The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-15
ENGLAND'S GRAND OLD NAN
A Prominent Irishman Describes Visit
to Dir. Gladstone at Hawarden.
How the Latter Looked. Talked and Acted
His Devotion to His Family-Yiews of Fa-
nous Men of the Past-His Only Anxiety.

SP o'Connor, in New York World.
Not long ago Herbert Giads tone wrote me that
he had accepted the Office of president OF the
Liberal Association, at Chester; that he would
be glad if an Irish member would speak with
him on the night when ne gave his opening i'd
dress, aud that he would be especially pleased il
j could come mysslf / consented, although the
heavy work of tho commission court and other
engagements l knew would compel me to travel
to Chester by an early train. and travel again
al night after the meeting. and so last Monday
found myself. At about o'clock in the after
noon, a. Chester station. Here the station
master came ND to me with telegram from
Herbert Gladstone. asking me TO go to Broad
Ereen, the station nearest Hawarden. At
Broad Green l was met By . dog-cart, and from
The driver, q shrewd Welshman, I had my first
Information Of the home life Of Mr.. Gladstone.
BLESS his old heart" said the driver, with q
smile and o certain proprietary air, Il have
driven him for the last eight years, and can
see no difference IN him.
We were soon in the park that surrounds Hs-
warden. It IS large and delightfully."- Wild, as
would call il, and it looked especially beautiful
with the leaves on the trees, for Mr.. Gladstone
has spared an enormous number OF trees red
with the tints OF autumn. The house itself IS
smaller than L expected. 1t is bot two stories
high, and is cot richly furnished. it lie, howev-
er. eminently comfortable house. Herbert
Gladstone, in a shooting suit-he is a great
sportsman-and with his face brown with sun
light. received me. and in q few moments moro
Mr.. Gladstone. who was in bis room when / ar
rived came up and welcomed me. he was In q
dsrk-brown suit, which. too, was neither new
nor shabby. but iudicious mxturs-to use one
Of his own historic phrases-of the two. be
was not ready 70 60 out then, but in quarter
OF an hour started for a walk. / shall
deavor to set down as faithfully as / can the in
cidents and converse OF this walk, which must
always remain in my memory as one of the
most remarkable events In my life. The ground
around the park is uneven; there are plenty OF
hills which it takes an expert pedestrian to
climb without putting. but seats have been
placed At convenient intervals.
Mr. Gladstone walks finely. Standing closer
60 him than had ever been before. was rather
surprised at the slirnuess Of bis figure. He Is as
innocent OF the ample waist that marks with all
OF rs the approach of middle age as though he
were yet q youth. The shoulders were not
broad as lad thought, and the whole impress
sion got was Of physique why rathe: than
broad or strong. His limbs especially seemed
active, ard he moved about with the alacrity Of
. man who had never allowed himself to be
troubled with an ounce OF superHuous flesh.
asked him whether be had always been q great
walker.
"My life," he said. ''has been made much
easier by good doctoring at various periods. al
ways did take q great deal OF exercise asked
him whether one might say he had taken walk
avery single day Of his life
well, he said "somstimes when the weather
had been very bad ard have had to drive home
from the House OF Commons have changed my
clothes and gone out for a walk in the midst CT
the rain"
By this time we had got to the top of a pretty
tough hill. and was painting. IL was to my in
tense relief that he turned to me and asked me
IL would excuse him for sitting for a while on
seat. There was time" he said, "whsn
didn't know the difference between going up and
going down q hill"
Throughout the day he was always the same.
considerably and almost apologstically asking
whether he might be allowed to do thi3or do
that
1 cannot describe adequately the effect of his
face upon me. II gave TO the great gladiator q
sweetness and gentleness that touched me
greatly. l had good look at his face just as
were about to sit down. 1t is an extraordi-
nary face, and. like beautiful prospect in nat
Hre. reveals new beauties under every new
phase. The complexion has a pallor-heal:hy,
bat at the same time almost traE sparont &c
wax-that gives an immense air of distinction,
and to nv eyes, at least adds greatly TO the
beauty OF the splendid face. Dir. Gladstone,
have always thought, looked best
when he sits down In the House
OF Commons after strong aud vehement
speech. He is deadly pale, his breath comes
and goes quickly. his breast heaves, and there is
al expression-rapt grave, simpie-shall call
full to see Icaught something of this look as
he ascsnded the hill little out OF breath.
There was a sweet gravity In the expression
that seemed TO give me q new insight into his
character You know that many people, owing
TO his great parliamentary adrotness, have the
impression of Mr.. Gladstone that ne is what the
French call ruse, or, in plain English, some
what of an old fox. He himself alse fancies
that he is a very sly dog; and then he has a GER
tain comical and quizzicsl look in his eyes now
and then that gives him a pleasantly sly air.
But don't think he's half as sly he thinks,
and. beyond question, frankness and simplicity
are the prominent characteristics OF his temper
ment. saw, or thought saw, all this as
looked at his side face in climbing this hill.
There was such simplicity. such modes'y, that
! thought caught elimpse to the very depths
of pure and Transparent soul
Then we began to talk OK all kinds OF subjects;
and, anxious though ! was 10 drink in every
word. sometimes was carried away by interest
in what We were speaking about and spoke sever
al sentences in succession. Mr.. Gladstone lis
tened without the least Impotence, and indeed
throughout carried on the conversation with
perfect readiness TO give and take-to listen as
well as to speak. This i remark because there
Is an impression that the eagerness of his tenn
permanent his splendid resources and his myriad
subjects OF information and interest lead him
20 monopoliZe conversation. / was more than
willing TO be dumb, but ir I wanted to talk
had plenty of opportunity to do so.
The great men or past contests came on for
description, and was especially anxious to
hear what Nc. Gladstone had to say about
OConnell. had found him reading recently
published volume of O'Conuells correspondence
In his library, and ttsn he quoted a passag
which he had marked. "OConnell," he said II
regard az the greatest demagogue-using the
word in its good sense Of leader OF Inen-that
ever lived greater than RieuzI; greater even
than Savonarols- You know" he continued
alphabetically and almost humbIy, ''the preju-
dices in which was brought up with regard to
him, but, he added quickly, 81 never depreciate
him"
Then he went on to tell how he had az one
t.me been brought closely into contact with
O'Connell. O'Connell was chairman OF COM
rnit.ee OF which Mr.. Gladstone. taen a young
fellow, was also q member, and subcommittee
was appointed 10 so down 10 the country to ex-
anime elderly and feeble man, who was inca
pablo OF coming ND 10 London. This was in the
pre-railway period; and. Accordingly said Mr..
Gladstone "at o'clock one morning a carriage
and four conveyed O'connell aud myself and an
other member down 70 this old man. thus
saw gress deal OF him. He always treated me
him IN his three positions he was greatest at the
Parliament. His worst speeches were those he
mad carefully prepared. his best those that we're
spontaneous and unprepared."
VI ireland and Irish subjects Mr.. Gladstone
seemed especially anxious speak; and the
most enthusiastic lrishman might be less en-
thusisstic than this old Englishmau. Every
thing Irish seemed to please him. al have al
ways had high opinion he ssid, .'of Irish
beauty Then he told the story OF Duchess
of Rutland-which hs had read in some old Irish
book-going TO n woman, the wife of a shop