The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-10-04
,artv. / mad a goou opportunity OF

|
aminine his appearance closely and Of
making mental notes of his CONVERSE
ton. | have heard him called "a
s.ovcn," but il struck me that he was
even scrupulously neat, from the
arrangement OF his already thinned
locks to that of the small boquet in his
| Duttonhole; and during the number Of
years that | had the good fortune OF
seeing him from time TO time the same
care was always apparent The most
noticeable point about Mr.. Gladstone 8
physique is his immense head, the
extreme development OF his superclliary
ridge giving his dark eyes dOubly the
appearance of being deeply set. had
seen many photographs OF the states
man, in all of which the likeness was
striking, but all OF which more or less
exaggerated peculiaritlcS and gave the
impression of q remarkably plain, al
most a repulsive person; whereas at the
period to which | refer he was really
hand some man; the women all thought
so, and with their hero worship mingled
good deal Of personal admiration.
Mr.. Gladstone affected no mysterious
reserve in speaking of the political
questions of the day; he was frank and
evidently sincere. While avowedly
the champion of the people he occasion
ally made remarks of startlingly con-
servative character heard him say,
when some one spoke lightly of ''weed-
ing the upper house Of the spiritual
lords"
"No, no; not one bishop could be
spared"
He thought that in schools "those
youths should be classmates whose
similar position in society would bring
them in contact later in life.
He remarked quite earnestly to a
lady sitting beside him: al am sorry
you like Cromwell; like Charles the
First"
He spoke with atfectionate rever-
ence of the present royal family, evil
IDENTIFY approaching not only the public
position, but their private virtues.
His manner, nevertheless. had
republican simplicity, and when a
chord was touched which the inalien-
able rights of man vibrated, his eye
kindled and flashed while his tongue
poured forth an eloquent appeal, or
protest, as it might be, and he showed
himself true liberal.
Mr.. Gladstone is loved by his friends
as firmly as he is hated by his enemies.
In society he is very popular in great
measure because he assumes no air OF
superiority, is entirely free from AFRO
gance, and never monopolizes the con-
yersation. He listens patiently and
even politely to bore, never showing
WEAKNESS. He is not at all unwilling
that another star should shine where
he shines and no diversion of attention
from himself ever appears to wake his
uneasiness. i was present on one &C.
caSion at table at which the famous
but somewhat eccentric, Prof. Blackie
sat next but one to Mr.. Gladstone. The
professor, who is very energetic and
vociferous, brandished his arms while
he was speaking, and that so wildly
that lady who was seated between
the two distinguished men had more
than once to draw suddenly back to
avoid his clenched hand striking her
face. He interrupted Mr.. Gladstone's
remarks several times. the interruption
being borne with perfect equanimity
and met by smile. not of superiority,
but of indulgence for the "God-intoxi-
Gated man" The subject under dis
cussion was one which both men had
much at heart-Greeoe and its modern
explorers.
Mr.. Gladstone told me that he APP
proved of every one during a portion
of manual labor a practice which he
has always observed himself and en-
couraged in those about him. To this
good deal of the vigor of his old age
is undoubtedly due.
Speaking of physical powers, he once
said to me:
Il think preserve my strength by
outstanding it; if am obliged to sit up
late at night, | always rise proportion
ately late the following morning; and l
never do, and never have done,
stroke of work on Sunday"
On another occasion we were discuss
ing the use and abuse OF wine. he
said, on being questioned:
"When | am at mental work | re-
quire and take certain portion of
wine; but | can, and do, work hard
with my hands while only taking
water"
1t was generally at dinner parties
that | met the prime minister, and |
noticed that he was very moderate
eater and drinker, yet without the least
atfectation of abstemiousness.
The topic of conversation at one din
uer party which | remember was Bis
marcI. For time Mr.. Gladstone was
silent. then suddenly turning to me,
said.
If Cavour had had the same theatre
as Bismarck he would have been a
more distinguished man."
About his sixty-eighth or sixty-ninth
year the great statesman began to look
old; he did not stoop. his step had not
lost tirmness, but his face became deep
ly lined, furrowed and careworn, his
eye less bright, though it could still
flash with suddenly lit fire.
As man, there is none better living;
his whole career in private life has
been one of austere virture. -Ltpptn-