The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-07
MR.. GLADsToNE's HELPMEET.
The Grand Old Mans Devoted and
Practical Wife.


A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Times furnishes long account of ''the
eventful career and unselfish devotion" of
Mrs. Gladstone, from which the following
extracts were made:
The French have a derisive saying that
there are no political women i'll England,
and hence no salons in London. They have
no appreciation of that class of English
women whose influence is far more impor-
tant and beneficial to society than is the
corresponding class in France. But there
is social factor in English politics, unat-
talnable by any other nation and possibly
only under Just such form of government
and with such ruler as Queen Victoria has
proved herself to be. She is in large sense
the leader of the woman movement in her
country, movement which is represented in
stricter sense by Mrs. Gladstone, wife of
England's foremost statesman. In this
movement are no diplomats or political
female deputies; but women who, knowing
the practical work that must be done for
humanity, are about it in earnest fashion,
giving the world fitting examples of their
ability and power as women and work
ers. To better the condition of the peo-
pie, not to scheme and wire-pull for a
party, is the aim of women like Mrs.
Gladstone, whose social power is stronger
exists.
She is noble woman, aside from the fact
that her position is so exceptional that her
faults would naturally seem trivial, sur
rounded by the halo of her rank and
her husbands fame. As little child she
exhibited the unselfshness which has made
her name beloved in England. Her father
said Of her that she was his most gifted
child, and always spoke with subdUed pride
Nf% ha ctr ahor e11 -,
youth. She chose as a schoolgirl motto,
"If you want shing we'll done, do it your
self, and has kept it as hers through life
She is now woman of rs years, and is the
same wise-minded, sensible person that SIZE
was when she wrote her chosen sentence in
her diary fully seventy years ago. The story
of her life would read like a beautiful
romance, SO full had it been of work-do-
nestle, social and philanthropic-and SO
overt1owing with happiness.
The variety and interest which have
marked Mrs. Gladstones life would have
been lacking to large extent had she not
felt such an Overlooking sympathy for the
poor and the trouble-burdened, the weary
and the faint-hearted. One of her friends
was one day lamenting to her that she could
do nothing for others because she had not
means. ''Oh, yes, you can, my dear; you
can do everything; you can love them"
But that would not help the poor, or the
sick, or the dying" was answered. Eyes,
1t would; it would cheer and bless and COM
fort; try it and prove my words" said Mrs
Gladstone, and her visitor parted from
her in tears, so heartfelt and earnest were
her words.
The story of Mr. Gladstone's public career
is in part his wife's; for in all his under
takings she has been powerful factor.
Wherever he has journeyed she has gone;
in whatever work he has been engaged she
has been at his side, mastering details and
keeping pace with him, so that she has been
his comrade in all things Mr.. Gladstone
at all times and on every fitting occasion
pays tribute to the mind and heart of his
wife and attributes to her companionship
and encouragement the stimulus and the
solace without which he could not have
undertaken the tasks he has performed. She
was his "helpmeet" from their earliest
union, and as time passed and their affection
for each other grew as protecting shelter
aboutthem, he relied more aud more upon
her counsels Always at his side ministering
to him and diverting his mind by steady
cheerfulness and bright talk, she has
made his life an exceptionally joyous one,
and she basks. in the sunshine she has
created.
For many years, while her children were
growing up about her and needing her
watchful care, she had manifold duties, but
for long time there has been no divided
responsibility, and the accustomed way for
both of them has been together, and to-
gether in a union so close that it is really
that exceptional thing, a soul marriage.
She alone has shared alike in his labors and
his recreations, his triumphs and defeats,
and beyond all the incidents of their united
lives, her unselfish devotion has been his
staff and his support.