The Osceola times., 1882-05-13
GLADSTONE.
A sketch of the Prime Minister ot "re"'
britain From Personal Observations
Chicago Tribune.

Chicago Tribune.
1t is now five years since, at my sug-
gestion, the Liberals OF North Wales mace
an effort TO get Gladstone among us ior
grand rally. His castle at Hawarueh
was near us. There he felled MS Tree
from it he was sending his famous post
cards, some of which are In my own
possession. We wrote him, and ne did
not say no. 1t was aume when he want
ed to speak out. Dsraeli was in power
had come home from Berlin saying, l
bring you peace with honor" Inc
queen smiled on Benjamin's mess aho
did not on Gladstone's order. The star
OF the Jew was in the ascendant-that OF
the gentle under cloud. :
To our town Gladstone came. We had
hung out flags and banners. Some pro-
posed to have band of music; others
said, "No; let us meet him as men meet
ing man." Our voice prevailed so we
met him at the depot. He came, bring
ing with him his wife and two sons. Age
has dealt gently with the cid man elo.
quent. His hair is silver-gray-'what
there is of it; his brow is furrowed with
thought and care. 1t was good to see
him standing there at the depot the peo'
pies William, as We called him-nis
wife and two big sons near him. The
demonstrations of the crowd were cer.
dial.
Into a carriage waiting for him he and
his family stepped, and l next met him
at the house where he was to dine. In
one Of the rooms, previous to dinner,
had the honor of meeting him privately,
kand 30 hada near view of the greatest
living Enplishman. His manners are
simple. yet cminently refined. Seeing
that the burden of his coming speech
was heavy on him did not speak much,
but turned TO his SOD, who is vicar OF
Hawarden, and had long conversation
with him. It is quite evident that none
Of Gladstone's sons will ever equal the
father. l was especially delighted with
the womanly care shown by Mrs. Glad.
stone about the persona. welfare OF her
husband. Like many others, be owes
much Of his success to a 60 ID wife.
But dinner is announced. and we en-
ter. Like very many English dinners,
ii was rather heavy affair. During din
ner Mr.. Gladstone chatted gayly with
Lady Grosvenor. After dinner ne gave
the usual loyal toast. Here Mr.. Glad
stone was in his element. 1t was anus
ing to see how he managed to say Just
enough. Those who were behind the
scenes, and they knew how much he had
endured from royalty, could not but ad-
mire his generous utterances. But 1t
was when proposing success to the Lib
eral cause that he came out grandly, and
carried with him the enthusiasm of ev-
cry heart.
In the evening we had a great mass
meeting. Ali the world knows how
Gladstone can speak. All the world has
not been near enough to see his modus
operandi. When he rose he placed his
hat in front of him, and across the
mouth of his hat he spread his notes,
which were pretty voluminous. He had
some of his most important sentences
written out with the greatest care.
Gladstone is Scotchman TO the core
He was awfully Scotch when that even
ing he scotched Lord Beaconsfeld foI
making the queen an empress. His re.
mark, IAN empress forsooth?" was one
of the most canny Scot remarks ! ever
heard. The scorn on his lip has to be
seer TO be fully appreciated. So also
when he challenged Lord Beaconsfield
to prove that he had ever spoken Of him
as being like Satan. After the by-play
he launched into the speech, and de-
nounced the conduct of the government
saying then what the country SAYS to.
day, and what history will say in the fil.
ture.
As an orator, Gladstone is not equal
to John Bright for sweeping an audience
with him. He enters so much into de-
tail and principle that at times it re-
quires an effort to follow him. He was
never pathetic, but was always calm
strong, majestic. His peroration was
sublime.
That evening made an era in many 9
life. He left us and returned to his own
home. If we follow him there, what dc
we find? The home of true Christian
liticians to visit his home. God is found
there. He calls his household to wor
ship and conducts the worship with the
which he shows in all his acts. On the
Sabbath he is found in the village
church. He and his son, the vicar, take
the service between them. Mr.. Glad
stone reads well. IT he was not great
statesman he would have made great
divine.
He dwells among his own people, and
is greatly honored. Anyone who chooses
can see him in his shirt-sleeves, working
with Scotch earnestness on his estate.
Had George Washington been alive he
would have been the best friend OF vii.
liam Gladstone.
Students Will be glad to know that his
library is not only extensive, but also re-
markably well chosen. had the hon.
or of sending him one of my books,
and he has written me to say that he
will examine it with the deepest interest
in the subject-the subject being "Spirit-
ual Progress"
People sometimes ask me, "What is
Mr.. Gladstone in religion?" / answer .
lie is an Episcopalian, loving his own
church, but having the deepest sympa.
thy with all other Protestants. Is he a
Roman Catholic in disgu Non sense,
| answer.
Is he popular now? In reply, have
only to say London, which few wears
ago hooted him, is now ready to worship
him. No wonder. Look at him last fall
in the house of commons. See him
there hour on hour, with folded arms
and bowed head, watching all the de.
bate. He seems but to listen but see
the speaker has caught his eye. Glad
stone is upw passes into the lobby, and
the house fills rapidly. Not a speech has
| missed him. Every arpument far and