Life — May 17, 1888 — page 4: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MR. BLAINE’S HEALTH. (From the 7—4—e.) LORENCE, May 14.—As the T—b—e correspondent drove up before the Hotel de la Paix for the purpose of interviewing the Hon. James G. Blaine, who is stopping at this hostelry, the great statesman bounded down the steps, three at a time, and, brushing aside the throng of am- bassadors and princes who were waiting to learn his views upon international questions, he start- ed up the street at a brisk pace, only stopping, with characteristic kindness, to write his name in the autograph album of a blind girl who had been watching for his appearance since early morn- ing. Mr. Blaine was the picture of robust health and virile manhood as he strode up the thoroughfare. His complexion was like that of a woodsman, his eye was clear as that of an eagle, and his broad chest and sprightly gait gave other pedestrians the im- pression that he was a man of not more than thirty or forty years. Persons who saw Mr. Blaine last during the campaign of 1884 will scarcely recognize in the stalwart athlete he has since become the feeble and decrepid, though magnetic, statesman, whose powerful intellect at that time only made his physical weakness more marked. Even the correspondent of the H—/—d, who was with me, could not re- strain an exclamation of wonder at Mr, Blaine’s improved appear- ance. Most of the foreigners in Florence, knowing that he is an American, think that he is John L. Sullivan, which, in view of his marked muscular develop- ment, is not at all strange. In the afternoon, your corre- spondent walked with Mr. Blaine out to the Cascine, where he swam across the Arno and back, and we then made a visit to the Campanile, where Mr. Blaine climbed up into the bell-tower and slid down the lightning-rod, much to the admiration of many (From the H—/—d.) LORENCE, May 14.—Sup- ported on either side by two stout valets, a human ruin tot- tered down thesteps of the Hotel de la Paix this morning, as the H—I—d correspondent drove by with the Pope and Cardinal Spaghetti. Who was this human ruin? It was ex-Senator James G. Blaine, whom the people of the United States will never see again, for he cannot live to cross the ocean, Dying among strangers! Such is the irony of Fate! 1 watched Mr, Blaine as he moved, or was moved, up the street, and noted that the people turned pityingly to look after his decrepid and tottering figure as his two attendants dragged him along. Mr. Blaine’s skin is the color of faded parchment. His eyes are lustreless and betray a failing mind. His left side is completely paralyzed, and his right side is similarly afflicted from his ankle up to his neck, he being able to partially use the right foot, and to move the third joint of the middle finger of his right hand, Those persons who admired Mr. Blaine’s physical vigor during the campaign of 1884 would never recognize him in the shriveled and decrepid wreck so painfully making his way along the thoroughfare, an object of pity and compassion to all beholders. Thecorrespondent of the 7—s—e, whom I met driving in a cheap cab, could hardly restrain his tears as he gazed after the re- mains of the man whom the Republican party once delighted to honor. It was, indeed, touching sight! In the afternoon King Hum- bert and I drove over to the Hotel de la Paix, and, while His Majesty held the horses before the door, I ran in to have a lit- tle chat with the distinguished American, a sad and As I reached the top of the grand staircase several servants rushed past me, and I learned that they were off for Mr. Blaine's physicians, as he was feared to be dying. He had been seized with convulsions at the sight of a run- away horse in the Piazza della Signoria during his morning constitutional, and had since been going from one fit into another with great enthusiasm and vigor, which had finally ter- minated in a hemorrhage of the lungs complicated with abdomi- nal spasms. A consultation of physicians was held late in the afternoon, and it is believed that he may live a few days longer with careful nursing and atten- tion, It is the general opinion among the Italians who know anything about Mr. Blaine, that his con- dition is a great boon to the Republican party of the United States, since it will preclude the possibility of his nomination for the Presidency. thousand spectators. His flow of spirits may best be understood when I relate that as we passed the church of Santa Croce, where Michael Angelo is buried, Mr. Blaine, with delightful humor, alluded to the dead artist as “Mike.” In the evening I had the pleas- ure of witnessing a glove-bout between Mr. Blaine and the Pratomagno Chicken, in the apartments of the former. The chicken is the champion of Italy, and one of the most powerful and expert sluggers in the world ; but Mr. Blaine did him up with- out an effort. Asked about the tariff issue by your correspondent, Mr. Blaine, with that broad mental grasp that has always marked his utter- ances upon public questions, said that it was, It is the opinion of the leading politicians of Italy that Mr. Blaine is the only man who could win victory for the Republican party in the United States. * * * HE Brooklyn Eagle of last Sunday had this: “ Wanted, a room by a single gentleman eighteen feet square.” He may be able to obtain a room to suit him, but we doubt if a man of these dimensions can find a landlady who will board him. * * x HE rabid Protectionists who tremble for the prosperity of the dear workingman will please take notice that, so far, the free imports which have cut down the wages of American labor have been various breeds of two-legged live-stock in the employ of subsidized monopolists. * * * HE Mail and Express will never be a truly religious paper until its printer’s devils are cast out. * * * HE most eloquent champion of the women who wished to be admitted as delegates to the Methodist General Conference was Dr. Putz, who is totally deaf. While this is generous to his fair clients, it might have been decidedly rough on the unlucky brethren who were not blessed with his infirmity. * * * T is believed that when General Badeau is found he will show more or less indication of wear and tear. comicbooks.com