The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-11-29
A STATESMAN'S HOME.
The Beautiful Place at Hawarden Inhabi.
ted by Mr.. Gladstone.

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 administer public
affairs.
Mr.. Gladstone's country home is at
Hawarden, 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 it's
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 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-
can visitors, who naturally think that.all
castles must be like those described in
Sir Walter SCOTS 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 retired
merchant of the last generation might
have built. Indeed, we believe il was
built by Mrs. Gladstone's grandfather,
who was an alderman of Liverpool.
The aesthetic visitor is cOnsoled by a
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-
venient and comfortable.
1t may be said, perhaps, that these
two edilices well represent their present
proprietor, who is himself nineteenth
century man, yet cherishes u wise re-
gard for the fourteenth. We say a wise
regard He values the ivy-mantled
ruin, without forgetting that it is 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
eau was of opinion that we moderns
have too many things" He was never
tired of laughing at the man who, when
he was advised to 90 South for the cure
of his consumption, cried out in pitt
full tone:
But what shall do with my furni-
ture?"
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 bust, a statu-
cite, an easy chair, or q book. He is
full
The charm of Hawarden, as of every
other noted European house,is its park.
For many centuries the English people
have had a particular taste for rural
DCduIN wv lilS W lllc ltlCG JHbb inc UcluOS
of powerful families have always been
in the country. If you were to 90
through the whole of Burke's Pocrage
and ask every person mentioned in
it, Where dc. you live, my lord?" not
one Of them would answer London"
They have ''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 the
most exquisite thing to be seen in the
world.
Mr.. Gladstone delights chiefly in his
trees, and he likes them too well to let
them fall into decay. When tree has
reached its perfect growth he rejoices to
| cut it down with his own hands and a
good American AK. He has 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 the
instrument made in New England, and
developed to perfection by two centuries
of battle with the primeval forest.
Our wish is that every worthy states
man had as suitable and as restful
home as Hawarden Castle YOUTHS
Companion.