The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-10-08
MIR. Gladstone's Home.

Mr. GlauStOne'S HOmCs
Annie S. Downs in the Christian at Work.
Six miles from Chester, in Flintshire,
Wales, is Hawarden Castle, the resi-.
dence of Mr.. Gladstone, but the
property OF his wife, who inherited
it from her father, Sir Stephen Glynne.
Spelled Hawarden, it is always called,
when pronounced correctly, Harden.
The parish OF Hawarden numbers
about $4,000 acres, and OF these
5000 belong to the Gladstone estate.
The village, in itself, neither pretty
nor picturesque, is outside the gates
OF the park, which stretches away
grandly from the manor house. Oaks,
lines, or lindens and elms are thickly
set over the grounds, and at the left,
on commanding height, is the
ruin OF the ancient castle, which,
with its magnificent ivy and it's
traditions of more than ten centu-
ries, looks down somewhat haugh-
tily upon its castelated successor,
which is now the home OF the greatest
living statesman OF the age. There
can be no doubt but that Mr. Glad
stone is the most eminent of all the
owners OF Hawarden, though they
have been De Montforts, Montholts
and Stanleys. The last lost it when
Earl Lorne was beheaded in 1867.
A Sergeant Glynne bought it under
the Susquestration act passed by
Parliament in the same year, and for
song. He was an ancestor of Mrs.
Gladstone's, and his portrait hangs
over the mantel in her drawing room,
but she snotvery proud OF his record,
At the northern end OF the village is
the church, a plain, low building, with
squatty tower and q dwarf spire.
Its interior hasing been totally de.
stroyed by fire about thirty years
since, 1T has been restored at great
cost and with some taste.
OF this church the Premier's second
son, Stephen Gladston, is rector, and
the living is SAID to be worth $4,000
a year, exclusive OF the rectory. Mr.
Stephen Gladstone is an earnest and
instructive preacher, and much be-
loved by his parishioners, but it is not
for the sake of hearing him that the
great crowds flock to Hawarden
church, for they only come when his
father Is known to be in residence.
Almost directly in front as you enter
the church is the reading desk, where
every Sunday when he is at home, Mr..
Gladstone reads the lesson ofthe day,
rising for that purpose from q wooden
bench, which is his usual seat. He
Joins heartily in response and song,
but listens to the sermon with his head
thrown back and eyes partially closed;
and only in that attitude does an OBJ
server see how much paler than for
merly Is his gnarled and rugged face.
When he leaves the hurch and pass
es through narrow lane which leads
to his sons house, all stand uncover
ed on each side ofthe way, and often
in ranks three, even four feet deep.
He is very popular in the neighbor-
hood, making himself acquainted with
the opinions OF all classes ofmen; TAX
es an interest in the young mems de-
batting society, AMI is accessible to his
tenants and the villagers to such an
extent that it is doubtful if they do
not think Mr.. Gladstone owes as
much to Hawarden, as Hawarden
does to Mr.. Gladstone. Indeed, an
old dame boasts that she frequently
tells him all that is in her mind, and
a couple of very mild looking old men
often come to his library "to let him
know how that last speech OF his
sounded down in Hawarden."
Mrs. Gladstone has large orphan
age for girls close to her own house, in
the stable yard, in fact, where they
are carefully taught to use their hands
as well as their minds, and are watch
ed over tenderly until time proves
they are able to live honest, useful
lives. Mrs. Gladstone has often held
the post OF matron to the orphanage
for a month at time, and it is told
in the village as evidence of her re-
markable liberality OF opinion, that
ifthe parents Of the orphans had been
dissenters, the children were not only
permitted but encouraged to attend
chapel instead OF church.
Strangers are allowed free access to
the park and ruins OF Hawarden, and
we had no difficulty in procuring ad-
mission to the Orphanage. l have
even known ofpersons being permitted
to 60 through the house itself, which
is not a show place, and chiefly re-
markable for its numerous books,
which are not only in Mr.. Gladstone's
study and library, but in every one of
the living ooms. In his study he has
table for each variety Of work, a
lithograph table, political and theo-
logical one, another for letter writing,
and so on. Over the alcoves devoted
to Homer, Virgil, Horace, Spenser and
Shakespeare are busts and pictures
not only of the men themselves, but
OF their friends and of places connect
ed with them. Over Mrs. Gladstone 8
desk is the fine portrait of her hus-
band painted by Milais.
AS there is no public library in Ha-
warden, every: one of the many thou
sand volumes belonging to the library
OF the castle is freely lent; the vilIias-
-rs coming to select upon a specified
day of the week, when a member OF
the household sets as librarian.
The wealth necessary to support the
extensive establishment, and the vast
wealth OF the family, comes from the
finding OF coal and iron on the Glynne
estates early in the present century.
1t is nobly and generously devoted to
the good OF others, but perhaps the
greatest benefit it confers upon the
world is the keeping up OF this beauti-
ful historic home, so suitable to the
genius and character of Mr.. Gladstone.