Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-08
GLADSTONE AT HOME.
How the People OF Hawarden Revere
the Grand Old Man.

From the New York Times
LIVERPOOL, Sept 26.-Almost all American
tourists who land in Liverpool go direct to
Chester, and the leisurey ones generally maxi
1t the base Of excursions TO neighboring vii
lagos in Cheshire and North Wales but whether
or not they devote whole day to such a small
spot as Hawarden depends on the state Of thu
weather and the presence of the genius Of the
place, not on the nature Of the American tour
list as we know him. Despite the beauty OF an
English park after rain (his kodak could or
catch the transitory marvels of the green tnts
anyway, even despite the second favorable
condition Of Mr.. Gladstone's presence. bad
weather generally keeps the globe trotter in hrs
hotel at Chester.
When went to Hawarden in desperation NJ
, not having had any fine weather for the week
past and determining not 70 observe signs or
seasons, II was pouring down if there were
no prospect of even an intermission But tie
heavens were kinder to nonconformist Wales
than supposed The rain ceased in the after
noon just in time for the success of the yearly
events of the country side-the Hawarden
flower and fruit show and the non political
speech OF Mr.. Gladstone-but only to re-
double its vigor at the entrance of the queen
into Wales on the morrow. On account Of the
drizzle found myself in the morning the only
stranger in a crowd Of cottagers preparing the
exhibits, and at no time in the day did recoc-
nize any American by sight or sound. Accord
ingly did" the sights alone
First in interest, of course. is the famous old
church where every Sunday when he is home
one may hear MIR. Gladstone read the ''le5-ons."
and at all times may find eyid snces in tomhs
and tablets that the place has ever be,na cen-
ter OF sanctity to a long line OF Glynnes. the
family of Mrs. Gladstone. one Of whose sons,
indeed, is the present rector. The second place
of interest is the old castle of the same family.
a. Il.
from Beeston castle, relic of the border con-
| tests of a ruder age, situated on isolated
crag in the east, neighboring 10 the mountains
on the south and the coas; plains on the north;
thence the eye passes over these low lands
reaching toward Liverpool on to the west and
southwest, where Mr.. Herbert Glsdstone's now
residence rises midway between the new bridge
over the Dee. which his mother formal opened
a few weeks ago. and the factories of earihen-
ware. which send "a little bit of the Welsh hills
into every country in the world" all types 81
the civilization of the coming generation.
Perhaps IL would not be carrying the figure
too far TO say that at our feet, half way be,we, n
these two extremes, lies the dwelling of him
who has done more than any other living man
TO bring about the transition between the age
of force and the Golden Year" The park. in
| the center OF which stand castle and mansion,
while il has that general interest TO Americans
which every ancestral estate must possess. diff
fers from Its neighbor, Eaton park the seat 81
| the duke Of Westminster, which every visitor
has just previously seen. only in the possibility
| that some old oak dixie that one, for instance,
that i saw down vista, freshly blasted by
lightning) may be marked by the gods for fall
ing by the ak of the "Hawarden Moodman."
The attractions of the place lie neither in church
nor castle nor park. but in the character
of the people, and over them one personality
predominates. They can talk of nothing
| but Mr.. Gladstone or subjects connected with
his family. They are loyal TO him despite OF
prejudices TO which he runs counter. They are
| home rulers if they don't like the Irish. lnti-
mate to the parkkeeper that he looks like Lord
Salisbury, aud in spite of the expected shilling
he will lock the gate on you. He told me, with
a sad shake of his head. that all foreigners
spoke well Of "Mawster" Gladstone; only
among Englishmen could one be found to
speak i'll Of him.
Soon the band arrived and the people began
to gather about the exhibits pitched in front OF
the new castle. About O'Clock Mr.. and Mrs.
Gladstone came to look at the show. A knot
of people followed them about and il was anus
ing to see how attentiyely they gathered up
every expression let fall from Mr.. Gladstones
lips and passed il on TO less fortunate ones IN
the rear One old lady who brushed against
him reported with ecstasy the beautiful
smile" he beamed upon her. must say that
at first preferred the kindly face Of Mrs. Glad
stone. One can well credit the report OF her
youthful graces. She is q lady of the manor
who can put herself in touch with the feelings
Of every cottager. At O'Clock she distributed
the prizes from tne castle ttrfdCt. sptdhluk a
kindly word to each She commended one
laborer for the results of his work at spare
hours; another she commiserated for the bad
honey season; she met one bent old woman
half way up the steps; she moved her lips slowly
that deaf-mute might comprehend her praises;
in short, she adapted herelf 20 the dispositions
each cottager.
But Mrs. Gladstone. loved as she is, was
minor attraction, and before the lists were I'm
ished Mr.. Gladstone appeared. dressed like a
in, txraa hn nxuA
had become impatient for him TO begin his Gus
tomary talk. He took his seat at his wife's feet
and fondled a pet dog. The lists then con-
tinued. But the Welsh alphabet, as far as
proper names are concerned, seemingly does
not extend beyond and soon he arose TO talk.
Slow at first and dependent on his notes, he
became very fluent at the last, so much SO that
one reporter told me he found il quite hard TO
keep up with him. His face is rather grave,
'.lionlike" they call it, in repose, the bright
eyes prominent by contrast. As he wakes up
you forget individual features and fall under
the spell Of his general expression-a spell
that confessedly cannot be shaken Of He was
talking on such everyday affairs as butter and
jam. To read his speech you would think that
there would be little chance for much play OF
facial oppression vet where he touched on pollti-
cal beliefs, for example, his belief IN free trade,
his features told more than his words, perhaps,
at this time and place dared, and a COM
monplace took on the nature OF creed
perceived in the course OF the talk that SEEM
ingly chance expressions uttered in show
tent had their purpose-that he had, with ms
marvellous memory for facts, been recalling
for use in the speech the extent and character
of former display made by this or that exhib-
itor; that his observations and questions about
the percentage of water IN carrots, DC, were
not mere snowy attempts TO reveal familiarity
with unusual subjects, but were preparatory 70
the main thought of his discourse. The speech
in itself wss a simple one, great In only one re-
spect-its forbearance. Opportunities for po-
lftical and economic satire were constantly
sIighted and the utmost credit that was allow
able was given 10 opposing theories.
At the close a drunken old fellow, who had
been almost irrepressible during the speech,
crowded through TO shake hands with Mr.
Gladstone, an example which many OF us would
have liked 70 follow, but happily did not
There was q depth of pathos in his explanation
10 the crowd: II saw Mr.. Gladstone once be-
fore, forty-seven years ago, but now I'm sew
enty-seven and he's seventy-nine, and III never
see him again"