The Osceola times., 1886-07-24
A WORKING MAN.
Wonderful Industry and Endur-
ance of Great Britain's
Premier.

II this article were to be an exhaustive
exposition of its title, and fully describe
Mr.. Gladstone at work, il would resolve
itself into minute description of every
hour of the waking day Mr.. Gladstone
is at work only once a day. But then it
is all day long. Heaven, in endowing
him with intellectual qualities of the
highest order, added the gift rare in
this co mbination of Incompatible bodily
health. Of his more than seventy years
of life, very few weeks have been
fiched from him by illness This is an
advantage TO man in any rank of life.
To public man it is priceless. If we
review the list of prominent public men
throughout Europe and in the States,
it will invariably be found that they are
men of robust health. This is, of course,
not because craftsmanship is a pecul-
iarly healthy avocation, but because
only physically strong men can stand
the wear and tear of public life,
Gladstone, who was always fond of
music, is now quite enthusiastic about
negro Melodies Lord Malmesbury
writes under date 1860, in his recently
published memoirs. "He sings them
with the greatest spirit and enjoyment,
never leaving out verse, and evidently
prcfcrring such as Camp Down
Races. Mr.. Gladstone has long ago
abjured negro melodies, but this ex-
tract is strikingly illustrative of his dis
position Whatever he undertakes he
performs with the greatest spirit and
enjoyment
Some years ago he was smitten with
the china mania. This ran through the
period of the Parliament of 1868, when
he was. or might have been thought to
be. engrossed with such works as the
Irish Church bill, the Irish Land bill,
the Education bill and the Ballot bill
But he found time to go on with the
collection of china, pursuing a rare cup
and saucer as if they were clauses of the
Land bill, upon the carrying Of which
he had set his heart He had not only
collection of china, but one of the best
in the possession of a private collector,
and every piece he had himself secured
His passion for telling trees is of
worldwide rcnown. II is characteristic
of him that he should take up this un-
usual method for recreation. Telling a
tree, rs any who has tried it will know,
provides for two or three hours, accord
ing to girth, about as hard work as
man can put his hand to; and this is the
outdoor recreation which the Premier
kindly takes to. He never rides, does
not shoot nor hunt. He walks with long
strides and unfailing vigor. But with
trusty axe in his hand, coat and waist
coat off, trouser-band tightcned, and
braces looped at his side, he enjoys some
intervals of rest
Like all men of healthy organization,
the Premier must have his reasonable
allowance of sleep. He can do with
eight hours, when he can get It, but his
allowance rarely exceeds seven. When
at home in Hawarden, he makes point
of going to bed before midnight, and is
down with the regularity of clock-work
at a quarter to eight His first work is
to walk over to the church in the
ncighboring village, of which his son
is rector, where there is always early
morning service. No vicissitudes of
weather prevent him from fulfilling this
duty, Lord William Bentick used to say
of Mr. Bright that if he had not been
Quaker, he would have been a prize
fighter 1t is at least equally safe to as
sert that if Mr.. Gladstone had not turned
his attention to politics, he would have
been Bishop, and in due course an
Archbishop Failing that every Sum
day morning when he is at Hawarden
he walks out to the readers desk in the
parish church and gratites crowded
congregation by reading the lessons for
the day
During the session of 1885, just before
the adjournment for the Whitsun re-
cess, Mr.. Gladstone, as he sat upon the
Treasury Bench, looked dead beat at
last. Things were troublous at home
and abroad. Negotiations with Russia
were still proceeding to no visible end.
Egypt was in state of confusion; whilst
IN the House of Commons the free
lances of the opposition, encouraged by
this dark lookout, had redoubled their
personal attacks upon the leader OF the
House, drawing from him an eloquent
and pathetic protest in the name OF the
liberty and dignity of the House OF
Commons. In addition to these
troubles, he was suffering from severe
cold which made it painful and difficult
Tor him to uplft his voice. He was
bound for Hawarden as soon as the
House adjourned, and it might reason
ably be expected that he would take the
fullest opportunity of enjoying his rest,
The House Of Commons adjourned on
the Thursday, and that same night the
Premier slept amid the peace and rest
OF the woods that encircle Hawarden
Castle. On the Sunday next he was
standing at the desk reading the lesson
as i this duty comprised the full labor
OF the week.
Whilst q, r..,daro. a. u.wardan