The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-31

organ, runs parallel with Lord Palmerston,
who had long lease of power after the age of
seventyfve years, whose supremacy was
tranquil, and who dominated the House Of
Commons with an Olymplan nonchalance.
ut certainly seems odd, said an ex-Ameriean
statesman to-day to your correspondent, that
the very newspapers which bemoan the difficult
ties and dangers of the British Empire. brought
about by the government are to-day the iouoest
In praising the grand old man.
The Echo a Radical paper praises him with
many 'Ifs," and blames him for yielding too
much to his Cabinet.
Five hours from London by rail to-day brought
your correspondent to the quaintest city IN Eng
iand-Chester A further ride of five miles in a
hanson brought him under the impressive bat
dement's of peaceful Hawarden Castle, where
Mr.. Gladstone was found quietly celebrating the
day, surrounded by his family. After half
century of parliamentary life the Prime Minis
ter feels that he has earned the right to decline
public ovations and this right he vigorously
used to-day, much to the disappointment of
many public bodies that sought to address him.
The festivities of the day were strictly of a
family nature, with the exception in favor OF
forty old women of the parish, who were invited
to tea at the castle in honor of the day. by the
Premers son. the Rev. Stephen Gladstone,
rector of the little Hawarden church that shows
its gothic tower from behind the trees adjoining
his fathers estate.
Perhaps the most interesting person in the lit
tie gathering was the lady whom the young
=
daughter of a Liverpool doctor of large practice
and means, but a savage Tory; but MIR. Glad
stone forgives her sire, remembering that he was
born in Liverpool was educated In the Tory
faith and for some time practiced it. The mar
Iiage promises to be happy one in all respects,
even as regards money, for young Mr.. Gladstone
draws over SIS, 900 year from his church work.
Not a bad beginning for a young bridegroom OF
promise. The road from Hawarden Castle to
Chester was alive from morning to night with
special messengers to the Prime Minister. Ills
rooms were Uttered with birthday gifts of every
description, from some 200 correspondents. l
should say, from pen-wiper to silver ak
Every country of the world seemed to have
chosen a representative article as tribute to
his genius and courage. His daughter, who re
lieved the venerable Premier of the chief work
Of entertaining the callers, referred with pardon
able pride to the striking evidence OF the people
love for him, especially among those far away
who had never seen or heard him. The day was
wholly de Old Of public in ident Their were no
triumphant arches or gatherings. 1t was day
of pure family recreation to Mr. Gladstone,
while to the English people at large it has been
the occasion for burst of national eulogy and
congratulation such as no British statesman has
evoked from the press or the people at any time
before.
AIR. Gladstone, in spite of his seventy FIVE
years, looked younger man than most hard
worked New Workers. at fifty. He had his
slight stoop and his hair fast turning white, but
his eve was bright and his mouth firm and his
hand. whether with pen or AK, as steady as ever.
His conversation which in copiousness resem-
bles that of Charles Sumner. and in critical
nicely that of Roscoe Conkling, shows not the
faintest trace of senility. He was, of course,
unwilling to have any subject preached that in
any way resembled politics, and the conversation
was naturally of purely personal and domestic
interest America played humorous part on
the platform of the Chester Railway Station in
defense of Mr.. Gladstone's ak victories, the de-
fender asserting the dignity of the act by refer
ence to Washington with his youthful Ratchet,
Horace Greedy at Chappaqua, and Abraham
Lincoln splitting rails-two Presidents and a
candidate.