The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1884-07-03

4 Sketch Of Hrs. 0ladstone-31o Rrems
ier's Pure Domestic Life.
Robert aird Colliar in Roat0n Herald.

4 Sketch Of Hrs. 0ladstone-3Ae Prem.
isr's Pure Domestic Life.
Robert Laird Collier in Boston Herald
Just as the service was beginning Mr..
and Mrs. Gladstone, with one Of their
sons came in, and as they went to thier
seats there was some little stir at the
door of the chapel, as evidently some
what of crowd were there to catch
sight of the right honorable gentleman.
The son who came with the father and
mother lives, or has for ONE years lived,
in India. He has been rather the black
sheep of the family, so it has been re-
ported, and has not got on in the world
as the other sons have done.
He has been disinclined to be guided
by reins in his fathers hands, and has
always champed the bit. The other
sons have been dutiful and unresisting.
1t is understood that Mr.. Gladstone
like other great men, will have his own
way whenever he can get it, and it is
best upon the whole for all concerned
that he should have it. The eldest son,
William Henry Gladstone, is rather a
feeble statesman, who is member OF
parliament simply because he is the son
Of his father. The next son, Rev.
Stephen Gladstone, is the vicar of the
Hawarden, Parish Church, and is re-
ported to be pious and innocent par
son, who does the routine duties of an
English country parson, and finding ia
vor with both God and man. The
hopes of the family are conferred in Her
bert, the youngest son. Herbert is
real nice good boy. He did very we'll
in college and had no career marked
out for him, although it was known
that both father and mother had set
their hearts upon political life for him.
The liberal constituency of Leeds was
casting about for a candidate, when
intimation was given that Mr.. Glad
stone would like his son to be returned
erals of the Yorkshire capital accepted
this real nice, good boy as their stand
ard bearer OF course he would have
probably lived and died unknown if his
name had not been Gladstone, for up to
now he has in nowise developed any
genius for political affairs, and when he
has made speeches they have been
rather conspicuous for the extreme
youthfulness of their matter and meth
DDS. The Liberal press has more than
once rather apologized for his public APP
pearances and differences.
But to return to Mr.. Gladstone-or
rather, let me i'll passing speak word
of Mrs. Gladstone. We are always curl
Gus to know something of the domestic
life of great men, and wish to know if
the wife has had any part in the hus-
bands success. It is always said that
Mrs. Gladstone has been helpmeet
indeed, and one would be led to this
opinion from the sweet wifely, moth
erly expression of her counte-
nance Mrs. Gladstone does not
look older than an American lady
commonly does at fifty. Her hair is
almost black, and her face is almost free
from lines and wrinkles. English wori-
en- of the last generation dressed hide
ously, as the majority of the present
generation do. And Mrs. Gladstone,
in respect of dress, belongs to both past
and present. She always looks dowdy.
One cannot get over the feeling when
origin. If one did not know her one
would assume that she belonged to what
is called here the "shop-keeping class"
When she came into the chapel on Sun
day she was really curiosity. Her
face is uncommonly sweet and spiritual.
Her smile tells the story of true and
gentle heart. But. Why should
any lady dress so barbarously? The
puffed out hair; the big, ill-shaped
bonnet, with the old fashioned
spotted black veil; long, rath-
er rusty, velvet cloak with
wide fur trimmings and ungloved hands,
did not seem suitable to the face. Dur
ing the service, and when Mrs. Glad
stone removed her cloak, she put on
light coarsely knit worsted shawl, and
then, to me, the picture of odds and
ends seemed complete. But to Mr..
Gladstone; was panied to see him.
He shuffled into the chapel and into his
pew, but with quick, nervous, ill-regu-
lated step, that indicated strength of
will trying to overcome weakness of
limb.
He looked two inches shorter than he
dld four years ago. His face is full of
crows feet. Lines and wrinkles run in
every direction upon it. and if he we're
100 years old his face could not be more
wien and worn. This withered,
pinched face, with it's great, penetrate
ing, restless eyes, was almost weird. I
sat Immediately facing the Prime
Minister and within ten feet of
him, and I must say am
bound to say-that his presence
panied me all the while I
was in the chapel. He is man with
great trouble on his mind, or else no
face ever in this world told the story of
trouble. When he closed his eyes in
prayer-and I peeped several times to
see-there was almost an agony on his
countenance. He was so uneasy and
restless when standing up, so fdgety
with the books and his fan, that it was
deeply painful to see him. Many evil
reports were in circulation years ago
about the social life of this brilliant man,
but one hears so many such things in
all European countries that I fancy no
one pays any considerable attention to
these scandals. For one, I believe he is
socially as pure as sunlight or snow
flake is pure. But this needless blood
shed in Egypt seems to haunt his soul
as a spectre, and he is like all men of
indomitable will, he just falls short of
great will on great occasions when
man needs will to immediate his own
will.
Mr. Gladstone has not got the will to
slay his will. He has gone most woe
fully wrong, and he cannot consent to
it and retrace his steps. It
is we'll known to Mr.. Gladstone's friends
that he keenly felt being Kissed at the