Jacky re- 
 maining as he is. We have the plans for the house, 
 and they are so huge and so expensive that we are 
 now engaged in striking out every pretty thing to 
 
 1 Referring, among others, to the nomination of Wm. H. Robert- 
 son as Collector of the Port of New York in place of Edwin Atkins 
 Merritt. 
 
 2 Robert Roberts Hitt of lUinois, Secretary of Legation in Paris; 
 Assistant Secretary of State; a most distinguished member of Con- 
 gress and chairman of the Committee of Foreign Affairs for many 
 years. In early Ufe Mr. Hitt became an accomplished stenographer 
 and was the means of preserving to history the Lincoln-Douglas de- 
 bates of 1858. It is said that Lincoln would never speak during 
 those momentous years without assuring himself that Mr. Hitt was 
 at his post. r , g-, n 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 reduce the expenditure to the hmits of your Father's 
 purse. Yesterday, I had my second reception, a great 
 crowd. Am now about to issue cards for Saturdays 
 in April. Jamie's Montana trip has come to noth- 
 ing. Mrs. Pike and her niece were over from Balti- 
 more Tuesday for lunch, and of course I took them 
 to the White House, where we saw the Garfields, and 
 the Hayes' china. Since writing this letter I have 
 written to Aunt Caddy, in answer to a cheerful letter 
 from herself, but I never dragged more over a letter. 
 
 H S B 
 
 March 28th. 
 I am writing in my room; present, your Father, 
 Alice, Walker, Tom Sherman and a messenger from 
 the State Department; subject, Shall we send mes- 
 sage, recognizing Charles as King of Roumania.? ^ 
 There are lots of things which hitch in our new 
 position, which make the new situation interesting. 
 Flowers have just come from Mrs. Garfield, and yes- 
 terday she and the President were both here. They 
 
 * The kingdom of Roumania, as at present constituted, dates only 
 from 1881, having been formed by union of the principalities of 
 Molda\aa and Wallachia in southeastern Europe. In 1881 Roumania 
 declared itself a Kingdom, and was in turn recognized by the powers, 
 its first minister from the United States being Eugene Schuyler of 
 New York. 
 
 [ 198] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 hate the situation, but this is not to be spoken of, 
 and I never want to be nearer the White House than 
 I now am. 
 
 Tuesday evening, May 17th, 1881. 
 Dear M., — Your Father has lost one pair of 
 glasses and I have stepped on his spectacles. I need 
 not say who enjoys those still extant, so I write 
 blindly, unable to discern one letter. Tom got back 
 this morning, and the day was also marked by the 
 arrival of your letter, announcing the safe completion 
 of your journey. I enclose Mrs Manley's letter re- 
 ceived during the forenoon, to show that I am free 
 from anxiety concerning the departing ones. Noth- 
 ing of private interest has transpired since you left, 
 but we had yesterday, with the rest of the world, 
 the sensational resignations of Conkling and Platt.^ 
 They produce no excitement here, and I have yet to 
 hear one criticism complimentary of Conkling, though 
 I have seen all sorts of people and of every shade of 
 cowardice. I called at the White House yesterday to 
 see Mrs. Sheldon, but had only the privilege of sit- 
 
 » "When in 1881 President Garfield failed to consult the New York 
 senators in appointing a Collector for the Port of New York, and when 
 the Senate confinned the acts of the President, Senator Conkling 
 resigned his seat, together with his colleague, Thomas C. Piatt, and 
 they appealed to the New York Legislature for vindication by a re- 
 election, which the Legislature failed to carry out." 
 
 Lamb's Biographical Dictionary. 
 
 [ 199] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 ting In the antechamber, wliile a semi-mihtary servant 
 ran up and down the house to find tliat ]\Irs. Slieldon 
 had gone out driving. Mrs. Garfield is better, and if 
 the doctors are not too much for her, she will get well. 
 Just before dinner, I walked out with your Father 
 to the " lot." They commenced grading yesterday, 
 and Mr. Frazier now has the contract. We are to 
 
 have it in December. B got away to-day. 
 
 His ticket was purchased yesterday, when the coup 
 d'etat of Conkling threw him out so, he stayed on for 
 further developments. Excuse this miserable scrawl, 
 and let the love atone for the irregularities of style. 
 As you know, I have a weakness for elegant chirog- 
 raphy. Always your 
 
 Mother. 
 
 To Emmons, in Chicago 
 
 WAsmNGTON, May 17th, 1881 
 Your Father eating his breakfast this moment, and 
 Walker talking to him on the new, original and strik- 
 ing topic of procuring places for female applicants. 
 " Miss C," Walker says, " is as nice a little girl as I 
 ever saw, and writes a beautiful hand, we must pro- 
 vide for her ; " and your Father answers, " But I 
 must first look out for Mrs B, get her a place, then 
 the decks will be clear for Miss C," and to this enters 
 [ 200 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 a card from Mrs Chandler, with of course a woman 
 attached whom I am to see and help. I have had 
 this morning a long and delightful letter from Mr. 
 Phelps, sent from Queenstown, with an agreeable men- 
 tion of you, and we are this moment anxiously awaiting 
 a cablegram from him, on the subject of house lots, for 
 do you know your Father, with that independence of 
 criticism which makes him so interesting and dehght- 
 ful a comrade, has conceived a sort of disgust with 
 the 16th street place, on account of the vicinage of 
 stables, and although he has had that immense tract 
 graded, is not going to build on it, and fastening his 
 affections on a lot on Massachusetts Avenue, P and 
 20th Streets, he comes upon the surprising fact that 
 Mr Phelps is the owner thereof, hence a cablegram 
 and the waited-for reply. In my letter Mr Phelps 
 says, " while I was struggling with the hasp of my 
 trunk I told Hopkins, w^ho was in the room, to buy 
 that other piece of land for me." Your Father said 
 to me only yesterday, " I am just like Jamie, when 
 I want a thing, I want it dreadfully." They are a 
 pair of Jamies — after which Augusta and summer 
 and freedom and out of doors. 
 
 [ 201 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 To M., AT Farmington 
 
 Washington, May 22nd, 1881. 
 
 My dear M., — We are all well and flourishing, 
 your Father gone to the country since ten o'clock, 
 with Gen. Sherman, Walker at the B.'s to breakfast, 
 Alice, Jamie and I at Dr Paxton's church, and 
 H. with her hymnal and prayer book to St John's. 
 Your little sister grows more and more devout, and 
 when at breakfast Jamie spoke of deviled crabs, she 
 came around to his seat and begged him so earnestly 
 not to use that word before ladies and little girls, 
 that he actually promised not to. I think the com- 
 phment impHed by H that it would not hurt boys and 
 men, might have influenced him. 
 
 After church, I walked around to the White House, 
 where I had the privilege of seeing the President, and 
 later the Mac Veaghs, who also came to inquire for 
 Mrs. Garfield. I am sorry to say that I have grave 
 fears about Mrs. Garfield. She is very sick, and after 
 hearing exactly how she is, I confess I am very un- 
 easy. Still the doctors say she will get well, and if 
 she does, I shall not be surprised if she comes to 
 ]Maine and stays awhile with me. She has to go where 
 she can be perfectly quiet. Your Father received a 
 letter from Mr. Morton this morning, asking if he 
 [ 202 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 should engage passage for you with them on the 
 
 Amerique. You ought to have heard H 's howl. 
 
 " It has just spoiled my Sunday, and I have been 
 looking forward to it all the week." This brought 
 your Father to terms, and he was very soon able to 
 remember that Gen. Hurlbut ^ was going over later 
 and could take charge of your inconvenient self. 
 
 The political horizon looms up, if horizons ever 
 loom, in its old fashion. Everybody, as you will 
 suppose, is leaving Washington, and daily I inter- 
 view possible cooks, waitresses and laundresses. When 
 this role is filled, we shall be able to leave, though I 
 have many misgivings as to the boy I leave behind me, 
 or as Garfield would say, the dear one. I do not 
 mean Walker, but your Father, though he anticipates 
 real pleasure in visiting Deer Park and the Elkinses. 
 
 You cannot think how much praise has been 
 showered on Walker for his urbanity and efficiency 
 these last days.- Mr, Lamar ^ says no such young 
 man has been in Washington. 
 
 HSB 
 
 ' Gen. Stephen A. Hurlburt, U. S. Minister to Peru. 
 
 " Walker Blaine's appointment, on July 1st following, as third 
 Assistant Secretary of State, was the last appointment signed by 
 President Garfield before his assassination. 
 
 ^ Lucius Quintius Cincinnatus Lamar, U. S. Senator from 
 IVIississippi. 
 
 [ 203 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Washington May 31st 1881, Tuesday a. m. 
 Your Father has not been up since Saturday. He 
 came home from a drive that afternoon, had a chill, 
 was in a raging fever all that night, but thanks to 
 Dr Lincoln's heroic remedies, he has had no recur- 
 rence of chills and is intending to be present at the 
 Cabinet meeting to-day. The day is of the hottest, 
 and I have to go down town with H and shoe and 
 hat her, both ends need my attention. 
 
 Sitting here with me, while I write, are a variety 
 of people — Dr. Lincoln, waiting to make his pro- 
 fessional call, Mr. Frazier the architect ; and thereby 
 hangs this tale. We are not to build on 16th Street. 
 Mr. Pendleton takes our rejected lot, which has just 
 been graded, and he and Mr. Robeson divide the 
 residuum. Now we go to Massachusetts Avenue and 
 20th and P Streets, beyond the Stewart House.^ That 
 dear Mr. Phelps had bought this land, though he 
 did n't know it, and he has cablegraphed us that we 
 may have as much of the land as we want, if we will 
 make the dining room larger. Is n't that j ust hke 
 him ? 
 
 Joseph Manley also sits hero, and the faithful Bart- 
 lett, while in the dim distance in the dining room, 
 
 1 The mansion built by Senator W. M. Stewart of Nevada, later 
 occupied for some years by the Cliinese Minister. 
 [204] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Thomas and a State Department messenger may be 
 descried. 
 
 This new locale gives us a frontage to the east on 
 20th Street, drawing rooms and dining on P Street, 
 and library and hall and reception room on Massa- 
 chusetts Avenue. A wonderful situation. With love, 
 
 H SB 
 
 WAsmNGTON, Monday evening. June 7th 1881 
 Dear M., — Your Father is down stairs and has 
 been out driving — need I say, in the direction of 
 the lots old and new.? First we go to 16th street, to 
 look it over and say how Httle we hke it, then to 20th 
 Street, to admire. On the latter site, they are grad- 
 ing to-day, and on the former, hollowing out the 
 Pendleton cellar. 
 
 The family is so small, I have little to tell. Many 
 meals Alice and I have taken together of late, your 
 Father being confined to his room, and Walker having 
 engagements. With your Father, he is now discuss- 
 ing the Fortune Bay -^ award, which he has watched 
 very carefully and been much interested in. I judge 
 that he makes a great impression and your Father is 
 exceedingly pleased with him. 
 
 * Damages of $73,000 were paid by Great Britain for injuries done 
 by Canadians to Gloucester fishermen taking fish in Fortune Bay, 
 Newfoundland, by right of the Treaty of Washington, ratified in 1871. 
 [ 205 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 You cannot imagine how uncomfortable I am with 
 the close rooms. Your Father has a fire, all the 
 windows closed, and of course I nearly suffocate. Mrs 
 Garfield is getting well. This is all, as I am dull. 
 Good-night, with love, 
 
 H SB 
 
 Washington, June 10th 1881 
 Wednesday morning 
 
 My dear M., — As I write the familiar date of 
 
 this letter, I am reminded that it is the day and 
 
 hour when I expected to be in Boston, at this precise 
 
 moment buying a Chuddah shawl, and here I am 
 
 notifying my various children that my address, for 
 
 the present, bids fair to be Washing-ton. For your 
 
 Father has taken it into his head to be well, and when 
 
 an idea gets lodgment in that capacious brain, you 
 
 know it becomes a power, and drives the weak body. 
 
 So now, we are on the high road to health, and all 
 
 clumsy vehicles of notions, like going home to get 
 
 rest, malaria in Washington, Bright's Disease, etc., 
 
 etc., must clear the tracks or be ridden down. If it 
 
 were not for H and Jamie, I should be content to 
 
 stay on and on, but I deeply sympathize with those 
 
 waifs, to whom I am separately writing, to be of good 
 
 cheer and to be good children. Walker says, " Poor 
 
 little children. I would give twenty dollars to console 
 
 H. this minute." Mr. Sherman leaves with his family 
 
 [ 20G ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 to-morrow morning, and I cannot but envy him, he 
 looks so happy. He is tearing around now with a 
 roll of bills, greenbacks I mean, saying he has not 
 time for anything. I have collected and had colored 
 black, all the stray feathers in the house; and you 
 
 ought to see my hat which they adorn. Mrs B 's 
 
 was meek looking compared to it. It is as big as the 
 moon after the eclipse had passed off the other night, 
 and all around the edge of this great orb, these 
 plumes arise, solemnly rustling in the west wind which 
 has now been blowing for lo, these many days. True, 
 this mournful circumference is lighted, or Ht up as 
 much as may be, by two red flowers. Nothing could 
 be prettier than it looks on Alice — of it on myself, 
 modesty forbids me to speak. And Alice has your 
 white failure aU made over. Forrest did very well with 
 it. Also, she has a black hat with feathers, and your 
 chip is all beautifully ready for you. So much for 
 millinery. Our house is started, but your Father is 
 again tinkering with the plans. With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 WAsmNGTON, June 22nd, 1881, Wednesday 
 Dear M., — I am almost sorry to be again writ- 
 ing from Washington, to which we seem tied for 
 an indefinite time. Your Father is perfectly well, 
 but is unwilHng to have us leave him or to leave 
 [ 207 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 with us. The President is away, and the new house 
 is starting. He hkes to watch every spadeful of 
 earth which he can snatch time to see thrown out. 
 Meanwhile Emmons, who is with us, makes the delay 
 bearable. Poor fellow! He came Saturday evening, 
 expecting to transact business for his R.R. and get 
 away Monday, and have the next day for Camibridge 
 with its Class Day and its graduations, and he finds 
 himself on Wednesday, held back at arms' length by 
 the red tape of the circumlocution office, with no im- 
 mediate prospect of any capitulation. He has a great 
 deal of pride, I think, in carrying to a successful 
 conclusion, this first business entrusted to him, and 
 there is every prospect of his failing, so of course he 
 feels a little blue. 
 
 Our day for starting is now fixed for Tuesday, 
 but as the weather is perfectly comfortable and de- 
 cidedly charming, I have my doubts, Jacky and 
 others gave a farewell dinner to Sir Edward last 
 night, and I think he goes to Harrisburg to spend 
 Sunday, your Father going to Deer Park. I have 
 been out this morning inspecting houses, have looked 
 at the Windom, the Ashton and the Noble houses. 
 
 Home, June 28th, 1881, Tuesday morning 
 Dear M., — I have just had the pleasure of 
 reading your last brief note, and while I wait for 
 [ 208 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 your Father to finish his mail and begin his toilette, 
 if that word is thus spelled, I seize State paper, a 
 poor pen and thick ink, to tell you that your family 
 is still in Washington, though positively expecting 
 to leave this week. And Emmons is with us still, his 
 R.R. business unaccomplished, though he has hopes 
 of a decision to-day. He is quite heartened up about 
 it, almost hoping for what he confidently expected 
 when he came on, so soon do we in the school of ex- 
 perience learn to regard that as a favor, which earlier 
 we looked upon as ours by inheritance. I think that 
 Walker, Emmons, and your Father will leave with 
 the caravan on Thursday. 
 
 Concerning Washington, I have nothing to write. 
 The house is still in the damps, the cellar damps 
 I mean, and Tom is staying with us, occupying 
 Jamie's bed, and Mr. Hale is in town, having arrived 
 Saturday, and the Thorntons leave this morning, 
 and a dinner or breakfast or lunch is a thing of the 
 past. And Alice and I have about completed our 
 summer preparations, and after this letter and break- 
 fast, I shall pack. H. S. B. 
 WAsmNGTON, July 3rd, 1881 * 
 
 Deae M., — Your Father got up quite early 
 yesterday morning, in order to drive the President 
 
 * President Garfield was shot in the waiting-room of the old 
 Pennsylvania Station in Washington while on his way to a reunion of 
 his class at Williams College. 
 
 VOL. I -14 [209] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 to the Station, and at 9 :30 Tom, the boys, Ahce and 
 I had breakfast. In the midst of it, the doorbell 
 rang, and Tom was called out. Then he called 
 Walker; but as the house is besieged all the time, 
 we, who were so fortunate as to remain unsent for, 
 paid no attention to the prolonged absence of the 
 absentees ; but shall I ever forget the moment when 
 Maggie Nurse came running into the room crying, 
 " They have telephoned over to you, Mrs. Blaine, 
 that the President is assassinated." Emmons flew, 
 for we all remembered, with one accord, that his 
 Father was with him. By the time I reached the door, 
 I saw that it must be true' — everybody on the street, 
 and wild. Mrs. Sherman got a carriage and we drove 
 over to the White House. Found the streets in front 
 jammed and the doors closed, but they let us through 
 and in. The President still at the station, so drove 
 thitherward. Met the mounted police clearing the 
 avenue, then the ambulance ; turned and followed into 
 that very gateway where, on the fourth of March, 
 we had watched him enter. I stood with Mrs. Mac- 
 Veagh in the hall, when a dozen men bore him above 
 their heads, stretched on a mattress, and as he saw 
 us and held us with his eye, he kissed his hand to us 
 — I thought I should die ; and when they brought 
 
 1 JNIrs. Sherm;in lived at this time at 817 Fifteenth Street, next 
 door but one to JMr. Blaine. 
 
 [210] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 him into his chamber and had laid him on the bed, 
 he turned his eyes to me, beckoned, and when I went 
 to him, pulled me down, kissed me again and again, 
 and said, " Whatever happens I want you to promise 
 to look out for Crete " ^ the name he always gives 
 his wife. " Don't leave me until Crete comes." I took 
 my old bonnet off and just stayed. I never left him 
 a moment. Whatever happened in the room, I never 
 blenched, and the day will never pass from my mem- 
 ory. At six or thereabouts, Mrs. Garfield came, frail, 
 fatigued, desperate, but firm and quiet and full of 
 purpose to save, and I think now there is a possibility 
 of succeeding. 
 
 Of course I don't know when we shall go home. 
 There seems a purpose in our delay. I came from 
 the White House at two this morning, and had been 
 there all day, but not in the room. Emmons is here. 
 I am writing in greatest haste, and may have to sit 
 up to-night. With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 * A contraction of Mrs. Garfield's Christian name Lucretia. 
 [211] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 821 15th Street, July 6th 1881 
 Dear M., — I must send you a line, if only to 
 let you know that in these times which are history, 
 you are remembered and sympathized with. It has 
 been a quiet but exceedingly hot day with us. After 
 breakfast, I went with your Father to the White 
 House, and finding that their arrangements for nurs- 
 ing were all made for the day, I came immediately 
 away and have not been there since. It is not in 
 me to sit around in those public rooms unless I can 
 be of service. It looks as though Gaffy would live. 
 He is now, six o'clock, still comfortable, and has 
 asked for beefsteak. They will not, of course, let 
 him have it, but if they would, it ought not to come 
 from the White House kitchens. Such tough leather 
 as they had there for breakfast the other morning, 
 is a disgrace to the cattle on a thousand hills. 
 All the Cabinet ladies were there, and Mrs. Sher- 
 man and Tom,^ who came to let the President and 
 Mrs. Garfield know, that yesterday, the young men 
 of his Order made their Communion an offering for 
 the President's recovery. And Dr. Bliss came in 
 to explain to your Father, the changes they were 
 making in the President's bed, and the instructions 
 which he hoped he would give to Private Secretary 
 
 ' The Rev. Father Thomas Sherman, General Sherman's son, a 
 priest of the Jesuit order. 
 
