Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-03-23
Mr. GIadstone,s vitality.

The London Standard in an article
upon MIR. Gladstone's wonderful physical
powers, says
Fond though Mr.. Gladstone is of open
air, 1t can not be said that field sports arc
or ever were his forte. 1t is on record
that Lord Beaconstield once went out fox
hunting with his friend the late Lord
Galways hounds in Nottinghamshire !;
but no one, SO far as we are aware, ever
saw Mr.. Gladstone in the hunting field
At one time it was often his habit to ride
i'll Hyde Park, but his seat on horseback,
though strong and tenacious, was never
that of what in the flying shires would be
called workman. Dozens of men,
bers of Parliament have probably sat in
the House of Commons with Ma. Glad
stone for years without having noticed
that, as the black silk guard tied round
his wrist indicates, he has lost the
index finger of the left hand. Like the
famous Lord Anglesey's leg, which was
buried in the Belgian village from which
the battle of Waterloo takes its name, Mr..
Gladstone left his lost finger, in q sports
mans sense, on the field homer, Nearly
forty years ago he was staying at Escrici
Park, near York, as the guest of the
grandfather of the present Lord Wcnlock.
who was the uncle of Mrs. Gladstone.
Mr.. Gladstone went out shooting as one
of large party, and while he was load
ing his gun-there were no breech. load
ers i'll those days-one barrel exploded
and blew away his finger. There was no
hope of replacing it or of setting the bone,
which, indeed, was entirely carried away,
and from that day to this Mr.. Gladstone
has always worn the black finger stall to
which we have just alluded. The acci-
dent seemed to be protest against his
further nse of fowling-piece but it
was not until some years later that he
took to the amusement Of cutting down
trees.
Throughout his life Mr.. Gladstone has
been particularly fast, enduring and
vigorous walker. He is cast. indeed, in
the mould to which all famous peles-
trians belong. Wiry, lean, sinewy, with.
out an ounce of superhous lumber about
him, Mr.. Gladstone, when younger
man, was in the habit of saying, but with.
out tincture of vanity or osteutation,
that he was good for Il forty-mile wall;
any day. Although his thoughtful face
and little figure are us well known in every
part of this metropolis us those OF any
resident within its borders who ever We,
saw Mr.. Gladstone il hanson or any
other cab? 1t was not without difficulty
submissive as his illustrous patient gener
ally is to DIR. Andrew Clark's mandates
that the experienced physician could pre-
vail upon Mr.. Gladstone, when the pre-
mier was living in Harley street, to alb
stain from trudging down to the House o
Commons every day and walking HON,
i'll all weathers at night. It is not gener
ally known that, shortly after he had lef
Oxford, Mr.. Gladstone's eyes were in
condition to cause much anxiety.
He was ordered to pass some weeks il
n dark room, and, with that indomitabl
strength of will which has characterize,
him in so many junctures of his life. h
acquiesced cheerfully, and went through
one of the most tiresome and weary OF
deals to which it is possible for n man o
quick mind and ardent temperament t
be subjected. From that darkene
chamer he came forth with eyesight pei
fectly restored, but it has been and sti
is his careful habit to write and read a
often as he can seated with his back t
the window, and with the light comm
from behind his head He is under til
impression that, upon the whole, he take
, great, or at any rate reasonable care
i himself and although he seldom dons
/ great coat, even in weather which
others seems desperately cold, he fr'
4 quently wears fur muller round Ii
throat, linked with chain under h
, chin.