The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-08
GLADSTONE IN DOWNING STREET.
The Famous Building in Which Great Deal
of History Has been Made.


of History Has been Made.
London Daily News.
mo. 10" Downing-street is externally rather
a mean and shabby looking two-story house,
with nothing whatever about it to indicate the
official dignity of its occupant. On stepping in
side, however, the strangers ideas of its extent
at least begin to expand. The street door opens
into hall, large, square, and decidedly dark,
with a good fire burning in an open CRATE, an
old-fashioned clock hoarsely ticking on one side
of 1T, an old fashioned lamp swinging from the
ceiling, side table, chair or two an umbrella
stand, and few mats on its stone floor. From
this hall one sees down long red-carpeted pas
sage straight in front, and there is another lead
ing away at right angles with it to the left. The
yistas presented by these two passages afford an
idea of extent somewhat worthier OF the import
ance of the place than that likely to be received
from the outside. and when the visitor begins to
explore the premises he soon finds them very ex
tensiye and rather bewildering. From what has
been said of the history of the place it will be
readily supposed that these amalgamated houses
have some of the merits and some of the faults
of old fashioned domicies. One gets a general
sense of rather depressing gloom, of old fash
toned responsibility, rather than of anything
very pompous or imposing and, though the place
generally is characterized by some inconyenient
features, it is pervaded by a certain quiet and
comfortable dignity of appearance. Proceeding
down the passage facing the hall door the visitor
may be ushered into the dining room, rather
sombre apartment, furnished In style in no de-
gree above what may be found in most houses of
the upper middle class Near this room on the
ground floor is an equally solnbre room, fitted up
and furnished as a library, and double door
opening from the same passage admits the curl
Gus explorer to that rather awful chamber in
which SO much of the worlds history has been
made for generations past-the council room 1t
is here that the mOnentouS cabinet meetings of
Downing street are held. Beyond two pairs of
fine futed columns-just enough to give little
architectural dignity to the ehamber-there is
nothing but the associations of the room to at
tract any attention. There is a long table and
rows of mahogany leather-covered chairs down
each side, and very little else. This famous
council chamber oyerlooks the parade ground at
the back of the Horse Guards, and its appear
ance, both outside and in, is vastly less imposing
than many bank house room in the city or
council chamber In country town hall.
Up stairs it is very much as down below. The
place is everywhere very unimposing and I'M
pretending comfortable, but for the most part
rather gloomy and nowhere grand. Mr. Glad
stone has pleasant, coy study overlooking ST
James's Park and the parade ground. 1t is, of
course, repete with books and pictures but it is
nothing more than comfortable study. There
are two drawing rooms, separated with double
folding doors which may be thrown open on
special occasions making a tolerably large and
effective saloon. The drawing room ordinarily
| used by the Premier and family is light and
pleasant apartment overlooking the park and
comfortably furnished with just about the ord-
nary style or furniture and knlcknackS to be
found in most upperelass houses Mr.. Glad
stones working is large and rather
sparsely furnished apartment, which, strictly
speaking, belongs to the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer's part of the premises. 1t is here that
the Premier transacts business with mis- score
| taries or others who may have to do with him.
In addition to the rooms that have been men
toned there others devoted to the use of the
| Liberal Whip and his secretaries and there are
| of course, the rooms occupied by the Prime Min
| listers secretaries. The whole place, it may be
added, is directly connected with the Treasury
| in Whitehall by a narrow staircase at the back
| of the house.
| Altogether, this official residence is quite be
| wildering agglomeration of business and do
| nestle apartments, but apart from the associa-
lions of the house there is really nothing in it
! very striking or noteworthy. If it were pro-
| posed tomorrow to set up official residence
| for the Prime Minister of the British empire
| nobody would for moment dream of such a
| place this for the purpose. So very plain and
| unpretentious dwelling this would be felt to
/ be quite out of keeping with the dignity of the
virtual ruler of England, but whether or not
| Mr.. Gladstone is dissatisfied with his accommo-
dation we are not informed. The suggestion
/ that Dover House should be taken for the pur-
pose of an official residence originated, we have
| reason to believe, not with the Prime Minister
| but with the Office of Works, the lease having
! RECENTLY fallen into the hands of the crown
Whether the change VII. be made is as Jet, we
understand, altogether unsettled anu hu those
| who are best informed is considered to be very
! doubtful