The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-11-27
A HOME.
The Beautiful Place at Hawarden Inhai
ted by MI. Gladstone.

A STATESMAN'S HOME.
The Beautiful Place at Hawarden InhaLi.
ted by Mr.. Gladstone.
English statesmen generally enjoy an
advantage not always possessed by those
of our own land in having country es-
tates to which they can retire when out
Of office, and occasionally while in
Office.
No one can attain to the full measure
of harmonious manhood who is totally
severed from the soil, the common
source of health and wealth; and surely,
if any man should have an advantageous
lot, it is those who administ er public
affairs.
Mr.. G~ladstone's country home is at
Hawarden, a beautiful parish in the
county of Flint, within sight and sound
of the Irish sea-. Flint, or Flintshire, is
the smallest county in Wales, but not
the least attractive. one-third of its
extent is owned by thirteen proprietors,
of whom the Premier ranks second in
the number of his acres. Lord Hammer
has seven thousand three hundred and
eighteen, and Mr. Gladstone six thou
sand nine hundred and eight acres.
Except a well-wooded park, this estate
is divided into farms, which are let to
tenants upon long leases, at a rent
of something like ten dollars an acre.
This rent, however, has of late years been
subject to serious reduction, owing to
an extraordinary series of four bad har-
vests. Such an estate would usually
yield the proprietor about forty thou
sand dollars . year.
The house in which Mr.. Gladstone
lives is called Hawarden Castle. Ameri-
a visitors, who naturally think that,all
castles must be like those described in
Sir Walter Scott's poems and novels,
are disappointed in finding this one an
imitation castle, built only fifty or sixty
years ago, a plain, roomy house with
sham battlements, such as a retired
merchant of the last generation might
have built. Indeed, we believe it was
built by Mrs. Gladstone's grandfather,
who was an alderman of Liverpool.
The aesthetic visitor is consoled by q
sight of the real Hawarden Castle, an
ivory-mantled ruin, which lifts its green
and venerable front in full view Of the
inhabited mansion, which has nothing
to recommend it except that it is con-
yenient and comfortable.
It may be said, perhaps, that these
two edifices well represent their present
proprietor, who is himself a nineteenth
century man, yet cherishes a wise re-
gard for the fourteenth. We say a wise
regard. He values the ivy-mantled
ruin, without forgetting that it is a ruin,
and lives in the ugly house which has
the modern improvements.
Mr.. Thoreau would not approve the
interior of Mr.. Gladstone's abode. Thor
a was of opinion that we moderns
have too many "things." He was never
tired of laughing at the mar who, when
he was advised to 60 South for the cure
of his consumption, cried out in a pitt
full tone:
"But what shall I do with my furni.
tureP"
From the picture published some time
ago of Mr.. Gladstone's library, we
should conclvde it useless for any friend
or admirer to give him a bust, a statu-
cite, an easy chair, or a book. He is
full.
The charm of Hawarden, as of every
other noted European house,is its park,
For many centuries the English people
udfO q q PdibiCuldl bdobC " luld
beauty, owing to the fact that the home:
of powerful families have always beer
in the country. If you were to go
through the whole of Burke's Peerage
and ask every person mentioned in
it, '.Where do you live, my lordp" not
one of them would answer London
They have s'houses" in London; but
their homes are where the birds sing
Hence, age after age, the taste of the
Nation has exhausted itself in develop
ing and displaying the loneliness of the
country, until an English park is thu
most exquisite thing to be seen in tn,
world.
; MI. Gladstone delights chiefly in hi
trees, and he likes them too well to lie
) them fall into decay. When a tree ha.
reached its perfect growth he r~ejoices t.
cut it down with his W hands and
|, good American ak. He has a choice
collection of thirty axes, many of which
. have been sent to him by persons sym
/, pathizing with his love of the wood
mans craft. For his own chopping
. however, he will have no ak but tn,
: instrument made in New England, ant
, developed to perfection by two ~centurie
! of battle with the primeval forest.
: Our wish is that every worthy states
: man had as suitable and as restful
> home as Hawarden Castle.-YouM'
Companion.