 [ 212 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Brown anent the admission of visitors. And since 
 our return, I have written some letters and sat around 
 in a hght and breezy costume, and your Father 
 has stayed in and read and signed despatches and 
 received callers, and in general taken things easy, and 
 now Walker and your Father have gone to the White 
 House to make inquiries, and thence to make their 
 daily visit to Vice President Arthur, who is on Cap- 
 itol Hill. I cannot tell you anything of the White 
 House. I am afraid to trust things to pen and ink. 
 Character comes out so surprisingly at such times, 
 and many of the ladies who are around, manage to 
 have such a good time. And I have learned to recog- 
 nize the kitchen cabinet. Nothing can exceed the 
 satisfaction of the President when I am around, but 
 I do not think I shall be able to do much for him, 
 but if they will only put the President's room into the 
 hands of professionals, I shall live content and have 
 greater hope that he will not die. 
 
 I have nothing to tell about our plans, as they all 
 hinge on that fateful bedroom. We did not go Fri- 
 day, because we could not get a car, Saturday we did 
 not wish to go, and Sunday, I would not, so Monday 
 we had decided upon. I want Alice to take Maggie 
 Nurse and another girl and go home and open the 
 house, but she is not willing. Of course it will be 
 impossible for your Father, save in a fatal event, to 
 [ 213 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 go for a long time. Emmons is still here, cannot get 
 his business transacted. I had a telegram from Jamie 
 yesterday, asking if he could use the buggy. 
 
 When I was with the President yesterday, as I was 
 all the forenoon, he looked up at me and said, " When 
 I am ready to eat, I am going to break into Mrs. 
 Blaine's larder." I will try to write again tomorrow. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 WAsmNGTON July 8th 1881, 
 Friday noon 
 
 Dear M., — Everything seems to be going as 
 well with the President as the most loving heart 
 can wish. All peoples and tongues vieing with each 
 other to do him honor, a purse made up for Mrs. 
 Garfield, no danger now for the President, no anxiety 
 about paralysis or bullet in the liver, and every pros- 
 pect of a speedy recovery in all his parts. Arthur 
 can go back to New York and we soon to Augusta, 
 and all the pain and woe and anticipated peril will 
 not be lost on the country. I have been to the White 
 House this morning, but saw none but officials. Left 
 your Father there, in consultation with the doctors 
 and drove up to Mrs. MacVeagh's,^ for I am restless 
 and broken up as you may suppose. Emmons opened 
 
 ' Wayne MacVeagb of Pennsylvania was x\ltorney-General under 
 President Garfield. 
 
 [214] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 the door to me when I finally came home. He was in 
 his shirt sleeves, and looked every inch a gentleman. 
 His case is still undecided, and I think his hopes are 
 low. Your Father holds up wonderfully, but the 
 weather tries us all much. As for me, I am rapidly 
 getting unpacked and fast getting all my washable 
 dresses ready for the laundry. Jacky ^ keeps on the 
 even tenor of his way, all days at the State Depart- 
 ment, all evenings at the White House, his only re- 
 source an infinite number of cigarettes, the smoke 
 of whose consumption ascends from his mouth for- 
 ever and ever. Mr. Sherman is with us, and I am, 
 among other experiences, putting to the test my 
 newly engaged servants. The laundress is condemned 
 and I think perhaps the waitress. 
 
 I suppose you have noticed that the President came 
 here Friday afternoon. He sat with me an hour, 
 waiting for your Father, gave me his Inaugural, 
 nicely bound, with his autograph in it, wanted to go 
 to Augusta, but hated the long tail to his kite on this 
 trip. Finally your Father came and they walked 
 away together. Now it seems this Guiteau followed 
 him to the house, waited to shoot him on his return, 
 but not wanting to hurt Secretary Blaine, had to 
 give it up that time. 
 
 * Nickname for Walker. 
 [215 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 I hope I may go home Monday. Good-bye, with 
 love. 
 
 H S B 
 
 Washington, July 10th, 1881. 
 
 My dear M., — I have been talking and talk- 
 ing over the family situation, and strange to say, 
 have secured your Father's attention for fifteen min- 
 utes. It is difficult for me to satisfy him and myself. 
 My own plan is this, to send Maggie Nurse and two 
 other girls home on Wednesday with Walker, you to 
 join them on Thursday. You can go on witli Miss 
 Cowles, staying with C. A. that night, if you are 
 willing, home on the first train, leaving Boston at 
 8:30 A. M. If that train does not stop at Hamilton, 
 you will have to hit it at Salem, Ipswich or wherever 
 C. A. advises. This part of the plan you will have 
 to perfect yourself. You will reach Augusta at 4 — 
 must get Jamie and H. home, do as well as you 
 can with the house, and be as happy as possible. 
 There are the horses, carriages and Fred, and your 
 little sister and brother, and Walker for two days. 
 
 The President is doing very nicely. There is no 
 need, so far as he is concerned, of my staying here, 
 but your Father must, and he cannot be left. Alice 
 is going, with Mrs. Sherman and Lizzie, to-night to 
 Oaklands in Maryland, and will probably stay till we 
 leave. When, oh when, will this be.'' I think of the 
 [216] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 cool air and the comforts of home, till mj head swims. 
 My ti'unks have been entirely packed for a long 
 time, and I sometimes feel as though I should not get 
 away this summer. You are to telegraph me if you 
 would rather go to New London or home. Emmons 
 still here. With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To M., AT Augusta 
 
 821 15th Street, July 15th 1881, 
 Friday morning 
 
 M DEAR M., — This date reminds me, that I have 
 only once before stayed as late as this in Wash- 
 ington. In 1870, on this very day, I saw Con- 
 gress adjourn in palm leaf fans and linen dusters, 
 only your Father, the Speaker, had on an alpaca. 
 He sits here this blessed moment in another, and with 
 him Emmons, in shirt sleeves, lamenting the Solici- 
 tor's decision, w^hich is against him. Tom is at the 
 door, warding off one of your Father's country 
 women, and down stairs the laundresses are busily 
 wrestling with Jacky's and Emmons's linen, leaving 
 the chamber work to Charles and me. That excellent 
 young man has charge of the third floor, while I man- 
 age, or womanage, my own bed. It does not look 
 handsome, but it sleeps well. George Stinson break- 
 fasted with us, and afterwards bade us good-bye for 
 [217] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 N. C. I only hope you may have had as good a break- 
 fast as he had. Just at nine last night, we received 
 Walker's telegram from Augusta. " Swing low, 
 Sweet Chariot," and take me in next week, for all the 
 doctors, male and female, cannot long keep Gaffy on 
 his back, and when he is pronounced out of danger, 
 we expect to leave. 
 
 I spent yesterday in reading Don John, but think 
 the author should have kept the clue for identifica- 
 tion, for the satisfaction of the reader. He has no 
 right to assume the prerogative of Providence. You 
 should hear your Father, to whom I have told the 
 story, scold about it. I think Jean Ingelow must 
 have got the hint for the story from the Thorntons. 
 
 I have not been at the White House for two days, 
 but Emmons and your Father were over last night, 
 found everything monotonously comfortable. And 
 last evening, your Father, Tom and I slowly creaked 
 out in the State coach to the Soldiers' Home. Found 
 there fresh air in abundance, but we gave it all up, as 
 we came back on to the concrete, and I ate my dinner 
 like the fine ladies of Goldsmith. Mr Bro^vn tele- 
 phoned over Walker's Ipswich message. Kiss all the 
 Blaines for me and make yourself as comfortable as 
 possible. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 [ 218 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Washington July 19th 1881 
 Tuesday afternoon 
 
 Dear M., — Emmons has now gone to the station 
 to meet Jaclcy who has telegraphed that he is on the 
 Limited, and Emmons is going to-morrow, so we are 
 to have changes but no gain. For two days now, it 
 has been really comfortable here, so that I can wear a 
 dress and stay before my fellow creatures. Before 
 lunch, I drove out to the house with your Father, 
 thence to the State Department, getting some books, 
 thence home. The house is steadily pushing itself 
 above ground now, and is in its kitchen windows and 
 pressed brick promising to the eye and suggestive to 
 imagination, and my mind often transports me to 
 that western porch, where I shall love to steal awhile 
 away from every worldly care. To-night, I shall 
 probably call at the White House, the least pleasing 
 hour of the twenty-four, as I am obliged to content 
 myself with a mere formality when I long to be of 
 real service. 
 
 Walker has come and has told us all about you. I 
 have pumped and pumped, and at last the stream 
 refuses to flow. We have had a long drive, Emmons 
 acting as Jehu. Have squeaked and groaned over 
 about fourteen miles, and are now through with our 
 eight o'clock dinner. I think we shall certainly be 
 at home by the middle of next week. You cannot 
 [ 219 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 think liow much I want to be there. Love to J., 
 H. and yourself. Emmons is very blue. He has 
 to go to-morrow morning. " 
 
 Always yours, 
 
 H S B 
 
 Washington 
 821 15th Street, July 22nd, 1881 
 
 My dear M., — Do not get discouraged over the 
 cook, though I think it much harder for you, than for 
 anyone else. Let her wash and iron, and as soon as I 
 am there, Tuesday, I will take her in hand. 
 
 We had the agreeable novelty of all eating break- 
 fast together, and in consequence I am sustained by 
 a passable meal, and your Father and Tom and 
 Walker are this moment testing some muscle beaters, 
 which have just come — ting, ting, ting is resounding 
 through the room. We expect now to leave here 
 Monday, though I hold myself ready for disappoint- 
 ment. I have been packed so long and have seen that 
 journey made so many times, I have little confidence 
 left. Your Father saw the President for six minutes 
 yesterday morning, the first time since that fateful 
 Saturday. They had put him (the Prex) off day 
 after day, till he would be denied no longer. He 
 looked better than your Father expected to see him, 
 though his voice was weak. Mrs Garfield told me 
 [ 220 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 yesterday, she considered him out of danger. Is n't 
 it wonderfully good? Alice is still at Oaklands, pro- 
 posing to return tomorrow. I have had a calm and 
 restful two weeks. Every night, we drive out to the 
 new house, which interests us immensely, but it 
 changes now rather slowly, there being a paucity of 
 pressed brick layers. 
 
 Emmons telegraphed yesterday that he was ar- 
 rived all right. Since commencing this letter, I have 
 been to the station with Tom, to arrange about a car 
 for Tuesday. Expect us then Wednesday, but I shall 
 telegraph our departure to you. We have tele- 
 graphed about the bells. Give my dearest love to 
 those dearest children. Did H. get the "Little 
 Earl " to read which I sent her.? 'T was in one of 
 the trunks, Seaside Library. 
 
 Most affectionately, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 WAsmNGTON, Sunday, July 24th, 1881. 
 Dear M., — I do not know when we can come 
 home. Your Father does not feel justified in leaving, 
 and he is not willing for me to leave him. 
 
 How sorry I am, and what a summer this is ! But 
 
 petty disappointments must not be remembered. I am 
 
 just home from the White House, where I have been 
 
 sitting for two hours. Saw Drs. Agnew and Hamil- 
 
 [ 221 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 ton, the Cabinet, Mrs. Garfield and Molly, everyone 
 looking very anxious and sober. Mrs. Garfield said 
 the President did not mind much who was in the room 
 with him to-day, and then he was in a drenching per- 
 spiration, which was not good for him, something 
 I am afraid like a night sweat. This morning, Dr. 
 Agnew made an incision, and opened, as he suspected 
 he should, a pus sac. This was drained, to the sen- 
 sible relief of the patient. 
 
 I cannot tell you what a state we are in. My head 
 aches violently, the day is very sultry, and I am as 
 disappointed as though a re-set bone had to be re- 
 broken. People act like lost children. If I could go 
 into that room, I should have an opinion. 
 
 Alice came home yesterday. It is very dull for her 
 here, and I think she ought to go to Augusta. I 
 should think you might ask Aunt Susan to advise the 
 cook. I will make you a present of the tennis. Love 
 to my darlings, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 Washington July 25th 1881 
 
 Dear M., — We are doing nothing but wait, and 
 
 despair and hope. Five minutes ago, we had talked 
 
 ourselves into an abyss of misery, and three minutes 
 
 since the telephone sounded, and Walker called over 
 
 [ 222 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 the wire that Dr Agnew had put his finger into the 
 wound more than an inch further than yesterday, 
 that pieces of bone had come away, reheving the stop- 
 page of the pus, and that the President's restlessness 
 was abating. 
 
 Your Father and I came back a few minutes ago 
 from our daily drive to the house, where our eyes were 
 delighted by the sight of three workmen nooning 
 under a tree, and from the White House, where we 
 saw Dr Woodward, who seemed quite hopeful about 
 its poor tenant. 
 
 Ahce has got in a large supply of books, and is 
 reading diligently and making notes. I cannot tell 
 you how dull and stupid I am. I loathe the sight of 
 the Department carriage. Our table is an offence to 
 me. A novel takes on all at once, from the times, 
 a sickly association. I almost wish your Father did 
 not want me with him so constantly — in short, I am 
 idle, yet not rested, of use to no one, yet tied down to 
 others. Do make yourself as comfortable as you 
 can. Let Aunt Susan advise the cook. I am sure 
 she will. My love to the children and yourself. 
 
 H S B 
 
 WAsmNGTON, July 28th, 1881. 
 Dear M., — You can tell Mr. Homan, unless the 
 telegraph intervenes before this letter reaches you 
 [ 223 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 with bad news, that we are more confident of the 
 President's recovery this morning, than we have ever 
 been. When we shall get away, I have no chance of 
 knowing. Your Father's stay here gives confidence 
 to every friend and while he stays, I must. I do not 
 feel that this is necessary but he does, and I cannot 
 unlearn the old habit of regarding his word as law. 
 Walker, as you may suppose, is more than satisfied, 
 and Alice will not listen to the proposition of going 
 to Augusta. I really think she needs the change, but 
 I have no fault to find with her. We are all bright 
 again about the President, and I now feel a certain 
 assurance as to his being carefully looked after, which 
 I have not hitherto had. Doctors Agnew and Hamil- 
 ton will keep a closer watch than before this fright. 
 
 If I could feel happy about the Augusta house 
 and children, I should know how to cultivate patience, 
 that homely but friendly herb, but with a house half 
 put to rights, a half-way cook, and half a family, 
 how can you be enjoying a perfect whole? No one 
 sympathizes with my misgivings. In fact, your 
 Father does not hesitate to call it selfishness on my 
 part. The weather is deliciously cool this morning. 
 Use the carriages all you can, and enjoy yourself in 
 every way. Will you get Miss Potter to finish 
 PL's blue linen dress? The sleeves I did not try 
 to make without trying. This is all there is to do 
 [ 224 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 to it. If the pattern for the yellow gingham is there, 
 she can finish that too, and her old last summer's 
 ginghams can be given to Fred's children. 
 With love to all, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 1881. Sunday evening. 
 
 Dear You-uns, — I am ashamed that I, with 
 nothing to do for myself, should not have written 
 you to-day, but truth to tell, this is one of my, or 
 rather our, blue days, and my mind refuses long to 
 stray from that sick bed, with its impending issue 
 and all that thereon hangs. 
 
 We are greatly disappointed at the gravity of the 
 bulletins. Friday I felt an assurance full and free 
 that he would recover. Dr. Hamilton so believed, and 
 so beheved Dr. Bliss. But the gland gives trouble, 
 nausea has returned, and plainly I do not see how 
 he is to recover. To-day I have seen the Attorney 
 General, who is always depressed; Dr. Agnew, who 
 spoke with great caution, but hope lies at the bottom 
 of all he admits ; Secretary Lincoln, whose darkness 
 is unillumined by one ray of courage ; the Hunts, 
 who are rosy ; Mrs. Garfield, who is, as ever, confi- 
 dent ; Rockwell, whose feathers I imagined drooped ; 
 VOL. 1—15 [ 225 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 and Swayne, who announced the President better 
 than ever.^ 
 
 I was at the White House at one o'clock and am 
 now going over again. The day has been warm, and 
 the night is warmer. The State people have been in, 
 and the faithful Bigelow, and Gen. Noyes.^ Your 
 Father sits here writing to Arthur. I am nervous 
 and can scarcely form a letter. Yesterday morning 
 I thought we might leave to-morrow morning. It has 
 gone away now into a remote future — my leaving, 
 I mean. Mr. Barlow has sent again about the dog. 
 Thanks for your and M.'s letters. Do not think 
 about us, but get all the enjoyment you can out of 
 home. I sent a box yesterday, containing Ahce's 
 dress and some soiled linen. She must excuse the 
 combination. 
 
 With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 Washington, July 30th, Sunday noon 
 Dear M., — I am writing just as lunch is coming 
 on to the table, nothing promising in that formal- 
 
 * Robert Todd Lincoln of Illinois, oldest son of Abraham Lincoln, 
 was Secretary of War under Presidents Garfield and Arthur. William 
 Henry Hunt of Louisiana, afterward minister to Russia, was Secre- 
 tary of the Na\7. Col. A. F. Rockwell, U. S. A., War Superintendent 
 of Public Buildings from 1881 to 1885. 
 
 ^ Edward F. Noyes of Ohio, Minister to France in the administra- 
 tion of President Hayes. 
 
 [ 226 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 ity, nor in the stray callers who are sitting around 
 in the room — Mrs. Moore, Col. Forney/ Mr. Tres- 
 cott, Dudley, the new Commissioner of Pensions, 
 and one, already tete-a-tete with your Father, whom 
 I do not know. Walker too is here, reading a letter 
 from Mrs Cameron, which I have just answered, 
 asking me to visit Harrisburg — and Tom, more 
 homesick than myself, if that be possible, is sitting 
 irresolutely around, uncertainly looking at news- 
 papers. When he told me just now, that a certain 
 letter was in a certain drawer, instead of looking for 
 it, I knew that it was all up with him. Alice having 
 on a morning gown, is obhged to flee this madding 
 crowd, and is far in her own room. 
 
 I am not without hope that we shall see Augusta 
 this week. I keep myself in marching order all the 
 time, instructing the laundresses — I have two — to 
 empty the clothes baskets every other morning, and 
 as they are on probation, everything to the last hand- 
 kerchief comes back to the minute. 
 
 Alice dressed, and with two dimes in her glove 
 from Jack, started out for church, but in fifteen min- 
 utes disconsolately came back, not having been able 
 to find any edifice open. 
 
 The President is doubtless doomed to recovery, not 
 
 * Col. John Wien Forney, journalist, author, and Member of Con- 
 gress, at this time Collector of the Port of Philadelphia. 
 [ 227 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 the Potomac flats, nor the doctors, falsely so called, 
 
 nor the doctress, nor the fool friends of nurses, nor 
 
 the poor diet, will cut the vital cord, attenuated as 
 
 it is, and because he lives, we shall live also, and at 
 
 the first possible moment you will see your mother, 
 
 who longs to see you and Jamie and H. more than 
 
 you can possibly conceive. I have your letter this 
 
 morninff. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To Walker in Augusta 
 Col. Rockwell, whom I sat with at the White House 
 for half an hour last night, presented his usual fault- 
 less appearance, boutonniere, silk-lined lapelled coat, 
 cigar in hand, etc., etc. He is exceedingly indignant 
 over the stampede, as he calls it. Says the President 
 is strong and bright and the public are crazy, that 
 the weakness of the patient is greatly exaggerated. 
 I asked by whom, and he could give no answer. He 
 thought the Secretary of State ought to give more 
 reassuring cablegrams to Lowell,^ — generally he 
 seemed to be mad. To suggest anything for diet 
 or remedy seems to act upon him like a red rag on 
 a bull. But all the same, after a while it leaks out 
 that you have been listened to. 
 
