The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1885-02-20
w. Il. GLADSTONE.
HE Personal Appearance-Dress and
Manner OF Speech.


his boots, and, although he will be
eeventy-five years OF age the 29ih OF
the current December, he is straight
and alert. He is broad-shouldered,
well-mada, and h-s al. the signs
about him well-preserved constitu-
ton. He is a man who would attract
notice anywhere. He is distinguished
and unusual in appearance and bear
ing. Mr.. Gladstone has an uncom-
monty large head, and high, broad
forehead. llis..eyes are mysterious.
They are set lar back in his head ,and
yet they are great orbs rolling rest
lcssly and with intense piercing out
60 at times. ] saw him in the house
OF commons Ole night, listening 20
Lord Randolph hnrchill on the vote
of censure when he was piling up ac-
cusations ami damaging facts against
Gladstone for n.s conduct OF affairs
in Egypt. lie VAS on a high horse
and was pouring hot shot into the
prime minister. and Gladstone's eyes
had the fire oil hell in them. His
eyes were in llsnzy OF Indignation
and anger. ! newer saw such eyes as
are in this mans head. AT times they
are the eyes OF a devil. | have often
wondered Why Mr.. Gladstone is so
difficult man to converse with. lie
is always preoccupied, and yet he is
afiable. lie Is seldom with you when
he is talking to you. His mind is off
elsewhere. | have noticed him in
conversation with important and per-
haps illustrious people and still his
mind seemed. absent. But his ewes
are terror. They are so unearthly
that they give one sometimes the
impression OF being pfeterEalural.
/ Mr.. Gladstone 5 face is large, bony,
swarthy, and fnll OF crows feet. But
head and face and features are all
massive and majestic.
He dresses like a gentleman. In
the commons lac IL frequently in full
evening dress, and when he is in.
tending to speak he is very nattily
gotten up, and always wears on such
occasions butionho.e bouquet. On
the streets and before the dinner hour
in the commons he wears-as do
most elderly Enslisllmen-a double
breasted high cut frock coat and
lightish trowsers. OF course he al
WAYS wears stoyepipe silk hat, and
IL one OF the first in the spring to don
white hat and white waistcoat
There are tive aell-known gentlemen
in England who are very noted for
the monstrous sails or acres OF white
linen they wear about their neeks-
namely, Mr.. Gladstone and Mr..
Henry Irving saw Mr. Gladstone
in the t.comnon one night At the
opening OF the session when lie was
outlining the policy and programme
of the ministry. He was in full even
ing dress, and had large button
hole bouquet OF lilies, which stuck
up under his ear and was no end OF
annoyance to him. 1t is said-in
whispcr-that Gladstone hates this
big bunch OF flowers in his buttonhole
when he is speaking, but that his
adoring and considerate vile insists
upon il. Added TO the misch, ,ef max
ing nosegay was what seemed 10 me
the further bother of an immense
collar. This collar stands high up
and rigidly stiff, touching the low
est points OF his ears.
Mr.. Gladstone speaks like most
men OF genius. In conversation he
is moody. At one time he is brilliant
and rapid in his speech, at another
he is commonplace and hesitating.
Now he glowingly discourses, and
again his fire is all out and there is
nothing but dull ashes remaining.
In public discourse he is equally un-
certain of himself and his audiences
never know quite what TO expect. He
has q gigantic, c,eveimasteriDg will and
this is brought TO his aid on ali great
occasions, when he is always great.
He whips up his forces, pulls to sether
his tagging energies, and makes IA
powerful, rafting speech whenever
there is a critical or supreme neces-
sity. When chancellor Of the ex-
chequer, il he was under the national
pressure to put little more tax upon
the rate payers, he could make a
budget speech OF compact figures
glow and glisen like fire or jewels.
Parliament would vote any measure
OF taxation after listening TO Glad
stone state figures and schedules as
though he were showering diamonds
all over the House. His speech is
both thol oughly English and thor
oughly un English. 1t is English in
its caution and prudence. No man
living so qualities and hedges every
statement he makes. He uses iniin-
ite verbiage. His sentences are long,
but never involved. His use OF words
is precise, academic and forceful.
lie has no raggedness OF construc-
tim. He never loses the track OF his
pominative case, although it may be
out of gunshot of his verb. Ills
speech is clearly sincere expression
OF his mind and heart. This you feel
when you listen to him. He may
say untenable things, and he may
arouse in you antagonism to his
theories, but never to himself. During
a campaign he will speak daily, twice
On IN average, and will speak from
one to two hours at Il stretch. His
Illustrations are drawn from classic
literature, from analogies OF history
iad rom contemporary life. He has
Rite humor. never heard him but
ancc when he really succeeded in