The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1885-05-30
HAWARDEy.

The Beautiful Home Of Mr.. Gladstone.
English statesmen generally enjoy an
advantage not always possessed by those
of our own land in having country
.states to which they can retire when
out OF Office, and occasionally while in
office.
Noone can attain to the full measure
of harmonious manhood who is totally
severed from the soil, the common
source Of health and wealth; and sure
~ lfany man should have an advanta-
geous lot, it is those who admipist er
public affairs.
Mr.. Gladstone's country home is
Hawarden. beautiful parish in the
county Of Flint, within sight and sound
OF the Irish sea. Flint, or FHntshire.
Is the smallest county in Wales, but
not the least attractive One-tlir.l of
ITS extent is owned by thirteen propri-
etors, Of whom the Premier ranks sec
ond III The number of his acres. Lord
Hammer has 1913, and Mr.. Gladstone
6,9O3 acres
Except a well-wooded park, this
estate IS divided into farms, which are
let to tenants upon long leases, at a
rent OF something like ten dollars an
acre. This rent, however has of late
years been subject to 8 serious reduc-
tion, owing to the extraordinary series
OF four bad harvests. Such an estate
would usually yield the proprietor
about forty thousand a 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, plain, roomy house, with
sham battlements, such as retired
merchant Of the last generation might
have bnllt. Indeed, we believe it was
built by Mrs. Gladstone's grandfather,
who was an Alderman of Liverpool.
The aesthetic visitor is consoled by q
sight OF the real Hawarden Castle, AL
ivy-mantled ruin, which lifts it's 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.
It may be said, perhaps, that these
two ediiices we'll represent their pres
ent proprietor who Is himself q nine
teenth century man, yet cherishes q
wise regard for the fourteenth. We
say wise regard. He values the ivy
mansled ruin, not forgetting that it is
rnin, and livessin tile ugly house which
has the modern improvements.
Mr.. Thoreau would not approve the
interior of Mr. Gladstone's abode.
.Thoreau was of the opinion that We
moderns have too many things" He
was never tired Of laughing At the man
who, when he was advised to go South
for the cure of his consumption, cried
out, IN pitiful tone:
"But what shall do with my furni-
ture?"
From the picture published some
time ago of Mr.. Gladstone's- library,
we should conclude it useless for any
friend o. adnlirer to give him bust
q statuette, an easy chair, or a book.
He is full
The charm of Hawarden, as of every
other noted European house, is it's
park. For many centuries the English
people have had particular taste for
rural beauty, owing to the fact that the
homes Of powerful families have always
been in the country. If you we're to go
through the whole OF BurAe's Peer
in it, Where do you live, my lord?"
not one Of them would answer, "Lon-
dom" f
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 loseliness 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 we'll to let
them fill into decay. When a tree has
reached its perfect growth he reioices
to cut it down with his own hands and
q good American ak. He has choice
collection of thirty axes, many of them
have been sent to him bv persons
sympathizing with his love of the
woodman's 5 craft. For his own chop
ping, 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
homo as Hawarden Castle.-ToutA's
Companion.
TINE may obliterate the novels and
make them mansions; it may also make
Christians sinners and poor men mill
ionaires; but it can never take away the
man by the grocery stove, who has just