 Have received your daily letter. Walker. Thanks. 
 Also M.'s. Thanks. With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 ' James Russell Lowell was then IMinister to Great Britain. 
 [ 228 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 You can't imagine anything so vile as Washing- 
 ton. It seems hke a weed by the wayside, covered 
 with dust, too ugly for notice. 
 
 Washington D. C. August 19th 1881.* 
 Friday morning. 
 
 My dear Children, — I am just through with 
 breakfast, which we have taken at home. Bigelow 
 sitting by for company. We have had cold roast 
 beef, eggs, baked sweet potatoes, hashed potatoes, 
 dry toast, French loaf, melon, tea and coffee. And 
 when I this moment left this letter to go up stairs 
 and hunt your Father's glasses, I found my bed beau- 
 tifully made, so Caroline is a chambermaid, — an 
 accomplishment I had not hitherto given her credit 
 for. 
 
 There was not a leaf of tea, a lump of sugar, an 
 ounce of flour, a raisin, spice of any kind, butter, in 
 fact an eatable of any description, in the house when 
 we returned. But I observed the Rev. Solomon's 
 shirts hanging on our line, and Caroline herself was 
 in the house, and I could draw warm water, though 
 Carohne assured me the washing had been done away 
 from the house, only the starching being indulged in 
 here. A nice distinction, as was said of the Beauty. 
 
 I hardly know how I got through yesterday, 
 
 * Written after the return from a visit to Augusta. 
 [ 229 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 though I think I did better with my time than your 
 Father with his. I wrote some letters, visited the 
 house twice, where your Father's activity causes me 
 great anxiety as he now mounts the ladders and 
 overlooks the second story floor. Was at the White 
 House twice, and took quite a drive. Poor John, 
 the clouds have returned after much rain, and neither 
 the morning nor the evening is his day. One thing 
 is in my favor, I have an appetite and with my bottle 
 of currant, a loaf of fruit cake Mrs Hunter has made 
 me, and a Dutch cheese, I bid fair soon to lose it. 
 
 As to the President.? Your Father had a long talk 
 iwith Dr. Hamilton last night, which depressed him 
 &nd rather encouraged me. I was in the carriage, 
 and Dr. Hamilton stood at its door, so I heard all. 
 He is anxious over the swelling of the gland, and is 
 apprehensive that the President may have to stay in 
 bed months, but the chances are in his favor. This 
 is bad enough, but it is better than death, though 
 your Father says an administration with a sick bed 
 for its centre is not a pleasant thought. The Presi- 
 dent took the whole of a raw onion chopped up in 
 vinegar, and Col. Henry,^ who told Mr Bigelow this, 
 attributes the whole of his relapse to this cause. Dr 
 Hamilton admitted to us that there was perhaps a 
 cause in the pus which had not been reached. The 
 » Col. Guy V. Henry, U. S. A. 
 [ 230 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 channel of the wound, they now find, not having been 
 cleaned for two weeks. They thought the passage 
 was healing, but now find their mistake. 
 
 To Walker, in Augusta 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, August 23rd, 1881. 
 My dear Walker, — I hope you will dispose of 
 all the letters possible at Augusta, as the care of this 
 ever-accumulating debris comes upon me, and you 
 know yourself the dreadful impedimenta which one 
 day's mail can load our Kmited writing conveniences 
 with. True, Mr Trescott and Mr Brown wait as- 
 siduous for hours in the parlor, and their chief enter- 
 tains them and himself often with bright talk, and 
 Wilham sits in the hall, rising like a jack-in-the-box 
 whenever my august foot crosses the threshold, but 
 all the attaches of the State Department fail to 
 satisfy when I withhold my hand. So I consign all 
 the envelopes to the waste basket, and put my ele- 
 gant chirography on to the numerous letters from 
 Victor Drmnmond,^ et al. and breathe freely only when 
 I have put a rubber strap, as good as a lock and key, 
 around the file. For I know your Father is never 
 
 1 Victor Arthur Wellington Drummond, British Charge d'AflPaires 
 at Washington in 1877, in 1880, and again in 1881 ; knighted in 1903. 
 [231] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 going to disturb anything so clerkly and tidy as a 
 bundle of letters. I was at the White House last 
 night, when I got another pound added to my already 
 hopeless condition, Miss Edson ^ having, confidentially 
 to Mrs. James,^ abandoned hope. Why indeed should 
 that angel tarry longer by that bed: when the poor 
 sufferer has lost his own identity, — praying to have 
 that other man taken from him away, and to be re- 
 lieved from that other man's face which cleaves to 
 and drags upon his? Mrs. Garfield had retired, and 
 about ten or perhaps later, we came home, when your 
 Father penned his bulletin to Lowell, which Sevellon 
 Brown ^ at eleven took to the telegraph office for him. 
 We were just in the seclusion of our own room when 
 a carriage drove up. Of course we think everything 
 unusual means the White House, but this was Rams- 
 dell,^ who had come, as it were, to hear his doom from 
 our lips. Your Father went down and let him in, but 
 alas could give him no comfort. I might as well 
 stop writing, my interruptions are so discouraging. 
 The S. of S. left his glasses at the White House last 
 
 > Susan A. Edson, a physician from Auburn, N. Y., in constant at- 
 tendance on President Garfield. For this service Congress aj)propri- 
 atcd to her $3000. Mrs. James was the wife of Thomas L. James, 
 then Postmaster-General. 
 
 2 Sevclion A. Brown, for many years chief clerk of tlie State 
 Depaiimont! Daniel llamsdell was correspondent of the Philadeljjhia 
 Press at Washington. 
 
 [232] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 night. Mine of course, when he needed them, grazed 
 his nose. So I sent William to the Executive Man- 
 sion to get his. They were not there, but he had 
 borrowed Dr Bliss's, so I have had to go down town 
 
 and purchase for myself, and then Mrs M has 
 
 just been in, and now we have been to the house, 
 though I could not see that one brick had been laid 
 on another since we were there yesterday. 
 
 Caroline is making me an apple dumpling for 
 dinner, but I have no interest in anything. I want 
 to go home, and all the circumstances are monstrous. 
 I spare you myself, which is a poor, mean, warmly- 
 dressed, moist, dissatisfied body. Do be kind to my 
 poor motherless children, and whenever you wake at 
 night, think of me sleeplessly tossing and striking 
 out at mosquitoes. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 We feel this morning a little bit better about the 
 object of all our thoughts. 
 
 Washington August 25th 1881. 
 My dear Walker, — I suppose you can see as 
 well as another that hope is over. This dreadful sick- 
 ness will soon be over. Every night when I go to bed 
 I try to brace for that telephone which I am sure 
 before morning will send its shrill summons through 
 [ 233 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 our room. The morning is a little reassuring, for 
 light itself gives courage. Your Father is in the 
 parlor at this moment, where he has been for an hour 
 with Mr. Chaffee ^ and Gen. Logan ^ — quite a re- 
 prieve for me, who in the absence of better company, 
 follow him upstairs and down like a dog. And yester- 
 day Mr. Davis ^ of West Virginia was here, which also 
 helped. Mr. Brown stays here too a great deal, and 
 every night goes with us to the White House, wait- 
 ing for your Father's despatches. We had no inti- 
 mation yesterday of the proposed incision into the 
 perotic gland. It was made, as I understand, be- 
 cause of the danger of suffocation. 
 
 To M., IN Augusta 
 
 WAsmNGTON Sept 1st 1881, 9 p. M. 
 My deae M., — Your Father and Mr. Allen have 
 just left for the White House to get the data for the 
 Lowell telegram. When you read those frank and 
 discriminating telegrams in the morning Journal you 
 may always see behind them your Father and the 
 evening walk to the White House, and the interviews 
 
 * Ex U. S. Senator Jerome B. Chaffee of Colorado. 
 
 ^ Gen. John A. Logan, U. S. Senator from IlHnois, and Repub- 
 lican vice-presidential candidate with Mr. Blaine in 1884. 
 
 ^ Heni-y Gassaway Davis, U. S. Senator from West Virginia and 
 Democratic vice-presidential candidate with Judge Alton B. Parker 
 in 1904. 
 
 [ 234 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 with the doctors, when the truth is made to stand 
 and deliver herself, for the benefit of England and 
 America. As I was within those formerly awe-inspir- 
 ing portals yesterday, twice, I have stayed at home, 
 and hence this note. 
 
 We have agreed that this is the most discourag- 
 ing day we have yet had, the heat is so great, and 
 every particle of moisture seems to be dried out of 
 earth, air and sky. I am not sleepy, but neither am 
 I hungry. Yesterday, Mr. Robeson dined with us, 
 and we had a soup and two other courses and wines. 
 I cannot tell you how horrid it was. Nothing seemed 
 right, and the door bell rang and Lewis was always 
 out of the room, and your Father insisted on chicken 
 when steak was the course, and altogether we agreed 
 not to ask any brother again, not though he were 
 starving. 
 
 I have not sent the passes to Walker, because we 
 are hoping to use them ourselves. I tried to talk 
 your Father into leaving at two o'clock to-day, but 
 he could not quite do that. He will try to urge on 
 Mrs. Garfield to-night the importance of a change 
 for the President. Poor dear Gaffy, how wretched it 
 is! Wounded and sore and hurt to the death, he 
 now to save his life, must dare to lose it. I send into 
 his unseen room sympathy enough to float his bed, 
 but he never knows it. 
 
 [235] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 I have nothing to tell. A great basket of delicious 
 grapes has just come in, and I have had interesting 
 letters from all sorts of people, and when everything 
 else fails, there is the telephone. Mr. Phelps has 
 written me a long letter, in which he inquires for 
 M. filia. Old Judge Black ^ has been here all day, 
 talking in an old fashioned delightful manner. I do 
 hope I shall get home before Jamie leaves. Pity the 
 sorrows of a poor old mother, and tell Walker " I 
 want to go home." Allen thought judgment was 
 spelled with an e after the g. Imagine your Father's 
 satisfaction at worsting him. 
 
 All sorts of flying creatures are coming in, too 
 much light. I leave the world to darkness and to 
 thee. With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 We are dreadfully anxious about that dear Gaify, 
 and your Father much exercised on the question of 
 
 * Jeremiah Sullivan Black, Associate Justice, and later Chief 
 Justice, of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, delivered the eulogy 
 on President Andrew Jackson, and was a member of President Bu- 
 chanan's Cabinet first as Attorney-General and next as Secretary of 
 State, succeeding Lewis Cass of Michigan. At the close of the Bu- 
 chanan administration, Judge Black resumed his law practice, serving 
 in the Andrew Johnson impeachment trial, the Samuel J. Tilden and 
 the Vanderbilt will cases. He was a "CampbeUite " by religion, and 
 wrote a book in reply to Robert G. IngersoU. 
 [ 236 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 disability. Should Arthur ^ be brought to the front, 
 and how, and if this be done, how shall he be 
 retired? 
 
 Washington, Sunday evening. Sept 4 1881 
 Dear M., — Once more, everything is indecision 
 with us, — shall the President be moved? Mrs. Gar- 
 field is anxious for it, but I fear that if the excitement 
 of getting him down stairs or any other phase of the 
 journey, should affect him, he might faint, and if he 
 should, he would never recover consciousness. He is 
 very weak, and there is little to build on. Should he 
 go away, your Father will go with or immediately 
 follow him, and I shall take the N. E. train the same 
 day for home. 
 
 I have almost expected to get away tomorrow, but 
 my last call at the White House, from which I am 
 just returned, gives me no hope of that. I was there 
 this morning and found Mrs. Garfield ready for to- 
 morrow. Nothing can exceed the dryness of the air 
 and disagreeability of the city. I lose heart and 
 spirit — then they come back to me of their own 
 accord. I do wish Jamie were not going to Exeter. 
 Can't you talk him into waiting a year, and having 
 a tutor? 
 
 * Chester A. Arthtir of New York, t5\'enty-first President of the 
 U. S., at that time Vice-President. "The country's ordeal in cou- 
 [ 237 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 Mrs. Morton has written that you are to come 
 over, and she will place you at a school. Excuse 
 brevity. I am not low spirited, but I consider Gaffy's 
 case very unpromising. I doubt if I ever meet the 
 dear old fellow again, in these walks of common life. 
 With much love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 West End Hotel, Long Branch, 
 Thursday morning. Sept 8th, 1881 
 
 Dearest Children, — I was packed for home 
 
 Tuesday morning, and your Father for this place, 
 
 nection with Garfield's death led to an important piece of legislation. 
 Few were then or are now aware by what a slender thread the orderly 
 government of our country hung between the shooting of Garfield in 
 July, 1881, and the second special session of Congress the following 
 October. The law of March, 1792, declares that in case the Vice- 
 President dies, is removed, or is disqualified, 'the President of the 
 Senate pro tempore, or, if there is none, then the Speaker of the House 
 of Representatives for the time being, shall act as President till the 
 disability is removed or a President elected.' But at the time of 
 Garfield's assassination neither a President fro tempore of the Senate, 
 nor a Si^eaker of the House existed." ... A bill passed in 1886 pro- 
 vides "that if the Presidency and the Vice-Presidency are both vacant, 
 the Presidency passes to the members of the Cabinet in the historical 
 order of the estabhshment of their departments, beginning with the 
 Secretary of State." — E. Benjamin Andrews: The United States 
 in Our Oivn Time. 
 
 [ 238 1 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 when Mrs. Garfield sent me an affecting little note, 
 which determined me to heed your Father's advice and 
 stick to him, so with the aid of Allen and Adee,-^ whose 
 name ought to be spelled Aider, I got off at 10:30, 
 and after as hot a day's journey as it was ever my 
 privilege to suffer from, all sweat and dust, we 
 reached this place at six that evening. All our jour- 
 ney through we were cheered by bulletins from the 
 President's car, telling us of the comfortable progress 
 he was making, and as we knew that some of the 
 doctors had feared the worst from the excitement 
 and risk, each mile that we travelled gave us a re- 
 newed assurance that the right step had at last been 
 taken. But after getting here, after looking at the 
 ocean with emotion, he is just the same. I do not 
 believe he will recover. 
 
 This hotel is about a mile from the Franklyn cot- 
 tage, where he is. Every evening, the whole Cabinet 
 with its wife, drive over to see the doctors and Mrs. 
 Garfield, but I cannot explain why everything is so 
 unsatisfactory. 
 
 After breakfast: Henry has appeared, and is at 
 this moment seated on the piazza with your Father, 
 and Mr. Cohen and Mr. Seligman and others, and 
 
 > Alvey A. Adee, chief of the Diplomatic Bureau of the State 
 Department. 
 
 [ £39 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Dana Horton ^ is here, not too wise, just wise enough, 
 and the President is better, and at five we are going 
 out to drive with Mr Montgomery. And this is 
 about all there is of it. Our rooms are much the 
 best I have ever seen in a seaside hotel, and the table 
 is good. I cannot get away till next week, but hope 
 to very soon. 
 
 (fragment) 
 
 1881 
 (written from Elberon in September) ^ 
 
 but I am tired out. I do not suppose I slept two 
 hours last night; then the day has been full of es- 
 
 * Samuel Dana Horton, political economist and author. Secretary 
 of the International Monetary Conference held at Paris in 1878. 
 
 ^ President Garfield died at Elberon on September 19. By previous 
 arrangement a post mortem examination of the body of the President 
 was made in the presence, and with the assistance of Drs. Hamilton, 
 Agnew, Bliss, Barnes, Woodward, Reyburn, Andrew H. Smith of 
 Elberon, and Acting Assistant Surgeon D. S. Lamb of the Army 
 Medical Museum of Washington. The operation was performed by 
 Dr. Lamb. "It was found " (the report reads), "that the ball, after 
 fracturing the right eleventh rib, had passed through the spinal col- 
 umn in front of the spinal cord, fracturing the body of the first lumbar 
 vertebra, driving a number of small fragments of bone into the adja- 
 cent soft parts and lodging below the pancreas about two and one- 
 half inches to the left of the spine and behind the peritoneum, where 
 it had become completely encysted. 
 
 "The immediate cause of death was secondary hcmorragc from 
 
 one of the mesenteric arteries adjoining the track of the ball, the 
 
 blood nipturing tlie peritoneum, and nearly a pint escaping into the 
 
 abdominal cavity. This hemorrage is believed to have been the 
 
 [ 210 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 citement of a most painful character, and I am going 
 to see Mrs. Garfield again to-night. Then the jour- 
 cause of the severe pain in the lower part of the chest complained of 
 just before death. An abscess cavity six inches by four was found in 
 the vicinity of the gall bladder, between the Uver and the transverse 
 colon, which were strongly adherent. It did not involve the sub- 
 stance of the liver, no communication was found between it and the 
 wound. 
 
 "A long suppurating channel extended from the external wound 
 between the loin muscles and the right kidney, almost to the right 
 groin. This channel, now known to be due to the burrowing of pus 
 from the wound, was supposed during Life to have been the track of 
 the ball. 
 
 "On an examination of the organs of the chest evidences of severe 
 bronchitis were found on both sides, with broncho-pneumonia of the 
 lower portions of the right lung, and, though to a much less extent, 
 of the left. The lungs contained no abscesses and the heart no clots. 
 The liver was enlarged and fatty, but not from abscesses. Nor were 
 any found in any other organ, except the left kidney, which contained 
 near its surface a small abscess about one-third of an inch in diameter. 
 
 " In reviewing the history of the case in connection with the autopsy 
 it is quite evident that the difl'erent suppurating surfaces, and espe- 
 cially the fractured, spongy tissue of the vertebrae, furnish a sufficient 
 explanation of the septic condition which existed." 
 lSigned\ D. W. Bliss, 
 
 J. K. B.\RNES, 
 
 J. J. WoODWAilD, 
 
 Robert Reyburn, 
 Frank H. HAmLXON, 
 D. IL\TES Agnew, 
 Andrew H. Smith, 
 D. S. Lamb. 
 Official Bulletin of the Autopsy on the Body of 
 
 President Garfield : Medical Record, New York, 
 1881, vol. XX, p. 364. 
 In this connection it is interesting to note that from the day of the 
 assassination, Mr. Blaine insisted that the above-mentioned "long 
 VOL. I —16 [ 241 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 nej to-morrow. Mr. Osgood expects to be home 
 Thursday at eight, and he can tell you everything. 
 Please send this letter to Abby. The ink is so pale 
 I cannot see it. Do look out that Jamie has his 
 things, and write him every day. Goodbye, with 
 love to all, 
 
 HSB. 
 
 To Alice, in Augusta 
 
 October 23rd 1881 
 Washington 4 p. m. Sunday afternoon 
 
 Dear Alice, — If my letter leaves off in the 
 middle without formal end, you will understand that 
 I am hopelessly interrupted. Tom is lighting the 
 lamp at the table, and your Father is reading a State 
 paper at the other window, I being at the first, to 
 Mr. Chandler. How he manages to keep his mind 
 single for any subject I cannot imagine, as I have 
 never in all my long and varied experience seen any- 
 thing like the rush to the house. Yet to-day he has 
 written directions for papers, has seen men on private 
 
 suppurating channel " could not have been the trail of the bullet. He 
 was slightly deaf in the left ear, and by the distinct sound of the 
 bullet, he was convinced that it had passed his right ear and had 
 consequently entered the President's body at a diflerent angle from 
 the one assumed by the doctors' theories. The autopsy alas ! proved 
 that he had been correct. 
 
