The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-01
BEEcHER AND GLADSTONE.
How the Brooklyn Preacher Was Impressed
by the Premfer's OEatIons.

How the Brookayn Preacher Was Impressed
by the Premrer's orations.
Cable Special
Mr. Beecher referred to his Liverpool expert
ences with evident pleasure He said that he
himself had had very gracious reception on the
platform before Mr. Gladstone came in. and had
felt greatly pleased and f1attered with the hearty
welcome given to him by the vast audience
While seated the platform, he said he had
been invited to repair to the ante-room in order
to meet Mr.. Gladstone, which he did with pleas
ure. mir. Gladstone, his wife and daughter"
said aMr Beecher, came into the room He
shook hands with me very cordially and al
though Mrs. Gladstone would not allow her hus-
band to say anything on account of9mserseness
and to save him for his speech, we haI 1everthe
less, a few words together.
81 found Mr. Gladstone" Mr.. Beecher con-
tipued, tic be medium sized man. He is not
SO short as had anticipated. lie is extremely
we'll built. He is of nervous temperament
His head is remarkably broad over the top, in
the moral regions. His brow is not massive
as perhaps might be expected, but it is wide,
with prominent perceptive faculties, well bal
anced, also by the reflective faculties The
chest stomach indicate both the building and
recuperative powers of man. His voice is not
heard to the best advantage when he speaks in
large halls. The work of the Scotch campaign
which he had gone through had made him some
what husky when he appeared at Liverpool,
although that impediment gradually cleared as
the excitement brought up his nervous tone
His voice has extensive compass, but Is strong
est in the middle tones. 1t has what may be
styled the tenor baritone quality In carriage
and manners he is neither stately nor any way
remarkably impressive. He was familiar, genial
simple"
mr.. Gladstone's speech" Mr.. Beecher said
s'taking it from beginning to end in its relation
to its interior qualities and the purposes for
which he spoke, was mosG admirable. His dis
course rolled on from topic to topic without any
formal confederation and had the charm OF va
riety and unartfciality. 1t was very convinc-
ing presentation OF the great question of homo
rule for Ireland 1t was preceded by replies to
the criticism that had been made upon him by
his opponents. In answering objections, criti-
csms gave way tosevere retorts, yelled in humor
blows, straight out and downward. they seemed.
however, 20 be delivered with gloves He did
not exhibit wit, but the delicate bloom of bumor,
in many Of the most effective passages. notably
in the beginning and at the end. The impression
produced on my mind was that he spoke from
his own deepest convictions, with intensity and
with great feeling underlying every part OF his
speech His grounds were moral grounds. His
speech was full of meaning passages addressed
to the imagination and to the feelings OF his
audience. But these were not artful; they were
simply choice words to bring the audiencero the
knowledge OF the truth Without apparent pre-
meditation came passages up and down through
the whole of the mastery discourse which touch
| the deepest feelings of mans soul.
ssWhen all this is said" added Mr.. Beecher,
tit describes simply act of Gladstone, but
| no Gladstone himself. He is a man of vast and
varied eruditon, yet not dry scholiast He is
| not a technical encyclopedia of dates and facts
though he is familiar with them all L am told
| that he could make an address in modern Greek
in Athens. in the purest Italian In Florence, in
classical Latin in Rome. in German at Berlin anc
! in the purest Frcnch at Paris All subjects thai
| interest human nature seem to find In him ar
interpreter 1t is not meant by this that he is
/ expert, nor an authority in any one Of these de
! partments, but any man that is master to de
gree of the facts and philosophy in each of these
| departments. when kindled upon a great pub
lie question that enlists his heart and soul
shines down upon his andience like the Ugh
through Cathedral window made mp of all col
ors the sun can produce. and it's brilliance, anS
richness. and strange. and weird effects must b
witnessed they cannot be described.
81 regard Mr. Gladstone" Mr. Beecher con
Guided. ''as by far the most notable man ii
Great Britain, as by far the most comprehen
svely educated the most profusely moral ans
religious, the most philosophical and earnes
speaking man on the GLOBE