Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-30
THE GLADSTONES.
Some Anecdotes OF the English Pre-
mier,S Family.

Mr.. John Gladstone, says writer in Temple
Bar, liked that his children should exercise
their Judgment by stating the why and where
fore of every opinion they offered, and a college
friendo Williams, who went on visit to Fas-
que, in Kincardlneshlre during the summer OF
1929. furnishes amusing pictures of the family
customs in that house, "where the children and
their parents argued upon everything" "They
would debate as to whether the trout should be
boiled or broiled, whether window should be
opened. and whether it was likely to be fine or
wet next day. 1t was always perfectly good
humOred, but curious to stranger. because OF
the evident care which all the disputants took to
advance no propositions, even to the
Thomas Gladstone knocked down a wasp
with his handkerchief and was about to
crush it on the table, when the father started the
question as to whether he had the right to kill
much seriousness as If a human life had been at
stake When at last it was adjudged that death
was deserved because it was trespasser In the
drawing-roOm, common enemy and danger
there. it was found that the insect had crawled
from under the handkerchief and was flying
mock them ALL"
On another occasion William Gladstone and his
sister Mary disputed as to where certain pic
ture ought to be hung. An old Scotch servant
came In with ladder and stood irresolute
while theargument progressed; but as Miss Mary
would not yield William gallantly ceased from
speech. though uncOnvinced, Of course. The
servant then hung up the picture where the
young lady ordered; but when he had done this
ne crossed the room and hammered nail into
the opposite wall. He was asked why he did
this: ''Aweel, Miss, that'll do to hang the pic
ture on when you have come roond to Master
Willie's OpeeniOn."
The family generally did come round to Will
liams opinion. for the resources of his tongue
fencing were wonderful, and his father. who ad-
mred clever felnt as much as a straight thrust
never failed to encourage him by saying: "Hear,
hear: we'll said well put, Willie" if the Young
debater bore himself well in an encounter. An
other thing which Mr.. John Gladstone taught his
children was to accomplish to the end whatever
they might begin, and no matter how insignificant
the undertaking might be. Assuming that the
enterprise had been commenced with a deliberate,
thoughtful purpose, it would obviously be weak
ness to abandon it. whereas If 1t had been en-
tered upon without thought 1t would be useful
to carry 1t through as lesson against acting
without reflection. The tenacty with which
William Gladstone adhered to this principle ex-
erclsed no doubt beneficial moral discipline
upon himself: but was frequently very trying to
his companions. ''At Fasque," says his friend
ALREADY ady quoted I'VE often had archery practice,
get lost In the long grass. Most of us would have
liked to collect only the arrows that we could
find without trouble, and then begin shooting
again; but this was not Williams way. He
would Insist that all the arrows should be
found before we shot our second volleys. and
would marshal US In Indian file and make US
tramp about IN the grass till every culver had
been reflled. Once we were so long in hunting
LOT a particular arrow that dusk came on and
we had to relinquish the search. The next
morning as was dressing I saw through my
window william ranging the field and prodding
Into every tuft Of grass with q stick. He had
been busy In this way for two hours, and at
length he found the arrow Just before breakfast
remarked that he had wasted good deal OF
time. Yes and no, he said. 4 was certain
the arrow could be found II I looked for 1t in q
certain way, but 1t was the longest way, and
Iaiied several times from trying shorter meth-1
ods. When set to work in the proper fashion
succeeded Well DONE Willie!' c0ncurred
h)s always appreciative father"
IL was the same at Oxford. Gladstone would
start for walk to some place eight miles dis
tant, and make up his mind to 60 ''at least
more than half the way" Rain might fall in
torrents "a serious matter in those days when
no Undergraduate ever carried an umbrella),
out this would not shake him from his purpose;
90 long as ne had not passed his fourth mile
post nothlng would make him turn back.
Directed towards higher objects this stubborn
ness could be dignffed with the name Of persever-
ence, and It was master quality that kept all
iiadstone's friends In subsection to him more or
less. Ihose who would not give In to him from
reason would DO soto avoid CONTESTANTS being
world In which there are more earthen pots
tnan IRON ones. and the earthen pots try to
escape COLLISIONS when they can.