 [ 242 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 and public business, has seen foreign Ministers, has 
 had exhaustive talks on matters of vital importance, 
 and all this with every room filled, — apparently with- 
 out disturbance to himself. Miss Knox was so 
 prompt and successful in her fits that we found we 
 need not wait for the night train, so as I say we got 
 over here late last night. Maj. and Mrs. and Lanier 
 Dunn, and Lizzie Cameron, were in the same car, and 
 Gen. Thomas and Mrs. Ewing on the train, and Vir- 
 ginia to Philadelphia, so that we managed not to feel 
 too tired. At the station, which I am sorry to say, 
 we reached an hour late, we found Walker in evening 
 dress just roused from a nap which he had been tak- 
 ing, leaning against one of the uprights of the depot. 
 He had with him a carriage, not of the State Depart- 
 ment, and we were soon, k little before twelve, at 
 home, where your Father met us, also in evening 
 dress, — more glad, he said, to see us than ever be- 
 fore in his life. By the time we were well in. Walker 
 had whisked him off to a German banquet,^ while Tom, 
 M. and I sat down to supper. The house looked 
 beautifully, though I discover to-day that from top 
 to bottom it needs cleaning. Not a pane of glass, 
 
 ' Banquet given in honor of the German guests visiting this coun- 
 try to celebrate the anniversary of the surrender at Yorktown. The 
 chief foreign guests were the Marquis de Rochambeau from France, 
 and Baron von Steuben from Germany. 
 [ 243 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 not a panel of a door can be spared. And then my 
 window curtains that went to Missouri — how I want 
 them! 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To M., IN England 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, Nov 6, 1881, 
 Sunday morning 
 
 Dearest M., — It is my sacred duty as well as 
 highest privilege, to inaugurate this morning, a 
 daily correspondence, which I hope will have on its 
 many pages, only the record of happy hours. After 
 you had left us, not we you, yesterday morning, and 
 we turned away from the pier only as the " Illinois '* 
 was vanishing, mindful of your Father's injunction 
 not to watch the departing out of sight, we drove 
 back to the Continental, where my first overt act was 
 to go to the breakfast table and eat a quantity of 
 buckwheat cakes. The other H. soon joined me and 
 did likewise. We neither of us had the slightest 
 previous intention of so doing, but the sight of the 
 three Sherman sisters indulging in the sweets of 
 honey and buckwheat and each other, proved irresist- 
 ibly attractive, and you know by this time, it seemed 
 about the eleventh hour of the day. I spent the 
 rest of the forenoon attending to H's wardrobe, and 
 looking at old furniture, getting back to the hotel 
 [244] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 in time to lunch with j^our Father, preparatory to his 
 leaving for New York on the Limited. I looked so 
 good to him, that he determined to go back to Wash- 
 ington with us, but Jacky's entreaties prevailed, and 
 the original plan was carried out. After their de- 
 parture, I had time to shoe and stocking your little 
 sister, and when I send you her picture, you may 
 consider that from the crown of her head to the sole 
 of her foot, she is a monument of the Philadelphia 
 trip, and a perpetual reminder of you, a sort of Guy 
 Fawkes to be forever associated with the 5th of No- 
 vember. Before your Father left Philadelphia, he sent 
 telegrams saying that you had sailed, to Aunt Susan, 
 to Cousin Abby, to Mr. Manley, to J. G. B. Jr. Of 
 course he took to himself all the credit for the final 
 perseverance of St. Margaret, but, dear soul! who 
 finds fault with the weaknesses of the mighty? All 
 the rest of your friends, including Lizzie and Rachel, 
 left Philadelphia on the six o'clock train, reaching 
 Washington at ten. Whatever else we have gained 
 or lost in Philadelphia, we have certainly added to 
 our belongings, for Emmons was encumbered with 
 a hat-box and hand bag, an umbrella, and a bonnet 
 box containing Alice's veil and H.'s new hats; then 
 we had a box of shoes, and nobody knows what else 
 beside; but in spite of all these minor burdens, and 
 the great one of a daughter at sea, and the incon- 
 [ 245 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 venience of no chairs in the Pullman, the hundred 
 miles between Philadelphia and Baltimore sHpped by 
 like a watch in the night. I hope you noticed the 
 beauty of the heavens, for I suppose there was no 
 land for you to look on. Lewis met us at the station 
 with a carriage, and Maggie Nurse was waiting to 
 open the door upon all the hght and color and warmth 
 of the old house, as weU as one of Caroline's best 
 suppers. 
 
 Monday, 10 a. m. 
 An eight o'clock breakfast, and a rainy day give 
 me the prospect of long uninterrupted hours, which 
 I shall improve to the advantage of Alice's old black 
 silk, which needs an extra ruffle, and H.'s old gold, 
 which is in a similar predicament. Our early break- 
 fast was for Emmons's benefit, who wants to get off 
 for New York at 10:30 to attend the ball this even- 
 ing, for which your Father has telegraphed him. 
 He is now at the Post Office Department, trying to 
 get his business started. Mrs. Hale spent a good 
 part of the day with me yesterday, and Emmons 
 breakfasted and dined at the B.'s ; but while I have 
 you in all my thoughts, I think they were mostly 
 congratulatory at your really carrying out this long 
 arranged plan. I have had a great shock this morn- 
 ing, occasioned by the sight of as innocent an object 
 [ 246 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 as your clothes bag, which, with its double row of 
 mourning strings, confronted me as I pulled out one 
 of the secretary drawers this morning. I shall now 
 dedicate it to Alice and Fort Leavenworth, but what 
 becomes of all the sentiment I stitched into it? 
 H. is very blue this morning, nor does her story 
 of the " Buried Alive," which in regular order, she 
 has now reached in her Arabian Nights, tend to ele- 
 vate her spirits. To aid in this highly desirable 
 elevation, I have proposed that she take Maggie 
 Nurse out to see the new house, so they are now 
 waiting for John, as it is too wet for walking. 
 Unless I begin now to tell you what we have to eat, I 
 do not see how I can entertain you the remainder of 
 this sheetful, and in fact, Caroline has just appeared 
 with a large yellow apple on a china dish to see if 
 I consider it ripe enough for mince pies, and what 
 H. calls " invisible moose." Ahce has just been in 
 to see Rachel's wrap, which she is anxious to sell, 
 but finds her gone to market, and in general, the 
 females of your family are left to themselves and the 
 weather, and though not in one accord, are in one 
 place, and the Harriets send you volumes of love 
 and good wishes enough to last you all your stay 
 away. 
 
 From your own. 
 
 Mother. 
 [ 247 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 821 Fifteenth St Washington, Nov 9, 1881, 
 Wednesday afternoon. 
 
 Dearest M., — A very dark day is drawing to an. 
 end. I have not been out, but Emmons came while we 
 were at breakfast, and Lizzie Cameron, with Rachel 
 and Lizzie Sherman, has been here to lunch. I hope 
 you escape this wretchedly lifeless weather, which we 
 are suffering from all the time, a wet Indian summer. 
 I have not been " at home " this afternoon, though 
 two or three got in accidentally — the Danish Min- 
 ister and Mme. de Bille ^ and Mr. Gallaudet."-^ The last 
 came to consult me about a memorial service to Gar- 
 field as a man of letters. Caroline gave us a lovely 
 lunch, and we all wished you here and thought and 
 spoke of you constantly. Sanford's^ oranges and 
 mandarines graced the table, though I could wish he 
 had left them to ripen on the tree a little more sweetly. 
 Your Father and Jacky are still in New York, though 
 I think it would be more sensible if Walker would 
 come home, for Emmons says he is dead tired. They 
 could not wake him up to go to the ball. Your 
 Father stays now to oblige Arthur, who wants him 
 to come over with him. 
 
 * The Danish representative in 1880-82 was Carl Stern Ander- 
 son de Billc, who was the Charge d'Affaires from 1880-82, and 
 then recognized as Minister Resident. 
 
 ^ Edward Miner Gallaudet, Ph.D., of Philadelphia. 
 
 ^ Henry D. Sanford, afterwards Minister to Belgium. 
 [ 248 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Nov. 13. 
 Your Father is delighted to be home again, and it 
 seems good to me, I assure you. This morning we 
 have been out to the house, in and over it. I have 
 thought a good deal about it, this last dark, stormy, 
 gloomy November week. Your Father has retired 
 from the State Committee, after a chairmanship of 
 twenty-one years. Gen. CorkhilP is in the parlor, talk- 
 ing of the Guiteau trial, which commences to-morrow. 
 Do you know, there is quite a desire that he may be 
 convicted of insanity.? A more dangerous sentiment 
 could hardly become fashionable. Mrs. Lambard has 
 written me a letter of sympathy at losing you, and 
 having you on the ocean, which reminds me that my 
 anxiety on the latter account is almost over. Yes, 
 you are now nearly through with your eighth day, 
 and I hope soon to hear of your arrival in England. 
 Maggie nurse has gone to visit her aunt's grave and 
 to lay on it a wreath, to-wit, one of the calico baskets 
 which the Public Gardens twice a week send to me. 
 She has a new crepe hat, made from the Garfield por- 
 trait mourning drapery. 
 
 * Gen. Corkhill conducted the prosecution of Guiteau. 
 
 [ 249 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Monday. 
 
 Mr. Sanford has returned, as a call from him at 
 eleven o'clock last night only too surely testifies. 
 Walker and I were nodding at each other over the 
 parlor fire, and your Father and Mr. Chandler dis- 
 cussing the Canal paper in the dining room, when 
 on our dullness and absorption in national affairs, 
 entered this Florida orange merchant. He sails 
 Wednesday on the White Star Line. Every steamer 
 seems now to carry out some friend of yours. We 
 expect Jamie and Emmons to-morrow, then, as in 
 Philadelphia, I shall have five children with me. 
 
 Your Father is making ready to present Mr. West i 
 to the President. He is as busy as can be, and you 
 know what that means with him. Tom is making 
 out comparisons between areas of countries. The 
 bills for the foreign guests are being inspected. Mr 
 Trescott is examining with him the statements for the 
 President's message, and unknown men are waiting 
 
 > The Hon. Lionel Sackville-West, who succeeded Sir Edward 
 Thornton as British Minister at Washington ; later Baron Sack\illc, 
 died in 1908. The late Baron Sack\alle was driven from his position 
 at Washington by the newspaper publication in 1888 of a letter he 
 had \vTitten to one ISIurchison, expressing his belief that England 
 preferred Mr. Cleveland's election to that of Mr. Harrison, — an 
 incident which not only discredited him, but ended his diplomatic 
 
 [ 250 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 in the parlor, and alas ! our dinner comes off Wednes- 
 day. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, Nov 16, 1881, 
 Wednesday a. m. 
 
 Dear M., — This is the day of the Sackville-West 
 and President dinner, and as I have no cook but Caro- 
 line, and only one man, and only Maggie for a 
 chambermaid, I shall be heartily glad when it is 
 over, I have gone over the bill of fare till my head 
 swims, and no doubt I am borrowing a great deal of 
 trouble, besides weakening everybody's confidence 
 in the dinner. Emmons and Walker will both be at 
 the table. And now to more pleasing topics. Yes- 
 terday about noon, I was telephoned from the Depart- 
 ment by Walker, this telegram from Philadelphia. 
 " The Illinois passed Holyhead at eleven o'clock this 
 morning, English time," and this morning here is the 
 arrival of the Illinois in the regular shipping news, 
 and so Tom Donaldson's assurance " that Miss 
 M. is as safe as though landed at the pier in Liver- 
 pool," is made good. So to-day, we all fancy you 
 taking your first impression of an English town, 
 which your Father says is not very different from 
 an American town. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 [ 251 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. WAsmNGXON Nov 20th 1881. 
 My dear M., — Your Father, after spending his 
 entire morning on despatches, is off for the Presi- 
 dent's, and Walker, who has been with his little 
 sister to St. Jolin's, comes in and Lewis brings up 
 fresh lunch, and all goes on to the tune of Auld 
 Lang Syne. I do not know when I wrote my last 
 letter to you, but I believe I have had two dinners 
 and one luncheon party since then. The first was, 
 as you know, the much dreaded dinner to the Presi- 
 dent, and I might add to Mr. West, only that you 
 can never have two chiefest lions at the same dinner, 
 and in this case, the lion was the American eagle. 
 It went off beautifully. Five handsome and beauti- 
 fully dressed women besides myself, whose reputation 
 I leave to my dearest daughter : Cameron, Beale, Robe- 
 son, Schlesinger, Outrcy. But while I am admiring 
 women, let me not fail to do honor to Mrs. Solomon 
 Hunter, to whom we are indebted for a most satis- 
 factorily cooked dinner. No French gravy disgusted 
 my appetite, all was sweet and clean, hot and whole- 
 some, and everybody was so gay that not a moment 
 dragged, till at nearly twelve, the party broke up. 
 Mr. Sackville-West was very agreeable and cordial, 
 and extremely ready to be entertained. I leave yo\i 
 to judge of my feelings, when, while I was still in 
 [ 252 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 labor with this dinner, in fact having my hair dressed 
 for it, your Father walked into that temple of mer- 
 chandise, my bedroom, with the announcement that 
 having entirely forgotten to invite Sir Leonard and 
 Lady Tilley ^ to this dinner, I must make up another 
 for the next day, and sure enough, Thursday, besides 
 the nobility mentioned by my proud pen, I found the 
 Prex, Secretary and Mrs. Hunt, Gen. Baird,^ Col. 
 Bliss,^ Mr. and Mrs. John Davis, dining with the five 
 Blaines. And yesterday. Miss Gary, who had sung 
 in concert the night before in Washington, came to 
 breakfast, and with her the Robesons and Lincolns. 
 Poor Lewis looked absolutely white, he was so tired, 
 and as for Caroline, I have been expecting every 
 meal to hear that she was found wanting. Emmons 
 got away last night. I hated to have him go, for he 
 is a dear son as well as most agreeable gentleman ; 
 but having secured a three hours' talk with your 
 Father on business matters, he went off very cheerful. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. WAsmNGTON Nov 30th, 1881 
 My dear M., — I drop you a line during the last 
 hour before the closing of the French mail at the 
 
 * Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, from 1873-78 Lieutenant-Gov- 
 ernor of New Brunswick; died in 1896. 
 
 - Gen. Absalom Baird of Pennsylvania. In Sherman's march to 
 the sea, he commanded the 14th Army Corps. He had been a class- 
 mate of Mr. Blaine at Washington College, Pennsylvania. 
 
 ^ Col. Alexander Bliss of Washington, Mr. Bancroft's son-in-law. 
 [ 253 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 State Department. In about two weeks I shall have 
 to forego the privilege of that despatch bag, hunt 
 up thin paper, crowd my lines and reckon my words 
 before they are written. I am alone, sweet and blessed 
 privilege! Down stairs Alice is entertaining Jim- 
 mie Walker, a solemn cousin of yours, who beHeves 
 in the Holy Roman Catholic Church, and your 
 Father, Mr. Hitt, Trescott, Walker and Tom, at 
 the dining room table, gas lighted, are diligently 
 working on State papers, to which I have already 
 listened and have affixed the sign of my approval. 
 Walker ^ is to go Friday. What do you suppose I 
 can do without him? But the embarrrassments of the 
 change of administration he will be spared; also 
 a society winter in Washington, which I consider 
 
 * "When Mr. Blaine entered the Department of State, war was 
 waging between Chili and Peru, and he sought to exercise the good 
 offices of our government, first, for the restoration of peace, and 
 second, to mitigate the consequences of the crushing defeat sustained 
 by Peru. Other efforts failing, he despatched William Henry Tres- 
 cott on a special mission to oii'er the friendly services of the United 
 States ; but this attempt was interrupted and frustrated by his retire- 
 ment from the department." — Appleton's Encyclopaedia of American 
 Biography. 
 
 On November 28, 1881, President Arthur appointed William 
 Henry Trescott, of South Carolina, Special Envoy, etc., etc., to Chili, 
 Peru, and BoUvia. INIr. Trescott was accompanied by INlr. Walker 
 Blaine, then third assistant Secretary of State, and I\Ir. Trescott was 
 empowered by the President to authorize IMr. Blaine to represent 
 him at any point where necessity might require. — State Department 
 Heport. 
 
 [254] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 no loss for him. Also the risk of the loss of some of 
 his pleasantest intimacies. I hope to get through 
 myself without breaks. Mrs. Phelps sails to-day, to 
 join Mr. Phelps at Vienna. I hoped he might be 
 back by this time, but this looks hke a winter's deten- 
 tion. Your Father gains constantly. He is now re- 
 gaining his flesh, which does not give him apparently 
 the satisfaction it ought. 
 
 I was at the Spanish Minister's ^ night before last, 
 a most pleasant party, though as he comes from a 
 part of Spain where exaggeration is the positive de- 
 gree, I suifered a little from their politeness, being 
 taken out to supper first, placed behind a small table, 
 loaded with supper, wine and tea, no one coming to 
 keep me company, till I had had all the honor of my 
 soHtary state. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 FuTEENTH St. Friday evening Nov 25th, 1881. 
 My dear M., — I am just in from the Guiteau 
 trial, where I have been for the second time. I can- 
 not tell you how interesting it is, though I was very 
 much afraid to-day, I might be embarrassed by the 
 pulling to pieces of the Oneida Community.^ I went 
 
 * Felipe Mendez de Vigo y Osorio, Spanish Minister to the U. S. 
 1879-81, succoeding hrenor Polo y Bcrnabe. 
 
 ^ One of the witnesses in the Guiteau trial had testified to the 
 erratic character of Guiteau's father, who was at one time a member 
 [ 255 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 with Walker and Orville Baker, but both my escorts 
 left me at the recess, and then I had a chair by Mrs. 
 Robeson, who was there with Mrs. Emory. ^ I found 
 them on the most intimate terms with Mrs. Ricker, 
 a lawyeress from New Hampshire, a tall woman with 
 short hair, sitting like a man unhatted, a cheap ruff 
 around her neck, good features, altogether a char- 
 acter. Knowing all the resources of the court room, 
 she took Mrs. Emory to a dressing room, coming 
 back with her hands full of apples, to which she 
 treated her distinguished friends. To-morrow, Judge 
 Davidge has warned his lady friends to stay at home. 
 Orville arrived yesterday morning and leaves to- 
 morrow. He dined with us yesterday, and Walker 
 took him to the matinee in the afternoon with E. B. 
 
 of the so-called Oneida Comraiinity which cherished unconventional 
 views with respect to marriage. Guiteau (Charles Jules), had by 
 turns tried law, lecturing, the ministry, and politics, and his motive 
 in the assassination of President Garfield was supposed by many 
 persons at the time to be due to his disappointment at not recei\nng 
 some minor office under the Administration, so that the affair had 
 something to do, thougli indirectly, with the death of the old "sjioils 
 system." He was found guilty in January, 1882, hut his obstreperous 
 and garrulous beha%aor during the trial was extraordinary. Judge Cox 
 at one time threatening to have him gagged. The conduct of the 
 trial was outspokenlv criticised in the daily papers at the time, the 
 New York Tribune remarking that it would "put the United States 
 to shame in the eyes of the European countries if they did not know 
 tliat in tlie prosecution of criminals V\^ashington ceased to be the 
 capital of the nation and became a Maryland village." 
 1 Wife of General William Hclrasley Emory, U. S. A. 
 [ 256 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 and Lizzie Cameron. Lizzie also dined with us. Mr 
 Cameron was sick and E. B., who is staying with Mrs 
 Cameron dined at Mrs. Adams's, coming in here at 
 nine with chattering teeth and a cold back, the house 
 being as cold as that celebrated blood. She said she 
 sent for her fur shoes and her cloak, and that when 
 she went out to dinner she looked as though going 
 for a sleigh-ride. 
 
