The Indianapolis journal., 1884-06-13
THE GLADSTONE Family.
How 1t Appears when Attending Service AT
an Aristooratio Church.

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 their seats there was some
little stir at the door of the chapel, evidently
somewhat of a crowd were there to catch sight Of
the right honorable gentleman. The son who
came with the father and mother lives, or
has for some years nved, in India. He has
been rather the black sheep of the family, so
it has been reported, and has not got on in
the world as the other sons have done. He has
been disinclined to be gnided by reins in
his fathers hands, and has always champed
the bit. The other sons have been dutiful and
unressting. 1t is understood that Mr. Glad
stone, 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 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 reported to be a pious and innocent parson,
who does the routine duties of an English coun-
try parson, and finding favor with both God and
man. The hopes of the family are centered in
Herbert the youngest son. Herbert is a real
nice, good boy He did very well III college, and
had no career marked out for him, although 1t
was known that both father and mother
had set their hearts upon a political
life for him. The liberal constituency
of Leeds was casting about for
candidate, when intimation was given that Mr..
Gladstone would like his son to be returned TO
the House of Commons, and the Liberals of the
Yorkshire capital accepted this real nice, good
boy as a standard 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 genous for political
affairs and when he has made speeches they
have been rather conspicuous for the extreme
youthfulness of their matter and methods The
Liberal press has more than once rather apollo
gized for his public appearances and utterances.
But to return to Mr. Gadstone-or rather, let
me in passing speak word of Mrs. Gladstone.
We are always curious to know something of the
domestic life of great men, and wish to know if
the wife has had any part in the husbands sue
cess. 1t is always said that Mrs. Gladstone
has been n helpmeet indeed and one
would be led to this opinion from the sweet
wfely, motherly expression of her countenance.
Mrs. Gladstone does not look older than
American lady commonly does at fifty. Her
hair is almost black, and her face is almost free
Of lines and wrinkles English women of the
last generation dressed hideously, as the major
ity 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 seeing her
that she Is of bourgeois 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 Sunday she
was really acuriosity. Her face is uncommonly
sweet and spiritual. Her smile tells the story of
true and gentle heart But -. Why
puffed- out hair; the big ill-shaped bonnet, with
the old-fashioned spotted black VEIL long
rather rusty, velvet cloak with wide fur trim
mings and ungloved hands, did not seem suita-
BILE to the face. During the service when Mrs.
Gladstone removed her cloak, she put ON light
coarsely knitted worsted shawl, and then, to
me, the picture Of odds and ends seemed com
pete. But to Mr.. Gladstone; L was panied to
see him. He shuffied into the chapel and into
his pew with a quick, nervous ill-regulated
step, that indicated strength of will trying to
overcome weakness of limb. He looked two
inches shorter than he did four years ago. His
face is full of crows feet. Lines and wrinkles
run in every direction upon it, and if he were
one hundred years old his face could not be
more wien and worn. This withered, pinched
face, with its great, penetrating, restless eyes,
was almost weird. [ sat Immediately facing the
prime minister and within ten feet of him, and l
must say-l am bound to say-that his presence
panied me all the while | was in the chapel. He
is man with great trouble on his mind, or
else no face in this world ever told the story of
trouble. When he closed his eyes in prayer
and | peeped several times to see-there was
almost an agony ON his countenance He was so
uneasy and restless when standing up so
idgetty 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 fancy no
one pays any considerable attention to these
scandals. For one, believe he is socially as pure
as sunlight or snowflake is pure But this need
less bloodshed in Egypt seems to haunt his soul
a spectre and he is like all of indom-
table will; he just falls short of great will
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 wofu]ly wrong, and he cannot consent to
acknowledge it and retrace his steps, 1t is well
known to Mr.. Gladstone's friends that he keenly
felt being hissed at the opening ceremonial of
the Health Exhibition and tits said that he
realizes that his political is ending rather
in shame than in glory He holds his following
through the sheer strength of his magnificent
past record. Mr.. Gladstone is said to be de-
vout man, and L should say that his manner
during the service was one of reverence and
piety, but his mind was for the most part of the
time, preoeeupied. He was dressed as he
always is when have seen him. neatly, but not
in the best taste. His enormous straight and
rigid collar always disfgures him.