Morning journal and courier., 1884-09-02
MT. Gladstone Under A Mellow Light.

Recently at the Hawarden Horticultural show Mrs. Gladstone distributed the prizes and MT. Gladstone, who was present, made a speech in reply to an allusion to him by one of the officials of the society. MT. Gladstone said:
 Ladies and gentlemen, friends and neigh bors, think it would be a great pity if this occasion, which is the anniversary of our garden society, should degenerate and be corrupted into celebration of anything per sonal even to my wife and much more to my self. Laughter But as MT. Johnson has been so kind as to mention me, I would offer my best thanks for that and many other acts of friendship on this and other occasions. But would have felt still more grateful to him if, instead of suggesting that I should go on working until dropped laughter], he had suggested the hope that I might en- joy little repose in my old age like other people. That is becoming rather serious question for me, because after all whatever the bounty of Providence in point of health and strength, and to me it has been certainly very remarka- ble-as compared with the lives of others ln the same way of life-yet time is an impe- rious master, and he will leave his mark up on you, say and do what you will and to the law of decline and decay all must submit. The marks of it, though I know have them comparatively mildly, are still gathering upon me. One gentleman called out, Pass the Franchise Bill" The rule upon these occa- sions is to have no politics. Laughter, and a voice: ''We are all of one mind" As the subject has been mentioned I can assure you that it lies very near my heart, as I believe it lies near the heart of the people of England and to the people of the three kingdoms, and moreover, I will say this, that believe when the thing is done everybody will rejoice in it, and everybody will be the better for it, and everybody will feel it was time to forget all their squabbles about it, and that this act of justice and wisdom will give increased inter est to a large part of the population, and make the nation stronger, more united, and more attached than ever to the throne and to the laws of the land. We have now done with politics, but I have not done with my wife. [Laughterl. I do not understand why the ladies are not allowed on these occasions to speak for themselves. They are getting on in the world. Their case is looking up, and there is no saying what they won't get into their hands by-and-by. Laughter. l Why, in the past, when their position was not so recognized as it is now, everybody knows that they had tongues in their heads, and consequently it is under protest that make bold to thank you in my wifes name.
 But seriously for myself, for her, and for our family, I can assure you that these are occasions of very great interest. A village society of this kind is a very quiet thing, and attracts very little to itself, but it does an enormous deal of good look at it which way you will. First of all, I must say it is a great sign of virtuous industry, because the interesting part of these societies and of this show is that part-and I am happy to hear it is large and fourishing one-is that part which comes from the cottagers and the labor ing population of this country. 1 once, from this place, advised farmers to think whether they could not turn the subject of fruit and flowers cries of "Jam'l to account. I am happy to say that that has spread to this country. Some people laugh at it, but it's not thing to be laughed at at all; not to be laughed at without consideration. It Itrequires great deal of arrangement, great deal of capital, and great deal of industry before it can be done on large scale, but it is growing and the more it grows the better it will be for us all. You cannot,increase the quantity of food too much in this country, because the quantity of mouths is increasing continually. Although I am 8 free trader, and am very glad that food should come to us from all countries in the world, if I had the choice, I would rather it was grown in this country. But let it come. Farmers are a most i'm portant class, and they have had great diff culties to encounter. I hope and trust the season which the goodness of the Almighty has given us will dc something toward bring ing about better turn in their affairs. rejoice to think, too, that all who buy their bread are likely to have plenty of it, good in quality, and low in price, and it is an enor- nous blessing to the country. But as re gards the cultivation of your little gardens and of fruit, l hope we shall never rest until every cottage in this country shall have a garden. rejoice to see that most of them have now, and hope they will make use of them. It is not only their industry, but it is an extremely profitable undertaking. There is no doubt about that. There is probably no labor better invested than the labor of cottagers in their own gardens. The profits they get by industry and skill for compara- lively small amount of work are very large, and the labor is interesting. Though it is labor, it is labor accompanied with great deal of pleasure. There is not one of you, I am sure, who keeps garden who does not heartily enjoy seeing the growth of what he has planted and cultivated. It is labor ex- cellent for the mind excellent for the body, and useful for the community, because it in creases the quantity of what is useful and beautiful, and let nobody despise the culti- vation of flowers. There is nothing more touching in this country than to see how hu- man nature clings to beauty in it's innocent and delightful forms. How often, in the most densely crowded towns, people try if they can to cultivate few flowers, and put them in their windows. These are excellent pursuits, and we rejoice to see and to know that on every side they are fourishing among you. I hope they will flourish more and more Rely upon it, we feel these grounds can never be turned to better account; they can never give so much pleasure to us as when our pleasure is shared among our friends and neighbors, and there can be nc better kind of sharing it than when you gath CT together to celebrate the anniversary of the Hawarden Horticultural society. [Cheers.