Morris tribune., 1883-08-04
THE GLADSTONES.
Some Anecdotes OF the English Pre-
mier's Family.

/
John Gladstone, says writer in Tenn
ple Bar. liked that his children should
exercise their judgment by stating the
why and wherefore of every opinion
they offered, and college friend of Will
liam's who went on visit to Fasque, in
Kincardineshire, during the summer Of
1929, furnishes amusing pictures of the
family customs in that house, "where
the children and their parents argue
upon everything" "They would debate
as to whether the trout should be boiled,
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
q stranger, because of the evident care
which all the disputants took to advance
no proposition, even to the prospect of a
rain, rashly. One day Thomas Glad
stone knocked down a wasp with bis
handkerchief and was about to crush 1t
on the table, when the father started
the question as to whether he had the
right to kill the insect; and this point
was discussed with as much seriousness
as If human life had been at stake.
| When at last it was adjudged that death
/
in the drawing room, a common enemy
and danaer there, it was found that
the insect had crawled from under the
handkerchief, and was flying away with
staggering sort of buzz, as If to mock
them all"
On another occasion William Glad
stone and his sister Mary disputed as to
where certain picture ought to be
hung. An old Scotch servant came in
with a ladder and stood irresolute while
the argument progressed; bnt as Miss
Mary would not yield William CALAMITY
ceased from speech, though nncon-
yinced, of course. The servant then
hung up the picture where the young
lady ordered; but when he had done
this he crossed the room and hammered
nail into the opposite wall. He was
| asked why he did this: "Aweel, Misc,
that'll do to hang the picture on when
you have come round to Master Willie's
| opinion"
The family generally did come round
to Williams opinion, for the resources
of his tongue-fencing were wonderful,
and his father, who admired clever
ieint as much as a straight thrust, never
; failed to encourage him by saying:
''Hear, hear; well sand, we'll put, Willie,
|
| in an encounter. Another thing which
John Gladstone taught his children was
| to accomplish to the end whatever they
might he gin, no matter how insignificant
the undertaking might be. Assuming
that the enterprise had been
commenced with q deliberate,
thoughtful purpose it would
obviously be weakness to abandon It,,
whereas if it had been entered upon
without thounht it would be useful to
carry il through is a lesson against acting
without reflection. The tenacity with
which William Gladstone adhered to
this principle exercised no doubt ben
eficial moral discipline upon himself,
but was frequently very trying to his
companion. 'At Fasque," says his friend
already quoted. eve often had archery
practice, and the arrows that went
wide the targets Wonld 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 Will
liam's way. He would insist that ali 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 lad
been refilled. Once we were so log IN
hunting for particular arrow that dusk
came on and we had to relinQuish the
search. The next morning as l was
dressing l saw through my window wal
liam ranging the field and prodding into
every inf Of grass with stick. He had
been busy in this wav for two hours, and
at length he found the arrow just before
breakfast, I remarked that he had waist
ed good deal of time. Eyes and no"
he said. 81 was certain the arrow could
be found if ] looked for it in certain
way, but it was the longest way, and L
failed several times from trying shorter
methods. When set to work In the
proper fashion [ succeeded" Well
done. Williep concurred his always
appreciative father.
1t was the same at Oxford. Gladstone
would start for walk to some place
eight miles distant, and made up his
mind to 90 "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)
but this would not shake him from his
purpose; so long as he had not passed
his foarth mile post nothing would make
him turn back. Directed towards high
er objects this stnbborness could be dig
nified with the name of perseverance,
and it was master quality that kept all
Gadston friends in subsection to him
more or less. Those who would not
give in to him from reason would do so
to avoid contest-this being world In
which there are more earthen pots than
iron ones, and the earthen pots try to
escape collisions when they can.
Food for Smiles.
Three years constant study in Italy
will make an American girl know too
much to sing in church, and too little to
be useful in opera.
''Statira Jane," said fond mother, the
other morning to her daughter, "Did
Daniel Johnson kiss you on the steps
last night?" "No, mamma, he did not"
If the fond parent had said mouth in-
stead of steps, it would have troubled
are things to door.-Boston Courier.
The Winterport Correspondent of the
Belfast Journal relates that little Josie
was accused by her sister of telling a
falsehood. She at first denied, bnt af-
terward said by the way of extenuatiop
"Well, suppose did lie; everybody lies
but God and George Washington" This
same little girl was asked if she said her
prayers. She replied: mo; have to
take Kennedy's medicine, and that is
enough without saying my prayers"
A good story is told of Dan Setchell,
the actor, that he one day Was standing
in the Office of the Fifth Avenue Hotel,
when one of the clerks, indicating an
Englishman in plaii suit
and eyegass who stood near, s"id to
Dan. What do you suppose that
mans name is?" "Cannot imagine, pm
sure" said Dan. "Well," replied the
clerk, ''that is Sir George Pyne Coffin,
of England" "Pine Coffinp said Dan;
81 wonder why they didn't call him Sir
Cophagus; it sounds much more aristo-
cratic "-Exchange.
Hospitality scene-St. Enoch's Sta
ton. Time-Afternoon Rory McRan-
ter, prosperous butter merchant, meets |
an acquaintance, a young man of slight |
build and meek disposition. McRanter |
(heartilYl-"Losh, Simpson, a'm awtu' |
gled tae see We, man. Am iist guam |
AVA tae catch ma train. Am stayin' |
doom the waiter the nOO-ta'en a hOOse