 My family is again diminishing. Walker goes 
 next week, or rather leaves for South America. Mr. 
 Trescott is sent out by this government as Envoy 
 to look into the Peru and Chilean matters, and 
 Walker goes with him as assistant. They will be away 
 the entire winter. Walker is both pleased and sorry. 
 It looks good to him to stay here through the winter 
 — at the same time, he will be glad to add to his 
 travels and experience, and perhaps reputation, and 
 if the changes which are coming involve personal 
 relations, he may be spared some painful scenes — • 
 with a chance that time, the great mollifier, may be- 
 fore his return smooth away all acerbities. It is a 
 little hard on me, to lose my three appreciative chil- 
 dren. H. is now through with Vanity Fair. Now 
 she begins with Mademoiselle Seron in Music, with 
 the dentist, Henry Esmond with me, drawing with 
 Adelaide Outrej^'s teacher, a doll's party at Ethel 
 Robeson's to-morrow, and French at Madam Burr's 
 VOL. 1—17 [ 257 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 school. With all these divisions and subdivisions, I 
 hope that time may not hang too heavy on her hands. 
 The dinner at Mrs. Hunt's was Getchell's I think, 
 and of course poor, — with a company exceptionally 
 interesting. Arthur is so social and fond of being 
 away from his lonely habitation on Capitol Hill,^ 
 and etiquette requiring everyone to stay until he 
 leaves, it becomes an interesting problem how to end 
 a dinner before twelve o'clock — but we did get home 
 from the Hunts a little before that hour. What do 
 you suppose the turkey Mr. Anthony ^ sent me 
 weighed? Thirty-eight pounds, and Carohne roasted 
 
 it fit for the gods. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. WAsmNOTON Dec 7th 1881, 
 
 Wednesday morning. 
 
 My dear M., — Alice is just starting for the trial 
 with Mrs. Kinsley, and your Father and Mr. Chand- 
 ler are talking some Mexican matters, apparently of 
 interest, as the former is fast working himself into 
 a fury. I am trying to catch the foreign mail which 
 closes at the Department to-day at twelve. Congress 
 is in session, so we are daily expecting your Father's 
 
 » President Arthur lived temporarily in the Butler Mansion, New 
 Jersey Avenue and B Street, S. W., while the White House was being 
 renovated. Mrs. Arthur, who was a daughter of Commodore William 
 Lewis Hcrndon, U. S. N., died in 1880. 
 
 2 Senator Henry B. Anthony of Rhode Island. 
 [ 258 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 head to roll in the basket. I cannot but feel a little 
 blue, though the person chiefly interested was never 
 gayer or in better health. Last night he dined at 
 the Spanish Minister's and to-morrow we go to Mr. 
 West's. The Hales are settled in the Morton house,-*- 
 with which they are perfectly delighted. It is a 
 charming house, full of sunshine and all manner of 
 possibilities. Mr. Hale's mother died Monday, and 
 he has now gone to Turner to the funeral. Mrs. H. 
 spent last evening with me, also I\Ir. Reed, who feels 
 the loss of the Speakership; not that he had ever a 
 good prospect of getting it, but it was a beckoning 
 ambition, and he seems to be without a polestar. Not 
 one word do we yet know about your voyage. I am 
 so glad you like the Scotts. Indeed I can think of 
 little but yourself and would like to talk of nothing 
 but the rare wonder of your actually having been 
 to London. I suppose to-day you commence your 
 school. We expect C. A. in a fortnight. I am now 
 going to re-read your letters. Walker's friends 
 come in every day to bewail his departure. You see 
 of course that Mr. Kilpatrick^ is dead. 
 With love from everybody, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 * The residence of Senator Oliver P. Morton of Indiana, later 
 occupied by Mr. L. P. Morton of New York. Its site is part of the 
 present Shoreham Hotel. 
 
 ^ Brig.-Gen. Judson Kilpatrick, Minister to Chili from 1865-70, 
 [ 259 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington Dec 11th 1881. 
 
 Friday evening. 
 
 My dearest M., — I have been again to-day 
 to the Trial — the most interesting place, by all 
 odds, in Washington — and after enduring the bad 
 air and shifting companionship of the crowded court- 
 room for three hours, and after gaping with the rest 
 of the crowd at the van till Guiteau sprang into it 
 like a rabbit, I drove home with Mrs. Kinsley, stop- 
 ping on the way to look at photographs of the Presi- 
 dent and of Mrs. Garfield and of Guiteau, which I 
 am intending to send to Lady Thornton. Found no 
 one at home, and an untouched luncheon table stand- 
 ing. H. had gone to Mrs Cameron's, Alice to Mrs 
 Baird's, Jamie was on his travels, your Father at the 
 Department, and this, alas, includes my family. I 
 am conscious of a great want. It is right and 
 natural, and for the highest good of those most 
 nearly concerned, that my three children should be 
 away, but it is not a costless sacrifice. I pay dearly 
 
 and reappointed in 1881. He died in Valparaiso, Dec. 4, 1881. In 
 a letter dated Dec. 13, 1881, Walker Blaine wrote to his father: 
 
 " Poor Kilpatrick, how short his enjoyment ! I recall his extrava- 
 gant joy when he received the place last May, and now he's gone, 
 leaving the little wife and two children in Chili. ... I am extremely 
 complimented by the high honor which the President has paid in 
 making me charge. Mv. Trescott was, I think, extremely gratified, 
 as it removes any embarrassment that might attend the success of 
 the mission by a new man being sent." 
 [ 260 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 for Emmons's business, for Walker's opportunities, 
 and for your French. Col. Corkhill assures me that 
 Guiteau will be hung. If he is not, as dreadful a 
 villain as civilization has produced, will go unwhipped 
 of justice. 
 
 All your letters have now come and I can make 
 a complete Progress for you from the moment you 
 arrived at the Mersey till the day before you left 
 London. Every word is interesting you write, but I 
 am sorry not to know something of your voyage. 
 All your letters have been started this afternoon to 
 South America. Last night we dined at the British 
 Legation. Twenty-five at the table, representing 
 thirteen nationalities, ourselves the only Americans. 
 It was a pleasant dinner, though not so good a one 
 as Lady Thornton's cook, whom Lizzie Cameron now 
 has, would have given us, and the house is frightfully 
 bare, all the cabinets empty, no bric-a-brac, no pic- 
 tures. I was taken out to dinner by the host, and 
 on the whole, had rather an agreeable evening. The 
 President has to-day telegraphed Walker to be 
 charge d'affaires at Chili till Kilpatrick's successor 
 is appointed. Did you ever know of such luck as 
 he has.? The President went into the White House 
 Wednesday. 
 
 Do you notice that Arthur was unwise enough to 
 destroy the letter Guiteau wrote him after the Presi- 
 [261 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 dent's death? I am thoroughly tired, but am always 
 yours, with the greatest love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington Dec 13th 1881, 
 
 Tuesday morning. 
 
 Dearest M., — We are at breakfast. H with her 
 Philly, your Father cutting around the outer crust 
 of all the corn cake, Alice latest of all, and Jamie 
 with inky fingers, fresh from his Caesar, which he had 
 been translating with a free hand and out loud at the 
 last minute, at your Father's desk. 
 
 Well, my dearest daughter, Frelinghuysen's ^ name 
 was sent in yesterday and yesterday confirmed, and 
 in a few days, he will take the oath of office, and for 
 the first time in twenty-three years, he (your Father) 
 finds himself out of public life, he entering the legis- 
 lature in '58. Of course he is extremely busy, getting 
 ready to welcome his successor, so I cannot yet judge 
 how the absolute freedom will affect him, but I have 
 few misgivings. One of our first privileges will be 
 to give a diplomatic party to meet the Freling- 
 huysens, and then I rather hope we shall shut down 
 on dinners and all that sort of outlay, for a little 
 wliile. 
 
 Your Father and I dined at the Hales Sunday even- 
 
 * Frederick T. Frelinghuysen of New Jersey was appointed Sec- 
 retary of State by President Artiiur, 
 
 [ 262 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 ing, the first persons to eat at their board since they 
 went into the Morton house. We went unexpectedly, 
 at the last moment leaving a most interesting supper, 
 M'hich Lewis had just brought up. I think the house 
 they are in charming, and we had a nice visit, your 
 Father being in one of his irresistible moods, when no 
 man, I care not who he may be, can surpass him. 
 Then, as Mr Chandler says, I would rather hear him 
 than eat. 
 
 To Walker, in South America 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington Dec 13 1881 
 
 Tuesday morning. 
 
 Deahest Walker, — The bell is being pulled 
 every moment, and at each tinkle, I look up, hoping 
 to see a telegram which will prove to be from the 
 Isthmus, for we began to hope to hear from you 
 Sunday, and it seems a very attenuated pathway on 
 which the lambent flame now plays. 
 
 Clarence Hale is here, trying to get an answer, 
 from your Father for Mr. Rollins,^ from whose house 
 he has just arrived, as to whether he will speak at 
 the New England dinner. And Mr Frye is here, and 
 Robeson and Gibson ,2 and Mr West — these are all 
 
 » Edward H. Rollins, Member of Congress and later Senator from 
 New Hampshire. 
 
 * Randall Gibson, U. S. Senator from Louisiana. 
 [ 263 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 in, but there Is a circle kept outside, larger and more 
 importunate than this privileged one. Mr Freling- 
 huysen's name yesterday sent in and at once con- 
 jfirmed, seems to time the day and provisions of grace. 
 Your Father has promised me that once out, he will 
 not try to get places for this hungry horde of office 
 seekers. I cannot help feeling a little blue over the 
 loss of place. Do you suppose that a Prime Minister 
 ever went out without a secret feeling that he was 
 deprived of a right? But every day I see the wis- 
 dom of your timely absence. For instance, Sunday 
 afternoon, when I was at the B.'s, it taxed all my 
 equanimity to hear them calmly discussing your 
 Father's removal without remembering to regret it, 
 even to me. Not the shadow of a shade of compli- 
 mentary allusion passed the lips of one. Everything 
 that was kind was said of you, and with an air of 
 proprietorship, which had they been nice in other 
 directions, would have warmed my heart, but what 
 are you, my dearest boy, what care I for any other 
 name than your Father's.? He himself says that you 
 have more of a reputation than he had at your age, 
 but you must remember that he rose without advan- 
 tage, while you are free born. 
 
 Gen B is, I suppose, going into the Cabinet. I 
 understand Grant insists. The first privilege we 
 shall enjoy, is the giving a party to the Freling- 
 [ 2G4 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 huysens to meet the Diplomatic Corps, and I antici- 
 pate the luxury of choice in my guests. They have 
 just telephoned from the State Department that a 
 cij)her despatch from Mr. Trescott at the Istlimus, 
 is there, so farewell to anxiety. 
 
 Wednesday 
 We dined at the Allisons' last night — dull dinner, 
 Mrs. R. talking self and nursery and Paris salons 
 and Oscar Wilde and cotillion (pronounced French 
 fasliion) to which her girls — M., S. and INIiss P., 
 " the latter with a medieval lily in her hand and look- 
 ing do you know, exactly like a figure out of stained 
 glass " — had gone unprotected, until this paragon 
 of duennas should get there; and R., who is con- 
 sidered a sort of assistant Speaker, he having un- 
 doubtedly presided at the appointment of committees, 
 talking old poetry, invariably misquoting; and Mr. 
 Evarts, sandwiched between Mrs. Story ^ and Mr. 
 Bancroft ; — I with Secretary Howe,^ who is old and 
 weak ; — and our dear little hostess as flighty as a 
 bird ; — and the Outreys. 
 
 I am writing this sheet by fits and starts over 
 your Father's bed, where he lies helpless with the gout, 
 and since the top of the other page, I have adminis- 
 
 1 Wife of Captain John Story, U. S. A. 
 
 ' Timothy O. Howe, Postmaster-General under President Arthur. 
 [ 2G5 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 tered liis breakfast, his soda, his medicines, and an 
 amount of sympathy and attention such as I could 
 not give to any other human being. Now Tom is 
 taking down in shorthand a letter of regret to Mr. 
 Hutchins,^ that on account of hoarseness he finds 
 himself unable to preside at the Webster Centennial 
 meeting, and Senator Plumb - has just telephoned 
 from the senate that a party of Kansas gentlemen 
 will call this evening and pay their respects, and I 
 have telephoned back hoarseness. So you see we are 
 to-day as you have a thousand times seen us. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Hunt were here Sunday and stayed to lunch. 
 Not one word has the President said to him about 
 staying, nor to Mr. Kirkwood ^ either. I can see 
 that the President is bored by having these reminders 
 of Garfield still about liim. Good-bye, with oceans 
 of love from all the Blaines. 
 
 To M., IN Pahis 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Wednesday morning, Dec 14th, 1881. 
 My dear M., — Mr. Frelinghuysen has just called. 
 A note came before your Father was up, asking 
 for an interview. Everything connected with the 
 
 * Stilson Hutcliins, journalist, of Wasliington. 
 
 * Preston B. Plumb, U. S. Senator from Kansas. 
 
 * Samuel Jordan Kirkwood of Iowa, President Garfield's Secre- 
 tary of the Interior. 
 
 [ 26G ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 State Department is all right, most of all the retir- 
 ing Secretary, who went with me last night to an 
 auction of water colors, and amused himself by buy- 
 ing many pictures. 
 
 Your first Paris letters came this morning. De- 
 lighted to get them and they now lie before me, 
 enveloped for Emmons. I see there were double 
 stamps on them, so I suppose they did not come by 
 the despatch bag. Walker was to leave the Isthmus 
 yesterday for Callao. Rachel has just been in, left 
 her love for you. Your Tribune has been started 
 three weeks ago. Do not feel uneasy about anything 
 you may hear politically. The ChiH and Peru busi- 
 ness need not give you the slightest concern. It is 
 a decided policy instead of drifting, as cowardly 
 Americans only desire to do. Your Father has as- 
 serted the rights of this country, as was his bounden 
 duty. Goodbye, with love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 FrPTEENTH St. Friday evening, 
 
 WASfflNGTON Dec 16th, 1881. 
 
 Dear M., — I am in the midst of the invita- 
 tions to a reception which your father is to give 
 Monday evening to the Diplomatic Corps to meet 
 Mr. Frelinghusen, and to keep the house from being 
 overcrowded, most of the notes remain unsent, though 
 [ 267 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Tom is perseveringly writing out the original list. 
 I have written myself all out to Walker, so you will 
 get little more than love and good wishes. Yester- 
 day I went in to see the Frelinghuysens. The Eugene 
 and Clarence Hales dined here yesterday, also the Alli- 
 sons ^ and Mr. Chandler. Mrs. Allison was never 
 prettier or better dressed. Your Father has just 
 looked up through his glasses, to say that he has 
 bought Hitt's horse for $180. I hail this as the 
 beginning of a stable. Alice is just starting for a 
 Presbyterian fair, first going through the inevitable 
 preliminary of asking for money. H. is reading 
 and eating buttered toast, deeply lamenting that 
 Maggie Nurse, by her untimely zeal, has deprived 
 her of the pleasure of dining at the Camerons, as she 
 had fully intended to do, and Jamie is here with a 
 pair of new shoes, larger than ever, and not as sweet 
 as the rose, which he wants my authorization for pur- 
 chasing. Mr. Bigelow and Joseph Manley have 
 been in from the Guiteau trial, which they found 
 extremely interesting. I had a lovely letter from 
 Mrs. Garfield this morning, very simple, very effec- 
 tive and affecting. I shall send it to Lady Thornton, 
 as there is in it a very kind message to her. 
 
 Brewster - is made Attorney General. All the 
 
 > William B. Allison, V. S. Senator from Iowa. 
 2 Benjamin H. Brev.ster of Pennsylvania. 
 [ 2C8 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Stalwarts are going in, and though the mills of 
 Arthur may seem to grind slow, they grind exceeding 
 fine. But whatever you may read or hear, always 
 remember that your Father is a very careful as well 
 as able man, and that because the press criticises, you 
 need feel no apprehensions — there often is advan- 
 tage in the very criticism. Abby is coming Monday 
 — quite suddenly it seems, though we have waited so 
 long. Good-night, with love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 * "He (Arthur) had been one of the chief representatives of a 
 faction in the RepubUcan Party, and he never seemed able to shake 
 off the influences which had surrounded him before his election. . . . 
 He made a fatal mistake, as it always seemed to me, in permitting 
 the resignation of President Garfield's Cabinet and filling their 
 places with men who, like himself, belonged to the Grant faction. 
 If he had said he would not allow the hand of an assassin to make 
 a change in the forces that were to control the Administration so far 
 as could be helped, and that he would carry into effect the purposes 
 of his predecessor wherever he could in conscience do so, he would 
 have maintajsed himself in the pubUc esteem. But that was not his 
 only mistake." 4- Senator George F. Hoar : Autobiography of Seventy 
 Years. ' ^ 
 
 [ 269 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 To Walker, in South America 
 
 821 Fifteenth St., Washington, December 16th, 1881 
 
 Friday morning. 
 
 My dear Walker, — I went yesterday to 
 Wormley's and called on the Frelinghuysens. Ban- 
 croft Davis ^ will of course be Assistant Secre- 
 tary, and the maiden Frelinghuysens and Sallie 
 Davis will look out for the social department, 
 and will do it well. The outgoing secretary is still 
 in gay spirits, and I think, the best of health. 
 
 In the meanwhile everything is going Stal- 
 wart way." Mr Frelinghuysen has expressed to 
 your Father his hope that you will remain in 
 the Department. He desires it on your Father's 
 account, and for his own, everything he hears of 
 you making him anxious to have you near him. 
 
 Mr. Christiancy ^ having been interviewed by the 
 
 1 J. C. Bancroft Davis, Assistant Secretary of State under IVIr. 
 Frelinghuysen. 
 
 ^ "Stalwarts" was the nickname given about this time to per- 
 sistent advocates of a third term for Grant, 306 of them standing 
 out for him in the Republican National Convention of 1880. To 
 appease them Arthur was given the vice-presidential nomination, and 
 on President Garfield's death and Arthur's accession to the Presi- 
 dency their influence became predominant. E. Benjam.in Andrews 
 in his "History of the Last Quarter Century in the United States," 
 states that this word "stalwart" was coined by Mr. Blaine, who, 
 however, makes no use of it in the account he gives in his book 
 "Twenty Years in Congress," of the Chicago Convention of 1880. 
 
 ^ Isaac Peckham Christiancy, Free-Soil candidate for governor of 
 [270] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Herald, and stating that the first sentence or para- 
 graph of your Father's South American despatch 
 to him, as now pubhshed, had not been on the 
 original paper, your Father wrote him, when he 
 came down handsomely. His note will be given to 
 the Press to-day. Joseph Manley and Mr. Bigelow 
 are here, and have just interrupted my letter with 
 a most friendly call. They deeply and devotedly feel 
 your Father's rctiracy, and are longing to see him 
 in the Senate. M. and B. have just come from the 
 trial, in which they had been most deeply inter- 
 ested. With oceans of love — and you know what 
 an ocean is. 
 
 Washington, Monday, Dec. 19, 1881, 10 a. m. 
 My deak Walker, — I am in the midst of punch 
 making, and Lewis has judiciously allowed a stick 
 of wood to fall on his side, and your Father sur- 
 renders the portfolio to-day to Mr. Frelinghuysen, 
 and has now gone to the Department with Secretary 
 Hunt, and C. A. comes this afternoon, and to-night 
 we give a reception to the Corps Diplomatique, and 
 Congress has unanimously asked your Father to 
 deliver the oration at the Congressional Memorial 
 
 Michigan in 1852, and one of the founders of the Republican party. 
 Mr. Christiancy was elected U. S. Senator in 1875, and resigning in 
 February, 1879, was sent as Minister to Peru, fi'om 1879-81. 
 [ 271 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 services on the death of Garfield, and I am against 
 his accepting it, as he is himself, but almost every 
 friend he has insists that he shall do it,^ and how 
 it will end, I know not. One insuperable objection, 
 it seems to me, is the emotion your Father will 
 feel, embarrassing him to an uncontrollable extent, 
 I am sure. And the man is here about the flowers, 
 and altogether it is a representative day in the 
 Blaine family, as it has hitherto flourished, though 
 very likely this is the last of them. Well, to a 
 good deal of this make-up, I can cheerfully say 
 good-bye ; welcome to go, is the punch and all that 
 part of it, and if your Father does not miss the 
 carking cares, as the starved Irishman misses the 
 heart of the potato, I am ready to lighten the ship 
 by throwing overboard all this old load. He says 
 he does not and shall not, that he is not thinking 
 of it at all, but that all his trouble comes from his 
 business. I am glad the Dodger comes this after- 
 noon. Happily yesterday he had an engagement to 
 dine at the Hales — a Senatorial dinner ; afterwards 
 he went to Mrs. Robeson's, coming home late and 
 sleeping well. I suppose long before you are read- 
 ing this all these troubles will be over, so you are not 
 
 » Representative, afterwards President, McKinlcy, of President 
 Garfield's State of Ohio, was especially urgent, and it was his voice 
 chiefly which persuaded Mr. Blaine to agree to the delivering of the 
 eulogy on President Garfield. 
 
