Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-11-20
HAPPY MARRIED LIFE.

Mrs. Gladstone True Helpmate to Her
Husband for Fifty Years.
Mrs. Gladstone's career as wife and
mother has been pointed to for years
as model. The dependence of hus-
band and wife on each other in all cir
cumstances has been noted. The
statesman has found In his spouse a
true helpmate, who sympathized with
all his aspirations, with confidence in
all his movements of his long life of
political activity, has looked to the
future to bring him success in all his
projects and vindication Of his motives.
An amusing anecdote is told in illvs-
tration of this wifely, answering
faith. After the late general election,
when the appeal to the country had
resulted adversely to Mr.. Gladstone's
Irish policy, Mrs. Gladstone was found
somewhat depressed by a visitor at
Hawarden Castle, while the grand old
man was serenely at work in his study
up stairs.
"Never mind" said the visitor, SYM
pathetically. There is One above who
will bring things right, in His own
good time"
Eyes, indeed" replied the good
lady, He will bring things right; but
he will forget all about his lunch if |
don't call him down."
Mrs. Gladstone nursed all her chill
dren herself. She looked after them
from infancy, and cared for them in
every way as if she had not been the
lady of the castle, who was able to
command any amount of assistance
that she might require. With their
little ones Mr.. and Mrs. Gladstone
have always been the most tender and
affectionate of parents. When out of
Office Mr.. Gladstone taught his elder
children Italian. The girls were edu-
Gated at home by governesses, English,
French and German. The boys all
went to Elton and afterward to Oxford.
Blessed herself with perfect constitu-
ton and unbroken health, Mrs. Glad
stone has watched over her husband
with the skill of a nurse and the Wig
lance of a guardian angel. She knows
the limits of her own skill to hair s
breadth, and Che moment they are
passed she calls in the doctor. Nor is it
only in the maladies OF the body in which
she has displayed invaluable qualities.
She has certainly kept Mr.. Gladstone
shielded from all the minor worries Of
life.
Mr.. Gladstone is fully sensible of
what he owes to his wife, nor has he
made any secret of the fact that his
continuance in public service was de-
pendent upon the health of his partner
in life. Had she broken down and be-
come an invalid he would have retired
from the service of his country. 1t
would have been impossible, he felt, to
carry on the work of the Government,
and, at the same time, to have attended
to his duty to his wife, nor could he
have stood the strain if she, who had
been throughout as ministering spirit.
instead of aiding him, had become a
tax upon his vitality. The self-denial
of Mrs. Gladstone is beyond all praise.
1t no doubt seems very dazzling and
imposing to be the wife of a prime
minister, or even the wife ofthe leader
of the opposition, but the wife herself
has a somewhat hard time of it. The
absorption of a prime minister in the
work of the nation leaves him very lit
tie time for domestic intercourse. Mrs.
Gladstone has been known to remark
that when Mr.. Gladstone was in office
in London, during the season, it was
quite treat to her to be invited to a
friends house to dinner together with
her husband. She always then tried to
get seated next to him. when" she
said. sit is at least possible for me to
have conversation will my husband;
otherwise [ see nothing Of him. LON
don Letter.