Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-15
Gladstone in Downing Street.


 ''No. 10" Downing street is externally rather mean and shabby looking two- story house, with nothing whatever about it to indicate the official dignity of it's occupant On stepping inside, however, the strangers idea of it's extent begins to expand. The street door opens into hall, large, square, and decidedly dark, with good fire burning in an open grate, an old-fashioned clock hoarsely ticking on one side of it, an old fashioned lamp swinging from the ceiling, a side table, chair or two, an umb brella stand, and few mats on it's stone floor. From the hall one sees down long red-carpeted pas sage straight in front, and there is another leading away at right angles with it to the laft. The vistas presented by these two pas sages afford an idea of extent somewhat worthier of the importance of the place than that likely to be received from the outside, and when the visitor be- gins to explore the premises he soon finds them very extensive and rather bewildering. From what has been said of the history of the place it would be readily supposed that these amalgamated houses have some of the merits and some of the faults of old-fash- toned domiciles. One gets a general sense of rather depressing gloom, of old-fashioned responsibility, rather than anything very pompous or imposing, and, though the place is generally characterized by some inconven- ient features, it is pervaded by certain quiet and comfortable dignity of appearance. Proceeding down the passage facing the hall door the visitor may be ushered into the din ing room, rather sombre apartment, fur nished in style in no degree above what may be found in most houses of the upper middle class. Near this room on the ground floor is an equally sombre room, fitted up and furnished as library, and 8 double door opening from the same passage admits the curious explorer to that rather awful chamber in which so much of the worlds history has been made for generations past-the council room. It is here that the momentous Cabi- net meetings of Downing street are held. Beyond two pairs of fine fiuted columns-just enough to give little architectural dignity to the chamber-there is nothing but the as- sociations Of the room to attract any atten- tion. There is a long table and rows of ma hogany leather-covered chairs down each side, and very little else. This famous coun- cil chamber overlooks the parade ground at the back of the Horse Guards, and it's ap- pearance, both outside and in is vastly less imposing than many bank house room in the city council chamber in a country town hall.
 Up stairs it is very much as down below. The place is everywhere very unimposing and unpreJ6QOln8- put TOT the most part rather gloomy and nowhere grand. MT. Gladstone has a pleasant, cosy study over looking St. James, Park and the parade ground. It is, of course, replete with books and pictures, but it is nothing more than a comfortable study. There are two drawing rooms, separated with double folding doors which may be thrown open on special occa- sions. making tolerably large and effective saloon. The drawing room ordinarily used by the PreAier and family is light and pleasant apartment overlooking the park, and comfortably furnished with just about the ordinary style of furniture and knicknacks to be found in most upper class houses. MT. Gladstone's working room is a large and rather sparsely furnished apart ment, which, strictly speaking, belongs to the Chancellor of the Excheauer's part of the premises. It is here that the Premier trans acts business with his secretaries or others who may have to do with him. In addition to the rooms that have been mentioned there are others devoted to the use of the Liberal Whip and his secretaries, and there are, of course, the rooms occupied by the Prime Ministers secretaries. The whole. place, it may be added, is directly connected with the Treasury at Whitehall by narrow staircase at the back of the house.
 Altogether, this official residence is quite a bewildering agglomeration of business and domestic apartments, but apart from the associations of the house there is nothing in it very striking or noteworthy. If it were