The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-13
VISIT TO HAWARDEN CASTLE
Mrs. Gladstone Discusses the Phases of
the Woman Movement in England.
The Grand Old Woman Is Active and Happy
The Position of Women Of the Present Age
Mrs. Gladstone'S Numerous Charities.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special TO the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 12.-NIrs. Gladstone,
the wife of England's foremost statesman,
was seventy-seven years of age on the 9th
of January, and the anniversary WAS cele-
brated in the castle at Hawarden where
she was born. Her father Sir Stephen
Glynne, was the eighth baronet of Hawar-
den Castle, and after the death of her
mother, Mrs. Gladstone became the pos
SCISSOR of her childhood's home. Her mar
ried life has been spent in it for the most
part, and there her seven chill
dren were born. Last July all but
one of them-a son who is
living in India. were at home to celebrate
the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of
their parents, together with the several
grandchildren, and other relatives. The
youngest daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Glad
stone, Miss Helen, is president of Newham
College at Cambridge, and is one of the
most cultivated women in England. One
daughter and one son are married, and re-
side not far from the castle. This son is
the vicar of Hawarden Church, and very
often his great father occupies the pulpit
and reads the lessons of the day to the as
sembled parishiOners.
Of late years, Mr.. and Mrs. Gladstone
have not kept up the large London house
at Carlton-house Terrace, which they oc-
cupied for some years when he was out of
office. During the many years OF his tenure
of office he lived in Downing street, and
last season their stay In the metropolis was
made at Lady Frederick Cavendishs, a
niece of Mrs. Gladstone's.
Hawarden is convenient to London, and
the family love it so much more than they
do the city that they go from 1T but little
while each year. 1t is reached from London
by the Northwestern railway, and the old
town, which was a town in the time OF
William the COnqueror, has many quaint
features well worth a visit. 1t is no great
distance from Chester, and to a tourist all
that part of England is beautiful and allur-
ing. In the Old-fashioned village are sew
eral old fashioned hotels OF inns, the best of
which is the Glynne Arms, so called after
the family of Mrs. Gladstone. From this
inn one can walk directly to the old castle
of Hawarden, which stands in the grounds
place of the GladstOneS. The latter was
built hundred years ago and is new
compared to the ruined old castle which Is
cared for as a picturesque feature OF the
landscape, and In summer is crowned with
a mass of ivy and trumpet vines.
had brought letter of introduction
from friend of Mrs. Gladstones and had
sent it to the castle shortly after my ar
rival, saying to her i'll my note that would
wait upon her at her convenience. There
part the day after / reached the village,
and Mrs Gladstone sent a messenger
to tell me that she would answer my letter
the following morning. Their carriages
were early before the castle door the next
day, and they passed down the main street
of the village filled with ladies and gentle
men, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Glad
stone, who saw them off at the station.
Shortly after their departure a llveried
servant appeared with an invitation to
deputation from some reform association
at 1, and expected her assistance.
/ crossed the castle grounds as the clock
struck IL. and was admitted to the recep-
tiOn room where Mrs. Gladstone almost Im-
mediately joined Inc.
She is an "old woman as we In America
term all women who are past sixty, but she
has not the look of age or the signs OF help
lessness which stout women show even
earlier than thin ones of medium stature;
She is not a large frame. but is strong, and
well knit and the glow on her face is ruddy
and fresh as girls. If she did not wear a
cap land English women wear such homely
OneS) she would be as striking in appear
ance-in her way-as her husband is In his.
He black silk dress was made In some loose,
flowing way like combination of tea-gown
and morning robe, and her hair was ar
ranged on loose, natural style, parted In
the center of the head and put IN knot
under her cap-or, perhaps | should say
head-dress.
She chatted in a gracious. cheerful way
of her busy life; its manifold but easy
cares, and in every other sentence made
some reference to her husband. / was so
impressed with her wonderfully strong and
enthusiastic love for him that was led to
say: You have been able to do so much In
educational and philanthropic work, be-
cause you are so exceptionally happy, Mrs.
Gladstone: is not that the secret of your
energy and ambitiOnW
She looked at me with smile on her face,
| and then simply said: Il think so; happl-
ness is great insplrer and charmer: and
have never been otherwise in my relations
| in life."
Her appearance indicates the entire truth
| of this remark. She has a noble brow, clear
| cut features, and sweet expression about
| the mouth which softens the otherwise
| strong and severe intellectually of the
face. felt perfectly at home with heI
| after a few moments, and said would like
| to talk with her about her work for the
| poor and her views on the woman question,
| "You Americans love to talk of the wOm-
| ans rights question, but doubt If you dc
| as much to get your ri ghts as we conserva-
| tive English folk. But come into the Ii.
| brary where we can talk uninterrupted
and will be glad to give you any informa.
| tion you seek"
| At the window she pointed out the or
1 pnanage JnaC almost aCJOlnS inc CdSbic, anu
| which she controls and well nigh supports
| She said it was better for children to be N
the country, and such institutions die
more moral and educational work there
than they could do possibly in the city:
She drew q chair for me near to her desk
| and she sat down in the large cushioned
| seat which is match to the one at Mr.
| GladstOne's desk in the same apartment
| And what wonderful apartment 1t is
almost lost the inclination to ask questions
| of my hostess, and was in danger of spend
| ing my time staring at the waste of books
| piled high on shelves which pro
| iected out into the lofty room
and behind and around which one could
| walk with ease. Upwards of twenty thou
| sand volumes are there" said Mrs. Glad
stone, land they are arranged so that sub
| jects are grouped alphabetically. For in
stance, books on metaphysics are IN on
section, and grouped about them ar
| kindred sciences, religions and subject
bearing upon that division of learning
Mrs. Gladstone added that her husband ha'
it so planned that he knew where to put hi
hand on any book, and all other books bear
| ing upon the subject of which it treated
Iwished in my soul that could stay ther
all day inviting talk from her on the on
theme she most delights in-her husband
"She is fine woman" was said to me dOz
ems of times in London. and so she is, but
pronounce her the ideal wife-matchless Il
her beautiful enthusiasm for her husban
as man, statesman, husband, father an
friend. But had n speciuc duty to pei
form. and l held myself to It, Asking be
pardon for the liberty was taking, / re
quested her to tell inc what she thought o