The audience rose to their feet, impelled by an irresistible impulse to testify their admiration for the great Republican candidate. Grave men acted as though mad. Newspapers were torn into bits and scattered high in the air; active boys clambered along the high rafters over the hall and, detaching the flags, passed them down to men in the front row of the galleries, who waved them frantically over the heads of those below, and the bands three times essayed to drown the noise by playing their loudest air.

It was futile. Men drew off their coats and shook them in the air. Umbrellas were hoisted and waved over the heads of their owners. Again handkerchiefs were brought forth and swung to and fro like snowflakes in a hurricane. Those too tired to shout gave shrill whistles, and pandemonium universal and all-pervading seemed to have broken forth.

The most delightful picture of the evening, and one observed by few, occurred on the stage when Mr. Elkins, Blaine's life-long friend, and Senator Tom Cooper, of Pennsylvania, embraced, each trying to out-tire the other in their mutual contributions to the common din. The California delegation, which has done some of Blaine's best work here, was on its feet cheering as loudly as Rocky Mountain throats could swell. The negroes from the South joined in the furor, and were the noisest of the delegates.

When at last there seemed a prospect that the cheering would end, some enthusiastic friend of Blaine brought into the hall, before the chairman's desk, a huge American flag, and placed upon the top of the staff a helmet of flowers, surmounted by a long white plume, the helmet of Navarre. Again did the audience cheer, until it seemed as though the throats of men would burst. The flag and helmet were raised to the stage, and again a deeper, longer, louder cheer arose. Ladies took flowers from their belts and threw them

SCENE AT THE CHICAGO CONVENTION, AFTER THE FOURTH BALLOT.-NOMINATION OF J. G. BLAINE FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES,

in the air. The atmosphere was fanned by the waving of innumerable banners.

The decorations were stripped from the wall by the excited audience and shook madly in the air. Full fifteen minutes, that seemed like hours, were consumed in this unprecedented demonstration.

"James G. Blaine," closed Judge West, and another great roar went up like the noise of many waters, sweeping in great waves of sound around the hall, and the crowd without, by this time aware of what was under way, answered in a muffled roar, which echoed within. The old man ceased, with the echo of his eloquence still filling all the air, ten thousand people swaying like reeds in the wind under his voice, and feebly groped to leave the platform. A friend was at his side in an instant, and Edward McPherson laid about the old man's shoulders his long blue, oldfashioned cloak, and, drawing it closer to him, its folds falling straight, the speaker took a seat behind.

When the session came for balloting, the anxiety was intense, both in the hall and throughout the country. The result of the first ballot was as follows: Blaine 334 1-2, Arthur 278, Edmunds 93, Logan 63 1-2, John Sherman 30, Hawley 13, Lincoln 4, W. T. Sherman 2. The vote stood nearly the same on the second and third ballots. But the fourth ballot, on which Blaine was nominated, stood: Blaine 544, Arthur 207, Edmunds 41, Logan 7, Hawley 15, and Lincoln 2.

General Logan, by telegraph, especially requested his friends to vote for Blaine, and their votes and example secured the victory to Blaine's friends.

The Convention, on the announcement of Blaine's nomination, was a scene of almost insane excitement. Men wept, and screamed, and leaped, and wildly waved flags, handkerchiefs, coats and seats, in the most frantic manner.

CHAPTER XXI.

Blaine at home.-Receiving the News of his Nomination.-His House in Augusta.-His Mother's Death.-His Hospitality.Personal Description. Mrs. Blaine.-His Children.-Receiving the California Delegation.-Official Notification of his Nomination.

When Blaine received the news of his nomination, he was at his home in Augusta, Maine. Early in the week he left his Washington residence, with his family, for his home in Augusta. When the important dispatch was handed to him he was resting in a hammock, which was stretched between two interlacing apple-trees, on the lawn before his door. Surprised he certainly was by the news, but all strong emotion was suppressed, and he talked coolly and cheerfully about that and other matters, with the neighbors who came freely into his yard to congratulate him.

Blaine's home in Augusta, where for so many years he has resided, is composed of two commodious square buildings, with a narrower structure between them, connecting them together. The home is not extravagantly furnished, but has all the modern luxuries which make a home really comfortable. Delicate specimens of embroidery, and choice selections of pictures, and works of art, show a refinement and culture, but there is no apparent attempt at display, either of wealth or taste. The house and enclosed grounds are richly shaded with maple-trees, and all the surroundings are after the neat, but unostentatious New England style.