The

ceal, or which needs to be explained away. facts of Mr. Blaine's history on the religious side are largely a matter of record, and they may be simply stated thus:

As the daughter of an old and respected Roman Catholic family, his mother was naturally a sincere and life-long member of that body, and honored it by her life as a devout Christian woman. Her son has said, in a letter often republished, that nothing would induce him to utter a word against his mother's faith, and he will never permit himself to be drawn into one of those religious controversies which generally do so little good and so much harm.

Following the liberty of conscience which prevails in this favored land, Mr. Blaine followed in the footsteps of his Protestant ancestors, and has been for nearly twenty-eight years a member of the Congregational Church, having been confirmed in the city of Augusta, in the edifice where the some rite has since been performed for all his six children. He has given liberally of his means for church purposes, as the records of the congregations both of Washington and in Augusta will indicate to those curious enough to make the inquiries.

When at the National Capitol, and almost overwhelmed with work and care, he may have sometimes been pardonably absent from the sanctuary; but his pastor at Augusta bears witness, as many

others might do, that church-going is to him a sacred obligation, and that he and his family, and the stranger within his gates, unless for grave cause preventing, are to be found each Lord's Day filling their accustomed pew and joining in the services. Earnestness without parade or bigotry may well be given as a description of Mr. Blaine's religious life.

The Yorktown Centennial afforded, perhaps, the only interlude in Mr. Blaine's arduous and sombre experience as Secretary of State; although perplexing at the time, there was an element of humor in the careful handling necessary of the susceptibilities of the German and French guests on that occasion. The descendants of Lafayette and of Steuben showed no such tendency to coalesce in the glory of a common cause as did their ancestors a hundred years before. It may be said to their credit that their pride did not seem to be personal, but national; yet the effect was the same, so long as they were to be treated as representatives of their nations. If the slightest honor was shown to the flag of one country which was not instantly shown to the other; if a polite attention was extended to one party which was not balanced by something equivalent for the other; if the two groups were even brought in too close proximity, there was haughty sniffing and bridling which threatened the dreadful scandal of one or both sets of guests going off in the midst of the enter

tainment. Mr. Blaine was the very man to have charge in such an emergency, but his patience, as well as his adroitness, were sometimes thoroughly tried. The French, doubtless, considered themselves entitled to the greater share of hereditary gratitude and recognition, but the Germans were quite as determined that the French should not get it, and the stiffness of Prussian military etiquette (they were all officers) made it the more easy to offend them. The cordial manner of the Secretary of State smoothed over many difficulties, and the guests of the nation all departed in pleasant mood.

One of the flying anecdotes of the time is, perhaps, worthy of preservation. At a dinner given by Mr. Blaine at his temporary place of residence at Yorktown to the President, and other of the most distinguished persons in attendance, Mr. Arthur, in the course of the conversation, remarked that the next Centennial celebration upon that spot would be a still more imposing event, "And who knows," he said, turning to Mr. Blaine, "that a grandson of yours may not then be President of the United States?" Whereupon, Senator Anthony, who sat by, observed, with a suspicion of slyness, that "he had understood the family, and the country were not willing to wait quite that long."

CHAPTER IV.

WARM-HEARTED AND BELOVED.

THE attachment of Mr. Blaine to his birthplace is so strong and so unusual, that the inference is clear that his childhood must have been a happy one. No place will ever hold the same interest in his affection as Washington County, Pennsylvania. He remembers, with fondness, every running brook, every tree, every stone, every tradition, every incident connected with its history, and every name numbered in its citizenship, for the last hundred years. He recalls, with peculiar tenderness, his early boyhood there, his old teachers, his old school fellows. This feeling is one which seems to be a characteristic of natures which are at once capacious and ardent. It was strongly developed in Webster, and in many of the greatest statesmen of this and other lands.

It is something quite distinct from mere state pride, admirable as that also is when kept within due bounds. It does not depend upon artificial constitutions or institutions, but is an attachment to one's native soil and locality as such. It is undoubtedly the natural foundation of that intense national patriotism, which is so marked an element

in Mr. Blaine's character, that it has attracted the attention and provoked the criticism of English journals, which deprecate his election to the Presidecy, upon the ground that he is too thoroughly "American." The criticism is one which will not injure Mr. Blaine with the people of the United States, native or adopted. Against these passing cavils, born of selfish desires and fears, we may well set the philosophic words of a great English writer, who tells us that, "Whatever strengthens our local attachments, is favorable both to individual and national character. Our home, our birthplace, our native land-think for a while what the virtues are which arise out of the feelings connected with these words, and, if you have any intellectual eyes, you will then perceive the connection between topography and patriotism."

Mr. Blaine's love for his birth-place is shown by the following letter, which he wrote a few days before the death of President Garfield, and which illustrates his mastery of that graceful and eloquent style, in which he easily excels all other public men of this generation.

"WASHINGTON, D. C., Sept. 5, 1881. "To John McKennan, Esq., Washington, Pa.,

DEAR SIR-I had anticipated great pleasure in being present at the centennial celebration of the erection of Washington County, but the national sorrow which shadows every household detains me here. I shall, perhaps, never again have the opportunity of seeing so many of