 [ 272 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 to add to your homesickness, provided you are so 
 afflicted, the positive element of anxiety about us. 
 
 We hope to go to New York in a few days, when 
 I shall get myself as good an outfit as though we 
 still had the State Department. Politically, every- 
 thing goes one way. The wind is Stalwartward, and 
 their laps are filled, and the hungry are not sent 
 
 hungry away. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To M., IN Paris 
 
 WAsmNGTON Dec 22nd, 1881, 
 My dear M., — I am afraid I have neglected you 
 lately, owing to other letters which I have been 
 writing, but my heart is always yours. The second 
 day of rain is drawing to a close, very bad for Christ- 
 mas week. Two presents only have I bought, a pin 
 for AHce and another for Carl Sherman. There 
 seems nothing in Washington to buy. The Frehng- 
 huysen reception was a very brilliant affair. I wore 
 my old white and stood in my old satin slippers till 
 I nearly fainted. As is usual with our parties, a 
 number stayed until very late. Your Father appeared 
 at his very best, but after all it was the dying song 
 of the swan, and the next morning there was no John, 
 and the next afternoon no New York papers. How- 
 ever, for the former I do not care, as I always hated 
 VOL. 1—18 [ 273 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 to use an official carriage. C. A. and I have now 
 taken to the horse cars, but I think your Father is 
 seriously contemplating the carriage question. It 
 does seem absurd, to have four horses and a pony 
 in Augusta, and hire a carriage here. While I write, 
 
 F S is playing all sorts of old fashioned 
 
 tunes to your Father, who I fear, is in too tender a 
 mood. To-morrow he goes to New York, which will 
 be a good change for him, and Tuesday I expect to 
 join him, C. A. going with me. From Walker we 
 do not yet hear, though I long inexpressibly for him. 
 I suppose you will want to know what the ex-Secretary 
 is going to do. Well, first and foremost, he will try 
 to retrieve his fortunes, and then he is to deliver 
 the eulogy on Garfield before Congress, and thirdly 
 he will look up his railroads, etc. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. WAsmNGTON Dec 24th, 1881. 
 Deakly BE1.0VED M., — School is out, but the 
 boy is not at play. On the contrary, his leisure is 
 as oppressive to him as Rollo's on his holiday, and 
 were it not for the Garfield eulogy, which makes a 
 goal for his reveries, I should think him a little blue. 
 Not so much because he has lost the Secretaryship 
 of State alone. It is not so much the money I care 
 for, as the time in which it has taken to itself wings. 
 [ 274 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 The tonic of money making is so much more stimu- 
 lating than any other at certain times. Breakfast 
 is just over, and your family are sitting about as 
 usual. Tom not yet here, because, poor fellow! he 
 fondly hoped he was to have an idle day, as your 
 Father had expected to spend to-morrow with Mrs 
 Lawrence at Doylestown, but H made such a fuss 
 about his leaving our already diminished family for 
 Christmas, that he gave it up, so now we have all to 
 make an effort to keep him in a good humor. Alice is 
 dressing one of her dolls for a Sunday School scholar, 
 I think, and C. A. with one hand shading her eyes, is 
 going through the morning papers. The Frehng- 
 huysens have left town, also the President. Mrs F 
 has asked me to receive with her on New Year's Day, 
 and if I am in the city, I shall, but Tuesday we 
 go over to New York. Yesterday Sackville-West 
 brought his daughter to call. She reached Wash- 
 ington the night before, and he wished her to make 
 her first call at this house. She is extremely pleas- 
 ing and quite pretty. Not one word yet from Walker, 
 though we shall now begin to look for letters. Can 
 you imagine how I miss him.'' 
 
 Christmas Day. 
 Father has only now had his slice of toast and cup 
 of tea. Meanwhile since the family breakfasted, I have 
 had a long talk with him, finding him very cheery and 
 [ 275 ] 
 
letti;rs, of 
 
 
 cheerful, even over his nioneys which are not what 
 could be wished. He says there is only one position 
 which he craves in the future, the Presidency may go, 
 but he would like to carry out his views of statecraft 
 in 1885 as Secretary of State. Do you know, I think 
 this election of a President every four years makes 
 life very short. Hayes is elected, and the disap- 
 pointed immediately mortgage the future. And Gar- 
 field dies, and his friends, pushed to the wall, at 
 once forecast conclusions for the next administration. 
 I interrupted myself in my letter yesterday to take 
 H to Mme Outrey's, whither she was to go to prac- 
 tice a carol which her children and Ethel Robeson 
 and Max Heard are to sing to-morrow at eleven. I 
 came home just too late for Mrs. Swayne's ^ funeral, 
 which C. A. and I had it in our hearts to be at, and 
 then came a long stretch of visitors, all agreeable, 
 some foreign and most of them regretful of our 
 changed fortunes. Not all, perhaps, as Bancroft 
 and Mrs. Davis were among them, and I suppose he 
 is de-facto Secretary of State. After these visits 
 were over, C. A. and I returned the West visit, and 
 paid one to the Spanish IN'Iinister's wife, then home to 
 dinner; after which, your Father, C. A., H. and 
 .Tamie went to hear Lotta in " Bob," a Christmas 
 treat from the Pater. 
 
 » Wife of ex-Justice Swayne of the U. S. Supreme Court. 
 [ 27G ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 I am delighted that you have seen Mr. Phelps. I 
 should have written him long ago, had I not supposed 
 he was coming home. I do not see how I can write 
 you anything about politics, inside or outside views. 
 In Europe, of course, your Father's policy, which is 
 decidedly American, you will see very much criticised, 
 and you must remember that this is really greatly to 
 his credit. A policy which European countries would 
 applaud, could not be very American. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 Fifth Avenue Hotel, New York Dec 29th, 1881. 
 
 Thursday mor.iing. 
 My dearest daughter, — Your Father and I 
 came over to this city Tuesday afternoon, arriving in 
 a storm, and stormy it has been ever since. I am 
 about my dressmaking, and my dearer self — and 
 certainly he might apply the title with another sig- 
 nificance to me — is looking up his sadly neglected 
 stocks. The only question now is, are they worth 
 taking any notice of.? All that fine Fortunatus' 
 purse which we once held the strings of, and in which 
 we had only to insert the finger to pay therewith for 
 the house, has melted from the grasp which too care- 
 lessly held it, and we must look about for new invest- 
 ments, the comfort of which I find is the inference 
 that there is still enough left to spare for investments. 
 Your Father says he is not even thinking of public 
 [ 277 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 affairs, while every issue of the press contains at 
 least one resume of his intentions and ambitions, the 
 upshot of all being the presidency in '84. I am fast 
 becoming content with the situation. As soon as 
 people cease asking me if I am going to leave Wash- 
 ington, I shall be entirely so. 
 
 [ 278 ] 
 
1882 
 
To M., IN Paris 
 
 Friday morning [January], 
 Here is a letter from your Father just received, 
 though I do not know that I have yet told you that 
 he went over to New York again Wednesday. While 
 I was there, we were invited to Mr. Reid's to dinner, 
 to meet Mr. James, the novelist. 
 
 I suppose you will see in the newspapers that Gen 
 Grant is out for the restoration of Fitz-John Porter,^ 
 the simple meaning of which is, that he desires himself 
 to be placed on the retired list of the U. S. A., with 
 the pay of General, and the Democrats will not vote 
 for it, unless Porter goes through at the same time. 
 This I suppose is the true inwardness of the whole 
 thing. What do you suppose Mrs. Logan will do 
 with all that testimony she got together for her 
 husband's three days' speech two years ago? The 
 
 ' "General Fitz-John Porter, one of McClellan's most efficient 
 commanders during the Peninsular Campaign. . . . Temporarily at- 
 tached to the Army of Virginia (Pope's) and formal charges having 
 been made against him, he was deprived of his command. ... He was 
 ordered to Washington for trial by court-martial, on charges i)referred 
 by General Pope, and in 1863 he was cashiered for \'iolation of the 
 9th and 52d Articles of War. In 1870 he appealed to the President 
 for a reversal of the sentence, and in 1878, a commission of inquiry 
 was instituted to determine whether there was new e\-iclence in his 
 favor. ... He was finally, in 1886, restored to his rank of colonel and 
 retired." — Harper's Encydopoedia of United States History. 
 [ 281 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 allusion in your Father's note relates to a criticism 
 of Mr. Evarts on the Clajton-Buhver ^ paper of your 
 Father's. I was at the White house on Monday, also 
 at the Frehnghuysens'. Jamie went around and paid 
 visits with your Father and was quite in love with the 
 ceremonies of the day. We were all at the FreHng- 
 huysen breakfast. Alice, as usual, was at Gen. 
 Sherman's, and wore her new prune colored velvet, 
 looking very handsome. Good-bye, with quantities 
 of love from everybody. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To Walker 
 
 We have cards to-day to the Susy Washbume 
 wedding. Mr. Bishop is to be in the city to-morrow, 
 as we know by a telegram to your father. 
 
 Mrs. Wadsworth made me a long call the other 
 
 * "The Clayton-Bulwer treaty v/as negotiated in 1850 between 
 this country and Great Britain, and guarranteed the neutrality and 
 encouragement of lines of interoceanic travel across the American 
 isthmus. In 1881 the Columbian Repubhc had proposed to the Euro- 
 pean powers that they should unite in guaranteeing the neutrality of 
 the Panama Canal. On June 34, Mr. Blaine issued a circular letter 
 declaring the objection of this government to any such concerted 
 action, and asserting the prior and paramount rights and obligations 
 of this country. . . . Throughout the correspondence, Mr. Blaiue 
 insisted in the firmest tone that it was the fixed purpose of the United 
 States to consider the Isthmus Canal question as an American ques- 
 tion to be dealt with and decided by the American govenmieuts." — 
 Applduiis KncyiLopcedia uj American Biography, 
 
 [282] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 day, full of inquiries for you. Said she never was at 
 a better fete or had a more delicious lunch, than that 
 on the Despatch,-^ all of which she understood was 
 managed by you. Reminded me that she there first 
 met Arthur. We dined at Judge Cox's ^ Saturday. 
 Arthur has at last asked Lincoln to remain. Do 
 not feel uneasy about us. Your Father said yes- 
 terday, the Presidency came no more into his cal- 
 culations, but that his family had never seemed so 
 dear to him, nor had he ever felt himself so devoted 
 to them. With which lovely sentiment I take my 
 leave. 
 
 With love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 To M., IN Paris 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Wednesday evening, 
 January 11th, 1882. 
 
 My dear M., — I am writing at your Father's 
 
 sacred table — the table consecrated to his Eulogy 
 
 on Garfield — and where do you think this table is 
 
 situated.'' In medias res, you will at once decide, for 
 
 you who know him so well, will remember that his 
 
 muse, historical or political, dwells always in the 
 
 bosom of his family. So when he saw my large old- 
 
 ' The U. S. S. Despatch, presidential yacht, afterwards lost ofif 
 the coast of New Jersey. 
 
 ^ Walter Smith Cox of Washington, appointed by President Hayes, 
 in 1879, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the District of 
 Columbia. He presided at the Guiteau trial in 1881-82. 
 [ 283 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 fashioned table, which I had had brought down from 
 the billiard room and covered with one of those old 
 green table cloths which I have had time out of mind, 
 that I might have writing room for my correspond- 
 ence with my absent children, he at once asked if it 
 might be kept for him ; so almost all day he has been 
 here, writing the parallels between Thaddeus Stevens ^ 
 and Garfield, Garfield and Gladstone, and Garfield and 
 Garfield. 
 
 Alice is going to hear Rossi ^ in Lear to-night, and 
 one of the Jamies or one of the H's must accom- 
 pany her, and if it be I, I must put on a short 
 dress, and I have still to eat an unpretending dinner 
 of stewed chicken, for which I have little inclination, 
 as it was there when I had luncheon, your Father and 
 I having made a pilgrimage at high noon to the new 
 house. I went into your room and echoed Duchess 
 May's prayer as she crossed the threshold of Linter- 
 gen. We also walked the plank into the Windom 
 house. Alice has been out and made Cabinet calls for 
 me, for you know I am reduced now to Mrs. A's 
 
 1 "Thaddeus Stevens was the unquestioned leader of the House 
 of Representatives from July 4, 1861, when it assembled at the call 
 of Lincoln, until his death, which occurred in 1868. The legislative 
 work of that period st;inds unapproached in difficulty and importance 
 in the history of Congress, if not indeed of any parliamentary body 
 in the world." — S. W. McCall: Thaddeus Stevens, in American 
 Statesmen Series. 
 
 2 Ernesto Rossi, the Italian actor, author, and dramatist. 
 
 [ 284 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 foundation, and must call on everybody, even on the 
 A's, so to the lowest deep I find a deeper still. As 
 my new cloak had not come from Egan, your Father 
 — who would accuse him of such weakness.? — ad- 
 vised me to call by proxy, hence Alice's mission. My 
 dresses came yesterday. Only think of the relief! 
 They fit, they are not loud, they are handsome, and 
 as far as can pertain to my years, they are becoming. 
 We are now in the midst of all the gayety there is, 
 and perhaps I have never seen as quiet a winter in 
 Washington. 
 
 Thursday noon. 
 I am about starting for Mrs. S.'s, where to my 
 sorrow, I am going to luncheon, with Alice and Miss 
 Dodge. I have the excitement of my new dress and 
 the prospect of three good hours indoors, when I 
 want to be visiting. Then all the morning, there has 
 been a steady run of callers, so that I have been in 
 the parlor all the time. Your Father has been in 
 possession all the morning of my room, and a more 
 unhandy thing than this fancy, it would be hard to 
 conceive. But perhaps this is the last sacrifice I shall 
 be called on to make for Garfield. 
 
 Saturday afternoon, Jany 14th. 
 I hope, M., you will see the Tribune, to read the 
 telegram from Whitelaw Reid, sent to President Gar- 
 [ 285 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 field about the Robertson appointment/ and stolen 
 and given to the Herald ; then John Hay's letter 
 from Cleveland to Rcid,- and Garfield's letter to 
 Nichols,^ and the editorials coresponding, which all 
 
 * A telegram from Mr. Reid, dated March 27, 1881, advising 
 President Garfield to stand by Lis appointment of Judge Robertson 
 as Collector of the Port of New York. President Garfield's New 
 York appointments were in general opposed by the Senators from 
 that State, Conkling and Piatt, and the publication of the despatch 
 alluded to in the " Letters" was called at the time a "stalwart" at- 
 tempt to attack the dead President as having been too much under 
 the influence of Secretary Blaine. 
 
 ^ Referring to the letter from John Hay to Mr. Reid given below, 
 published in the New Y'ork Tribune of January 11, 1882. The 
 Washington correspondent of the New Y'ork Herald had published 
 Mr. Reid's despatch with the assertion that it had been personally 
 shown to him by President Garfield, who had allowed him to take a 
 copy of it. 
 
 "No. 506, Euclid Avenue, 
 Cleveland, Jan. 7, 1882. 
 
 I write in haste to let you know that your dispatch to me must 
 have been stolen from the wires. I have it here under lock and 
 key. Nobody but myself has ever seen it — not even Gai-field. I 
 took it over to him and read it to him. He never saw it, except in 
 vu/ hands — never touched it with his. It has been under lock 
 and key ever since. Y'ou may proceed on this with absolute confi- 
 dence. It was either stolen from your own copy in New York, or 
 stolen from the wires. ... I read it to Garfield and you remember 
 what he at once said about withdrawing Robertson's nomination — 
 'They may take him out of the Senate head-first or feet first ; I 
 will never withdraw him.' I have only a minute to catch the mail 
 Yours faithfully, 
 
 John Hay." 
 
 ' Mr. Thomas M. Nichols had been one of the private secretaries 
 as v.-ell as an intimate friend of President Garfield. He published a 
 letter from the dead I'resident, dated jNlay 2!), 1881, in which, re- 
 ferring to the Robertson appointment he wrote: "The attempt to 
 [ 286 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 make very interesting reading. I enclose one of 
 Grundy's stupid matter-of-fact society notes, think- 
 ing you may see some names you are interested in. 
 Yesterday C. A. and I spent the day at court, the 
 Guiteau trial, I mean. Very interesting. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 FiriEENTH St. WAsmNGTON Jany 17th 1882, 
 
 Tuesday morning. 
 
 Deaeest M., — I am sure I do not know what to 
 write you, for I have pre-empted my day for let- 
 ters to Walker and Mr Phelps, to whom I am cer- 
 tainly going to write at length. Here we sit just 
 through with breakfast, your Father having spent 
 the hour of the family meal, in the parlor, talking to 
 an untimely visitor, and now H and C A. are sit- 
 ting in one window, she reading and she reading — 
 the one her book, the other the morning paper — 
 and Tom is answering invitations, to the Frehng- 
 huysens, accepting dinner invitation to the united 
 Blaine headship, and to Gen. Schenck, accepting 
 breakfast invitation to your Father to meet the 
 President next Saturday. And to-day I dine at 
 the Allisons, and AHce lunches at Mrs. Wood's. 
 
 shift the fight to Blaine's shoulders is as weak as it is unjust. The 
 fact is, no member of the Cabinet behaves with more careful respect 
 for the rights of his brother men than Blaine. It should be under- 
 stood that the Administration is not meddling in New York politics. 
 It only defends itself when assailed." 
 
 [ 287 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Thursday we gave a dinner to the President, Wests, 
 etc. Your Father is writing the Eulogy, which now 
 interests him, now tries him. The trouble is in eulog- 
 izing and not going beyond the truth, for no man 
 knew Garfield better than your Father, all his weak- 
 ness and the greatness of his power. 
 
 We see by newspaper telegraph from Panama, 
 that Walker and Mr Trescott left Callao Christmas 
 Day. Do you realize how little we know about him? 
 You seem almost face to face with me. I wore my new 
 velvet coat for the first time yesterday. Apparently 
 Atlas did not find the world so heavy on his shoulders. 
 This is a complete kill-joy. It cramps my arms and 
 embarrasses my elbows. Your loving, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To Walker, in South America 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. WAsmNGTON, Jany 17th 1882. 
 
 Tuesday. 
 
 Dear Walker, — The day has been made delight- 
 ful by the arrival of letters from your own dear self. 
 Hat's containing the Neptune Rex (You know Rex 
 is one of the Latin words she is always declining. 
 Continental fashion) address, your Father's and my 
 own. Mr. Elkins was sitting with us when they came, 
 and enjoyed listening to them, apparently as much 
 as any of us. You ought to have heard H. " Oh, 
 [ 288 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 what a brother Jacky is ! " Your letter reveals such 
 a depth of ignorance of the family affairs, I hardly 
 know where or how to begin your enlightenment, and 
 by this time, of course, you must know much which, 
 when you wrote, had not been revealed to you. We 
 have been now in private life for some time, but it 
 makes but little difference to us, save in the matter 
 of etiquette. It is Tuesday, and we dine to-night at 
 the AUisons', Thursday we give a dinner to the 
 President, Friday we dine at the Hales; then next 
 week Thursday we dine at the Frelinghuysens'. 
 They seem to take Thursday for their dinner day, 
 and this week we stumbled in our invitations upon 
 many of their guests, Mrs. Wadsworth,^ for instance, 
 the F's themselves, and the President. There was a 
 little misunderstanding about the President, and 
 John Davis " came around yesterday to make it 
 straight. He had engaged on the same day to dine 
 at two places, the Secretary of State's and here, but 
 as our invitations were given out " to meet the Pres- 
 ident," of course he had to come here. Hunt and 
 Delano ^ and Lincoln are still in his cabinet, but I 
 
 > Wife of James Wadsworth, Member of Congress from New 
 York. 
 
 ^ Private Secretary to President Arthur and afterwards Judge of 
 the Court of Claims; married Miss Sally Frelinghuysen, daughter of 
 the Secretary of State. 
 
 8 Columbus Delano of Ohio, Secretary of the Interior. 
 VOL.1 —19 [ 280 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 think he would be better pleased to have them where 
 your Father is. It is plainly evident that Arthur 
 is not his own master. I suppose you have seen that 
 Grant has been interviewed on the Fitz John Porter 
 matter? And that he has, over his own signature, 
 stated that he believes nineteen years of injustice 
 have been done to Gen. Porter. He is of course ac- 
 cused of bidding for Democratic votes for his own 
 retirement as General. Logan stands to his old 
 argument and refuses to take any step backward. 
 Your Father is this moment riding up to the door, 
 with Mr. Parsons, who supplies horses and saddles 
 and escorts. He looks well, and is cheerful and gay. 
 
 To M., IN Paris 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. 
 Washington Jany 25th 1882, 
 
 Wednesday. 
 
 Dear M., — I had the pleasure of reading your 
 last letter — the first in your new famille — in the 
 court room, that vile room, daily resounding to the 
 imprecations of Guiteau, the narrative of the tak- 
 ing off of poor Garfield, the murmur of the crowd of 
 attendants, the indecisive Judge's decisions. I had 
 gone thither after a hasty breakfast, with Mrs Hill 
 ' [ 290 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 of Colorado, Alice and C. A. and we stayed till the 
 adjournment at l-^i? but I shall never go again. 
 Before this letter reaches you, everything will be de- 
 cided, and I am much afraid to the interests of the 
 wretch. It is amazing to see how many people insist 
 upon his lunacy, M^hich is only another term for ac- 
 quittal; Mr. Ingersoll, for instance, who for some 
 reason never speaks of Garfield, the Pendletons, and 
 scores of others. For myself, I have but one wish, 
 to see him put out of the way. I want it impossible 
 for that hoarse, cracked voice, ever to raise itself 
 again. As a pleasing contrast to the surroundings 
 in which your letter was read, let me describe these 
 in which this is being written. My own room, — the 
 big old table from the billiard room in the center — 
 your father at it writing the Eulogy — and as fast 
 as he completes a page, reading it out to his admiring 
 audience of Alice, C. A. and me. Jamie too can find 
 no place to study in outside of my chamber door, and 
 he is here at this moment with pen and ink and parch- 
 ment paper and algebra, shouting at the top of his 
 voice for information as to his co-efficients and expo- 
 nents. H., dear darling H., has just started off 
 through the snow storm to spend the morning with 
 Rachel Sherman in her room, to which she is now con- 
 fined. At twelve thirty she will come back and cheer- 
 fully take up her French conversation with Mme. 
 [ 291 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 Kline, and at two, when lunch is ready, I shall go in 
 and say, " Bon jour, IMadame, come out and take a 
 cup du the," and with this mixture of French and 
 English, and with the combined efforts of H and Alice 
 and C. A ; and above all of your Father, whose quick 
 ear catches everything that is said, we scramble 
 through a most entertaining meal, during which I 
 manage to convey to Madame everything which I 
 have been doing during the day. She says H is char- 
 mante, and paries with a correct accent, but as you 
 say, your true Frenchman will always say something 
 pleasant to you. I was out all day yesterday making 
 calls with Mrs. Hale, who had really taken to heart 
 my indifference on this subject. On the whole, I en- 
 joyed it, and in the evening C. A. and I were at INIrs. 
 Hill's ^ at a musicale, where good music and a better 
 supper made the time pass very nicely. To-day I am 
 going out again with a carriage full of cards and 
 addresses. Now let me go back and take up a few 
 dropped stitches. Have I told you that Oscar Wilde 
 has been here, bringing a letter to your father from 
 Archibald Forbes? ^ We would not invite him to the 
 house, but he came and called Saturday evening, and 
 was here more than an hour. Very intei'esting I 
 
 1 Wife of Nathaniel Parker Hill, U. S. Senator from Colorado. 
 ^ Archibald Forbes, the English war correspondent, who married 
 a daughter of General Meigs of Washington. 
 
 [ 29e ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 thought, though previously I had not been able to 
 stay in the room with him. We have also been see- 
 ing Henry James, who dined here. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Jany 28th 1882, Saturday morning 
 My dear M., — I do not know with what particu- 
 larity the text of the Chili-Peruvian papers ^ may be 
 cabled to Europe, but as there is a great deal of 
 talk on this side concerning them, I hasten to say, 
 Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be 
 afraid. Only on the publication of these state papers, 
 
 1 Mr. Blaine's "foreign policy had two principal objects. The 
 first was to secure and preserve peace throughout this continent. The 
 second was to cultivate close commercial relations and increase our 
 trade with the various countries of North and South America. The 
 accomplishment of the first object was prehminary and essential to 
 the attainment of the second, and, in order to promote it, he projected 
 a peace congress to be held at Washington, to which all the inde- 
 pendent powers of North and South America were to be in\ ited. His 
 plan contemplated the cultivation of such a friendly understanding 
 on the part of the powers a i w-uld permanently avert the horrors of 
 war either through the influence of pacific counsels or the acceptance 
 of impartial arbitration. Incidentally, it assumed that the assem- 
 bling of their representatives at Washington would open the way to 
 such relations as would imu-e to the commercial advantage of this 
 country. The project, though already determined, was delayed by 
 the fatal shot at Garfield, and the letter of invitation was finally 
 i;-sued on the 29th of November, 1881, fixing the 24th of November, 
 1882, as the date for the proposed congress On the 19th of December 
 Mr. Blaine retired from the cabinet, and within three weeks his 
 successor had reversed his policy and the plan was abandoned, after 
 the invitation had been accepted by all the American powers except 
 two." — Appleton's Encydopwdia of American Biography. 
 [ 293 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 yesterday morning, in the daily newspapers, did your 
 Father know that his instructions had been altered 
 and revoked, and when I say his instructions, you 
 will remember they are officially the President's act, 
 he alone being responsible for them, and it is he who 
 has gone back on himself, for you (his friends), must 
 either admit, that he does not know to what he signs 
 his name, or that he is vacillating and doubtful to 
 the last degree. In point of fact, the papers were 
 all read to him, and he approved them, understand- 
 ing distinctly that they committed his government to 
 a positive policy. I suspect that Bancroft Davis has 
 kept from Frelinghuysen the successive steps of al- 
 ternation and recantation and that the President 
 himself is not intelligent on the matter. At any rate, 
 he seemed completely unprepared for the charge of 
 fickleness yesterday morning. You remember, don't 
 you, what Orville Baker told us about Arthur's two 
 passions, as he heard them discussed at Sam Ward's * 
 dinner in New York? New coats being one, he hav- 
 ing then already ordered twenty-five from his tailor 
 since the new year came in ; the other, seeming to do 
 things, while never putting his mind or his hands 
 near them. Your Father saw the President yesterday 
 morning and had a courteous interview with him. 
 What he, the Pater, may do hereafter, I do not know, 
 ' Samuel Ward of New York, a brother of Julia Ward Howe. 
 [ 294 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 but at present, he has decided on the patient dignity 
 of perfect silence. But he says he never wrote pa- 
 pers of which a man or his children ought to be more 
 proud, and that there is not a single word in them he 
 would have changed. Boynton on the New York 
 Herald is particularly outrageous on your Father, 
 and as Mr. Nordhoff ^ employs him and is the re- 
 sponsible manager of the Herald in Washington, we 
 are going to cut him. Your Father is well and 
 bright and busy, but feels that he has been treated 
 with indignity and that the whole thing is simply; 
 a determination to break him down. 
 With oceans of love, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Thursday morning, Feby 2nd, 1882. 
 Dearest M., — I am in the very throes — not of 
 dissolution, but of visiting, — and having now made 
 out a list twice too long for my day and cards, I 
 snatch the moment preceding luncheon, to tell you 
 that Jacky was very wise, when he foresaw that the 
 Frelinghuysen dynasty might not settle itself into 
 the saddle, without an impulse to ride down your 
 Father. Undoubtedly the State Department in- 
 tended the hfe of your Father, which they expected 
 
 » Charles Nordhoff, author and journalist, at that time Washington 
 correspondent of the New York Herald. 
 [ 295 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 to take, with all due regard for the convenances, and 
 with so much dignity on their own part, that nobody 
 would know that anybody was hurt, only by and by, 
 it would strike people that our dearest dear was for- 
 ever silent. But a man attacked from behind is not 
 always worsted. He faces round, and is not deterred 
 from striking back, for fear of hurting the clothes 
 or gentility of his assailant. So with your Father — 
 what difference does it make to him that Freling- 
 huysen is a nice man who does a dirty thing? He 
 knows the act and the man, and holds the latter to 
 account for the former. I verily believe the Secre- 
 tary of State expected to silence Blaine. They re- 
 voked his instructions, though they were Arthur's 
 as well; they kept back his papers, they sent to 
 Congress garbled despatches of Trescott's, they per- 
 mitted private letters of Christiancy to be sent to 
 Congress. Nordhoff employed Boynton, an old and 
 bitter enemy of your Father, to send the telegrams to 
 the Herald, and John Russell Young^ wrote editorials 
 accusing the ex-Secretary of dishonesty and dirty 
 tricks, and Nordhoff himself has telegraphed attack 
 upon attack, and what does it all mount to.'' Your 
 Father will be vindicated in every particular. His 
 policy is a patriotic one, and the people are going to 
 
 * Journalist, war correspondent, and librarian, succeeding A. R. 
 Spofford as librarian of Conj^ies^. 
 
 [ 298 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 so recognize it. Not a selfish thought is in it, but 
 it is in all its ramifications, American.^ I must stop, 
 but first, a word or two en famille. Your Father is 
 going this afternoon to Baltimore to dine with Mr. 
 Garrett.'^ Last night, we were at Mrs. Bancroft's. 
 The President came up and asked me to do him the 
 honor of walking through the rooms with him. Of 
 course it was intentional. I complied, and we made 
 a slow progress, I in my new dress, which is the hand- 
 somest I ever had. Never talk to me about black 
 velvet again! I expect to see it in the newspapers, 
 or should, only there was no member of the fraternity 
 there. Not a word of news from Walker. Poor fel- 
 low, shouldn't you think he would feel perplexed? 
 Young Mills ^ is to be married to Miss Livingston in 
 
 a month. In great haste, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 Your Father sends his best love. This attack has 
 stimulated him, and he is as well as he ever was in his 
 life. There comes a fourth of March, which, to use 
 Fred's term, is a cold day. Look at poor Hayes. I 
 
 * See note, page 13, Vol. 11. 
 
 2 Robert Garrett, at that time first vice president of the Balti- 
 more and Ohio R. R. It was at a business interview with Mr. Garrett 
 that William H. Vanderbilt died suddenly from apoplexy, at Mr. 
 Vanderbilt's house in New York. 
 
 * Oi^den Mills, son of D. O. Mills of New York and California, 
 marri:d Miss Ruth Li^^ngston. 
 
 [ 297 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 heard him so abused at Mrs. Hill's breakfast yester- 
 day, that I really came to his defense, and as I did it, 
 I said I believed I was the only person at the table, 
 who, four years ago, had dared to have the courage 
 of my convictions, but that now I thought his offenses 
 were condoned. No one had hitherto sat in judg- 
 ment upon him or Mrs. Hayes, and now they deserved 
 the charity of the grave. All our friends say that 
 your Father's position is all that could be desired. 
 
 To Walker in Chili 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. WAsmNGTON, Feby 8th, 1882, 
 
 Wednesday A. M. 
 
 Dearest Walker, — Sevellon Brown has sent over 
 a list of the Foreign Mail departures, so that I now, 
 every time that I raise my eyes, am reminded that the 
 South American mail leaves New York Friday the 
 10th, and it behooves me to set down, in order or dis- 
 order, all that I can remember of what has been going 
 on in the bosoms and home of your devoted family, 
 since last I wrote ; and, to begin at the end, Emmons 
 is with us, or rather was yesterday, and will be we 
 hope at any moment, though he yesterday afternoon 
 went over to Baltimore to look up Otho and spend 
 the night. 
 
 [ 298 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Emmons says he is going to Topeka, Kansas, and 
 I have no doubt it is his destiny to do so, as so often 
 as he ends his negotiations, kind fate re-opens them, 
 and we know that what is writ is writ. He is a dear 
 dehghtful son. . . . Business tells on him, and he 
 begins to look careworn and more man than boy. Of 
 course he lost no time in tasting the sweets of Wash- 
 ington society. Commencing with the Pendletons, to 
 whose reception we went that evening, where was 
 everybody almost whom one wants to meet, all the 
 old stars and others, like the Jays, the Rathbone 
 girls, Miss Heard,^ and a score of others. The 
 Pendleton House is a funny little box of an affair, 
 where I have a feeling that only a portion of the 
 company is on exhibition at once, and that after the 
 spectator has looked long enough at this section, the 
 crank will be turned, and as many more come into 
 view. I am willing the Pendletons should have it for 
 an abiding habitation, as Jamie would say, but as for 
 me, give me Massachusetts Avenue and 20th street. 
 And yesterday morning Emmons breakfasted with 
 E., first going to the P. O. Department to look up 
 his case, which alas, he finds decided against him, 
 solely on the responsibihty of Solicitor General Phil- 
 Hps, Mr. Howe and Mr. Elmer dissenting totally. 
 
 ' Daughter of Augustine Heard, at one time one of the great 
 merchants in the Chinese trade. 
 
 [ 299 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 After his breakfast, Baltimore, and to-night he dines 
 with Mrs. Hale. Whether he will immediately return 
 to Chicago or await the Eulogy, he has not yet de- 
 cided. This important funereal day is fixed for the 
 27th, and the orator to be is really devoting his morn- 
 ing to it. I can hear Jamie this minute kissing him 
 good-bye, as he makes ready to climb the Hill of 
 Learning, as is his daily wont, for his tutor lives 
 beyond the Capitol. 
 
 February 8th, 1882. 
 You would be delighted, could you see how well and 
 bright and happy your Father is, dressed immacu- 
 lately in one of his new Baltimore suits, carefully 
 trimmed quoad hair and beard, and in the full exercise 
 of a mental faculty which makes the administration 
 cry for the little dog at home to know whether they 
 be they. It would be impossible for me to post you 
 as to the situation, which is so interesting, that I am 
 half the time breathless with excitement. Still I con- 
 gratulate you that you are not here. Your position 
 would be embarrassing, and if the State Department 
 did not drop you, you would feel obliged to drop it. 
 There can be no doubt, however, that a strong feeling 
 is growing for your Father's policy. It appeals to 
 the American sentiment, and the friends of the Admin- 
 istration have done the President incalculable harm 
 [ 300 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. ELAINE 
 
 by rushing to his defense with all sorts of wild 
 assertions ; such as that he did not know of the Peace 
 Conference, that Mr. Trescott had private instruc- 
 tions from the Secretary, etc., which, proved to be 
 true, would condemn Arthur out and out. 
 
 I must not forget to chronicle an adroit little trick 
 of Mrs. Bancroft's. We were all at a lovely little 
 party at her house last Wednesday evening, and it 
 was not till Saturday that I discovered that all the 
 other invitations, save ours, read " To meet Secre- 
 tary and Mrs. Frelinghuysen." Accordingly, I asked 
 your Father if he would go to the Bancrofts to meet 
 the Frelinghuysens. Most decidedly not, he said. 
 So I looked up our invitation and found, to my great 
 satisfaction, there was no mention of the F's. in our 
 notes. Now it turns out that all the other invitations 
 mentioned the F's. So Monday afternoon, when I 
 was making my party call on Mrs. Bancroft, I asked 
 her about it. Why, the Frelinghuysen name was so 
 long, that after writing out a good many invitations, 
 she concluded to drop it, and our cards came among 
 the abbreviated ones. I assured her that the ex- 
 planation was entirely satisfactory to me, but I asked 
 as a special favor that she make the same explanation 
 to Mrs. Frelinghuysen, at the same time telling her 
 that our cards did not contain their honored name. 
 This she solemnly promised to perform, but she 
 [301 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 looked at me scrutlnizingly as she promised, no doubt 
 deciding whether it would be safe to remember to 
 forget. 
 
 To M., IN France 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Monday morning, Feby 13th, 1882. 
 Dearest M., — I have your letter of the 29th 
 ultimo, and as I received it this morning, I know 
 how you were just two weeks ago yesterday, and I 
 have been looking in my diary to see what we at home 
 were doing on that day, and find that your Father 
 
 was giving his interview to the Post, that H 
 
 went to St John's and was extremely affected by the 
 sermon, which was pertinent to the installation of 
 deacons, which there occurred, and that in the evening 
 the Sperrys of New Haven — do you not remember 
 being invited there while in Farmington ? — were 
 here. Also that your Father, to show that he was 
 well and generally as good as of old, attended Mrs 
 Robeson's Sunday evening. Since I wrote you, Em- 
 mons has come and gone, and we miss him fearfully, 
 as he fills a relation to his parents which neither 
 H, J'aime or Alice touch. Saturday evening he 
 dined at Lieut. Emory's, then went to a theatre party 
 with E., then home, almost at the same moment with 
 your Father, C. A. and I, who had dined at the 
 [ 303 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 Outreys. After admiring my dress, which he saw for 
 the first time, he packed, while Lewis got him a sup- 
 per and all the others went to bed, save myself, who 
 sat up till twelve, when I sent him to the station, 
 though his train was not to leave till two, but he could 
 go to bed at once, and this morning I hope he is all 
 ready for business at his office in Chicago. He lost 
 one day at home, through sick headache, including 
 a dinner at Mrs. Hale's. E came over at five last 
 night, bringing Mr. Northcote, the second son of 
 Sir Stafford,^ with her. She would not stay for sup- 
 per, but Mr. Northcote went away, put on his even- 
 ing dress, returned, and with Mr. McBride, the Utah 
 M.C., seemed to enjoy supper and talk immensely. As 
 he had had no dinner, there was the best reason in the 
 world for his appetite, and another and not a bad 
 one, for his more intellectual avidity. I am as usual 
 writing in my room, which has now, as I have often 
 told you, been converted into a sanctum, sacred to 
 Garfield, and here your Father, who cannot bear to be 
 alone, though he prohibits talking, is devoting him- 
 self to the most difficult portion of his eulogy, the 
 long sickness with its fatal termination. For the 
 second time this morning, I see him taking from the 
 
 > Sir Stafford Northcote, latter Lord Iddesleigh, the English 
 statesman, a member of the Alabama Commission. Lord Iddesleigh 
 was executor of Gladstone's will. 
 
 [ 303 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 drawer a fresh pocket handkerchief, with which he 
 vainly tries to hide his tears, and this time, wholly 
 overcome, he has beaten a retreat to the blue room. 
 Oh, M., there indeed is a Douglas, tender and true! 
 But if the writing so moves liim, how with a great 
 audience before him, is he ever to control his emotion ? 
 Two weeks from this very hour, unless the unfore- 
 seen prevents, he will be in the very thick of it. 
 Emmons comes back to hear him. It will not be 
 eloquent, but it will be faithfuh 
 
 Alice is soon to start for Leavenworth. Mrs Dunn^ 
 is here in the city. Friday she dined with us. It 
 seems very soon for the Scotts to be returning, but 
 how much better to make even that short trip than 
 none! There is nothing I so much regret, as that 
 I have not been abroad. It is too late now for the 
 foreign tour to seem attractive to me. Glasses, em- 
 bonpoint, and a certain tendency to uncertainty re- 
 garding all earthly affairs, make me reluctant to 
 take risks, but if we cannot come abroad this year, 
 you must remember that you can come home, to re- 
 turn in the fall. As you are a good sailor, money will 
 be the only preventing consideration, and we are 
 not yet quite poor. 
 
 Poor Father, I wish he would come down stairs! 
 
 ' Wife of Major William McKee Dunn, U. S. A., and daughter of 
 Senator Morrill. 
 
 [ 304 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 The political situation remains about the same. 
 I sav^ the President last at ]Mrs. Bancroft's party. 
 The Frelinghuysens are exteriorly all that could be 
 desired, but I think this administration is doomed. 
 I do not believe that anything will seize it but perdi- 
 tion, and I do not love it. 
 
 1 have been looking over the album to find an auto- 
 graph of Garfield, in vain, but in my next letter I hope 
 to send you one. I think Gambetta ^ is the man of 
 France. We have two portraits of him hanging on 
 the wall, and I presume he is the one Frenchman of 
 all others who has a foreign reputation. 
 
 Whitelaw Reid is with your Father in his foreign 
 policy, but the papers were all given to the press 
 without warning, and he says he was caught unin- 
 formed on the subject. Not one word from Walker. 
 Good-bye, my dearest. I am now going to lunch 
 and then to call on Mrs. Dunn with Mrs. Van VHet ^ 
 in the rain. With a bridge of love to span the ocean 
 between us, always yours, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 ' Ivcon Gambetta was a member of the French Chamber of 
 Deputies in 1869 and in the following year Minister of the Interior in 
 the government of National Defense, dictator, deputy again and 
 premier, 1881-82. He escaped from Paris during the Franco- 
 Prussian War in a balloon and organized the armies of the Loire and 
 of the North. 
 
 2 Wife of General Van Wet, Mr. Blaine's next-door neighbor in 
 Washington, occupying the former home of Governor Buckingham. 
 
 VOL. 1—20 [ 305 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, Feby 18th 1882, 
 
 Saturday morning. 
 
 Dearest M., — Alice is going away tonight and 
 the eulogy is finished in all its parts, and only 
 needs now the work of the skillful joiner, and I went 
 to a picture auction this week, where I have foolishly 
 or wisely spent many dollars, so that with the excep- 
 tion of notes, I have not this week had pen in hand. 
 And even now, I am writing at one side of the table, 
 vis-a-vis with your Father, and C. A., the former 
 transcribing to the latter's reading, " the rehgious 
 element of Garfield was strongly marked," etc. etc. 
 The eulogy is going to be good. Carefully discrim- 
 inating, it is an authoritative utterance on the ability 
 and work of Garfield, which, while it carefully ig- 
 nores the author, shrinks from no issue which the 
 administration of Garfield involved. 
 
 We have heard from Walker at Santiago de Chile, 
 but his letter, which is a Journal, is painfully deficient 
 in " personal mention," and I agree with E. who 
 read it, that she would rather know whether he had 
 garlic for supper than all these pages can tell of 
 Presidents and Ministers of whom we know nothing. 
 And speaking of foreign potentates reminds me that 
 you are not to give yourself the slightest anxiety 
 concerning your Father's condition, past or present. 
 Whoever has explanations or backdowns to make, it is 
 [ 306 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 certainly not he. Serene in the consciousness of a 
 policy or policies which looked out for the interests 
 of America, and which time is as sure to justify as 
 it is to come, he may well wait undisturbed,^ while Mr 
 Frclinghuysen accounts to his masters, the people, 
 for his truckling subserviency. 
 
 I have had a long visit between these lines from 
 Miss Snead,^ who has been here to get a suggestion 
 from me as to the observance of the Eulogy Day. I 
 can imagine your amusement at the large place the 
 Eulogy occupies in my letters nowadays. When 
 Jamie was snubbed by his Father the other day, he 
 exclaimed, " Crushed by a Eulogist." To revert to 
 my moutonsy Miss Snead, she is to suggest that all 
 ladies in the House on the day shall dress in black. 
 I must not forget to tell you one bit of domestic news. 
 Maggie Nurse is going to be married after Lent. 
 She is really very much pleased, naively says she 
 never dreamed she could get him. I am very much 
 attached to her. 
 
 All the time I am writing, imagine the careful 
 criticism of language going on, " The true preroga- 
 tives of his high office," reads your Father. " Is that 
 any better?" says C. A. "than the true preroga- 
 tives of the Presidency? " I join in the ensuing de- 
 
 » See note, page 13, Vol. II. 
 
 ' Reporter for the Evening Star and National Republican, Wash- 
 
 ^"^°" [ 307 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 bate, and by and by, we lay over that line for to- 
 morrow's fresh reading, and by and by I begin to 
 listen again. " He followed with quickening step 
 the researches of Darwin, Huxley," — 
 Your own, — 
 
 MOTHEE. 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington Feby 21st 1882. 
 
 Dearest M., — I have this morning your letter 
 of February 5th, and with it for a text, I think I 
 can manage to fill this small sheet, though it was 
 only day before yesterday that I mailed you a letter, 
 and all of my letters, it seems to myself, go through 
 certain formulas. 
 
 I always mention the Eulogy, always speak of 
 E. and the C.'s, name your Father and the children 
 and C. A. and modestly allude to myself. Following 
 the usual guides this morning, I have to say that 
 your father is down stairs with Mr. Elkins, and Tom 
 and C A are also there, waiting for this room, which 
 Fagie is now vindictively dusting, with that thing 
 abhorred of Aunt Hannah, a long-handled feather- 
 duster. Whatever becomes of it eventually, she cer- 
 tainly dislodges a vast quantity, and while she raids, 
 I know that her mind is far away from this home and 
 family, and that she is mentally deciding on the color 
 of her wedding dress. I know it, because she has just 
 [ 308 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 brought me two samples of silk, one, claret colored 
 at a dollar a yard, — the other black, fifty percent 
 higher. Neither of them will of course pay for mak- 
 ing up. I would give her her wedding-dress myself, 
 did I not think I had better perhaps look out for 
 something less perishable. Last night, your Father 
 and I were at the Enghsh Legation, at a ball. For 
 a wonder, I enjoyed it thoroughly. Plenty of room 
 to sit, delightful music, pretty dances and dancers, 
 a supper, and attentive friends. Mr. West took out 
 Mrs. Bancroft Davis, and Count Lewenhaupt ^ fol- 
 lowed with me. The President and the Freling- 
 huysens had gone to Baltimore to see " Patience." 
 I If you remember the description of Arthur, as given 
 by Mr. Hurlburt of the World, at Sam Ward's din- 
 ner, when Orville Baker was present, you have a very 
 correct idea of him. I do not think he knows any- 
 thing. He can quote a verse of poetry or a page 
 from Dickens and Thackeray, but these are only 
 leaves springing from a root out of dry ground. His 
 vital forces are not fed, and very soon he has given 
 out his all. I hardly know whether we are on terms 
 with him. The last time I saw him was at Mrs. Ban- 
 croft's party, and I am not likely now that Lent is 
 upon us, to see him again. The last time he was 
 
 ' Count Carl Lewenhaupt, Minister from Sweden and Norway to 
 the United States. 
 
 [ 309 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 here, he spoke to me of his chagrin that we had not 
 been invited to the White House, but time wears on, 
 and the invitation hngers, and I do not think a 
 perfectly well bred President would make such an 
 apology. He certainly commands his own house and 
 table. I hear in society only approving words. 
 Can a President be otherwise than fascinating, pleas- 
 ant, inteUigent and dehghtfully welcome.'* ^ 
 
 To Walker, in South America 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Ash Wednesday, Washington's Birthday, 
 
 February 22nd, 1882, 4 p. M. 
 
 Dearest Walker, — It is too bad you are so far 
 away that I cannot sit down and write you a careless 
 note, as I do to M. in Paris, to Emmons in Chicago 
 and to Ahce in Ft Leavenworth. Here I am, only 
 just through lunch, at which hour Mrs. Kinsley, 
 Miss Markoe, and Mr. Elkins all happened in. 
 Mrs. Kinsley stayed over from a call. Miss Markoe 
 came to bring me a package of cards left at the 
 State Department, and Mr. Elkins is already here, 
 to make sure of the Eulogy. This important docu- 
 ment is now in the hands of Tom, who is transcribing 
 it in the blackest of ink and the largest of hands, on 
 deeply black edged paper, so that the beloved orator 
 need wear no glasses and may have perfect freedom 
 [310] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 of feature and of expression. Nothing can equal the 
 interest taken in the day, the pressure for seats and 
 tickets is enormous. I am quite sure you will be 
 satisfied. 
 
 Last night, we all went to the Art Club's recep- 
 tion to Mr. Corcoran.^ Your Father gave the wel- 
 coming address, which was a perfect gem, and given 
 in a manner which made moist eyes. I felt it deeply 
 myself, but when Mrs Story said to me that she felt 
 like crying whenever she thought of it, I knew he had 
 played on the harp of a thousand strings. It was a 
 complete surprise to me, who had not even heard one 
 word of it. Mr Corcoran took me out to supper, 
 and in every way in his power, testified to his delight. 
 And, Walker, you would have felt proud and tender, 
 could you have seen the dear Pater, giving in a voice, 
 which was a caress and a benediction in itself, the 
 little address I enclose — then seen him step one side, 
 and with a simple dignity defer to Mr. Corcoran. 
 Nothing better was ever done or said. 
 
 Thursday morning. 
 Am just getting off invitations for a dinner on 
 Tuesday. Mrs Foster,^ Mrs. Wadsworth,^ the Lewen- 
 
 * W. W. Corcoran, Washington banker, philanthropist, and 
 founder of the Corcoran art gallery. 
 
 ' Wife of John W. Foster, who succeeded Mr. Blaine as Secretary 
 of State under President Harrison. 
 
 ^ Mrs. Craig Wadsworth. 
 
 [311] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 haupts, the Jays, Kasson,^ Bliss, Schleslngers, Schuy- 
 lers,- Patterson ^ (Mr. Medill's son-in-law). Emmons 
 we hope will take your place, though these terrible 
 wash-outs, involving so much extra labor for all R.R. 
 employees, may prevent. 
 
 I am afraid, dear Walker, that if you have depended 
 on me as to the situation, personal and more general, 
 you have leaned on a broken reed. This morning I 
 notice among the telegrams in the Boston Traveler 
 of yesterday, that you have resigned, because of the 
 strictures upon your Father, in his South American 
 course. I do not suppose you have done so, though 
 your Father for the first time seems aware of the 
 importance of keeping you posted as to pubhc senti- 
 ment here. I am constantly writing family letters, 
 which, I suppose, have the happy faculty of touching 
 on things of the least importance. I am truly dis- 
 gusted with myself as a universal correspondent 
 anyway, and I feel as though my cliildren must long 
 for the sight of another handwriting, but to repair 
 past neglect, I send you a budget cut indiscrimi- 
 nately from the newspapers this morning. Do not 
 
 * John A. Kasson of Iowa, formerly Minister to Austria; Col. 
 William Jay and Mrs. Jay of New York. 
 
 ^ Eugene Schuyler, the author and diplomat, who later died while 
 Consul-General at Cairo. 
 
 3 Robert W. Patterson married a daughter of Joseph Medill of 
 Chicago. 
 
 [ 312 ] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 for one moment imagine that your Father is going 
 down under this preconcerted attack on the part of 
 the State Department and its friends. I imagine him 
 very strong, and that the administration has lost its 
 grip upon this poHcy, which is so American that it 
 is bound to be the popular will. In short, dear 
 Walker, use your own good sense, and ask yourself 
 if it accords with your Father's past, that an attack 
 does him anything but good. Good-bye, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To M., IN France 
 
 821 Fifteenth St. Washington, Feby. 24th, 1882. 
 Deaeest M., — No better proof of the imminence 
 of the 27th could be given, than the immense pile of 
 books, now encumbering the chairs and slab of the 
 entry, while waiting transportation to the State Li- 
 brary. In fact, your Father is at this moment for 
 the eleventh time, going over the manuscript, smooth- 
 ing out all inequalities of language, for he persisted 
 in the first place in writing in the most careless man- 
 ner, insisting always, when I remonstrated on the 
 awful after labor that he was laying up for himself, 
 " Let me get down the ideas, and the language will 
 come of itself." But alas, he often finds it frozen 
 truth, only to be warmed into motion by infinite nurs- 
 ing and pains. I have had a letter from you this morn- 
 [ 313 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 ing, which like all its predecessors has had a warm wel- 
 come. I read it to your Father in bed. If I did not 
 remember how Emmons mourned at Geneva and Wal- 
 ker at Madame Hedler's, I should be quite miserable 
 about you. But you are not yet up to their concert 
 pitch. 
 
 This letter is interjected between the lines of all 
 sorts of things. Notes to people asking for tickets 
 Monday are in order always. We have about thirty 
 tickets and hundreds of applications. E., the Law- 
 rences, Col. BHss and Miss Markoe go with me. No 
 tickets are necessary for our high mightinesses. 
 Jamie goes in with the Pater, also Emmons, also 
 Tom, also Mr. Chandler. I think of your wardrobe. 
 Why do you not get a seamstress to put you in order ? 
 We have a tea-party Sunday, a lunch Monday, a 
 dinner party Tuesday. This is only to sing BAH 
 to you, so good-by — 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 To Ajlice, at Fort Leavenworth 
 
 821 FiFTEE>rrH St. WAsraNGTON, March 1st, 
 
 Wednesday Morning. 
 
 Dear Alice, — Now that the Eulogy is over and 
 
 all the books sent back to their several libraries, and 
 
 all the black edged paper banished, and this formerly 
 
 [314] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 heavily freighted table, cleared up, you cannot think 
 how bare and empty the room seems. All the world 
 may come into it now and find nothing out of order, 
 and I miss the dear figure, that for so many weeks 
 has made it his studio. He is down stairs, however, 
 for he cannot make up his mind to separate himself 
 from his family, and I have this moment left him 
 after a whole morning's talk with Mr. Elkins and 
 Emmons, on railroads and coal. Mr. E. has now 
 gone into Mr. Chandler's to ask him about the Cabi- 
 net appointment which the President is very possibly 
 about to offer him. He will come back here for lunch 
 if he sees Mr C. and gets through his call. 
 
 Well, Alice, the Eulogy has been made, and when 
 I say that I could ask nothing more of it, both as to 
 audience, subject matter, time and place, delivery and 
 reception, you will see that it equalled the unequalled 
 occasion, for probably your Father had not in that 
 vast assembly a more exacting critic than myself. 
 He has had the most delightful and warm assurances 
 from his friends both by letters and word of mouth. 
 The former, I shall keep for a special scrap book, 
 and the latter I shall cherish in my heart of hearts. 
 Yes, Ahce, it is not too much to say that it Is a 
 success, and nothing succeeds like success. I had 
 eight tickets to the Executive Gallery, E. had yours, 
 C. A. another, Mrs. Lawrence and Fanny Chapman 
 [315 ] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 other two, Mrs. Emory and Col. Bliss and Miss 
 Markoe the others. We all left this house about ten, 
 I in Mrs B 's carriage, and we all got fairly com- 
 fortable seats in the gallery. Mr Bradbury repre- 
 sented Augusta, on the floor of the House, going in 
 with some Senator. There was a great deal of trouble 
 about the seats, as only three galleries were reserved. 
 The door keeper came down to turn me out of my 
 seat, saying it was to be reserved for the Secretary 
 of State's family, but when he saw who it was, he beat 
 a retreat, and I and my friends had most of the seat, 
 Mrs. Justice Matthews having one end and Mrs. 
 Brewster the other. I believe there was a great deal 
 of fuss and fume among the ushers in the gallery 
 later, but I never turned my head, though E. with 
 her big glasses, did not fail to note and comment 
 upon all that was going on. From the first word, I 
 knew that your Father had the ear of the audience. 
 The attention was profound, and the interest un- 
 tiring. 
 
 To M., IN Paris 
 
 Wednesday afternoon. 
 Dear M., — I have written and addressed and re- 
 voked the letter to Alice, which I now send to you. 
 I am afraid to put off your letter, and I find I have 
 no time left. It is not exactly written in tlic order 
 [310] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 in which I was intending to unload my mind for your 
 benefit, but the load is exactly the same. The Eulogy 
 was fine and tender, and concise and interesting to 
 the last degree, was listened to with untiring interest, 
 and has been followed by an almost unbroken stream 
 of congratulations. Probably you will miss nothing 
 to compare with it while away from us, and I am 
 truly sorry that only Jamie and Emmons, of all the 
 children, heard it. The former, who might, had he 
 listened, have known the whole history of the Eulogy 
 from table talk for the last six weeks, woke up to it, 
 only on the morning of the 26th, and then only to 
 tease with persistence for tickets for two of his 
 friends. But once your Father had begun, he lost 
 not a word, and Mr. Elkins who was near him, says 
 he cried without reserve or restraint. I send you 
 copy of the resolutions ^ passed in the Senate to-day. 
 Perry Belmont - has offered a similar Resolution in the 
 House. " France " means Mr. Morton, who is said to 
 have been interested in the sale of nitrates and guano. 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 1 Resolutions calling for an investigation of our government's 
 course in the matter of the recent war between Chile and Peru. The 
 question of adjudicating specified American claims to guano fiekis 
 which Chile claimed by right of conquest was involved, and an at- 
 tempt was made by Democratic members in Congress to show that 
 the Secretary' of State's course was not disinterested. 
 
 2 Perry Belmont, Representative from New York and a member 
 of the Foreign Affairs Committee. 
 
 [317] 
 
LETTERS OF 
 
 March 2nd 1882, Thursday morning. 
 My deae M., — If I have neglected you of late, 
 let the times past suffice. I am now really begin- 
 ning daily correspondence, as this letter if compared 
 with my last in date and matter, proves. I am 
 through with breakfast, through with my hair 
 dressing, which I am in grave doubts about, as Lizzie 
 has a constant tendency to elevate my frontispiece, a 
 la Drum, and at twelve Emmons is to breakfast with 
 the divine E. and Edith Fish, divinely tall and most 
 divinely fair, — and at one, C. A. and I enj oy a 
 dej euner with my lofty examplar in chignons — leav- 
 ing your Father and Tom Sherman to each other, 
 for Jamie is always with his tutor at one. Our matu- 
 tinal reunion was made delightful by a great number 
 of congratulatory letters, a very feeling one from 
 Uncle Homan,^ to whom your Father had consider- 
 ately sent an advance copy of his Eulogy, which he 
 read, he said, to the neighbors and friends, at the 
 same hour that it was delivered to the larger and more 
 distinguished, but not more sympathetic and appre- 
 ciative and affectionate, audience. One from Mrs. 
 Garfield which I shall hereafter send you, a truly 
 
 ' Joseph A. Homan of Augusta, Maine, formerly editor of the 
 Maine Farmer ; for more than thirty years Mr. Blaine's next-door 
 neighbor and close friend. 
 
 [318] 
 
MRS. JAMES G. BLAINE 
 
 beautiful letter, pathetic in its perfect simplicity, not 
 one trace of affectation to be discovered in it. 
 
 The house was full of visitors all yesterday after- 
 noon, everybody calling now to compliment the 
 Eulogy, and Col. Rockwell has just gone away with 
 a package of photographs of Mrs Garfield, which 
 he had brought me to look at. Very pretty — and 
 taken with the idea of affording an opportunity for 
 a good portrait hereafter. I do not know anything 
 further about the visit of your Father to England 
 in May. His business is very uncertain, and it all 
 depends on that. But I hold to your coming home, 
 in the event of none of the family visiting Europe. 
 Mr. Phelps is in Egypt, as I suppose you know. 
 With love and prudent advice, 
 
 H. S. B. 
 
 END OF VOLUME I 
 
11 
 
 I