The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1890-01-30

like went by post to a greater extent
than ever before.
In the five days before Christmas
5O,OOO.pOO postal articles were posted
In London alone, or at the rate of TO-
OOO,OOO day. This is record that
has never before been reached in this
or any other country.
1t is not unlikely that when the
reader peruses this statement OF the
London postal business in holiday
time, he will draw a mental pic
ture of postman the day before
Christmas making his trip with tur-
keys slung adj libitum from his
shoulders, each arm well hung with
Christmas buildings which have been
pushed up the arm one after the other
as he strung them like so many
bracelets by passing his hand through
the hole in the center of each
pudding; then he might have few
strings of sausage about his neck, the
heads of a few brace of duck might
hang in tired way from his pockets,
while the tied together legs of the
brilliant hued pheasant might be
brought under his chin, and the bird
itself, thus securely fastened, perch
upon the postman's head to crown the
whole picture. But, alas as mental
picture this is only a Pigment of the
Imagination.
By the Doth ultimo Mr.. Gladstone
reached his eightieth birthday. Some
one says that useful life anda happy
death are the best results of life
here below. Gladsto1e's half
century of public life is
brilliant record indeed. In
point Of age he is not an exception
among the prime ministers of Eng
land. Gray, Melbourne, Palmerston,
Russell and Beaconsfeld were all old
men at their death. But who among
them at his age showed the concen-
tration of purpose or the Jealous
action which Gladstone displays to-
day? Then again, statesmen of the
caliber of Robert Walpole and Henry
Fox are known to us as men stained
with the contamination of corruption.
When the future historian shall have
entered upon the Victorian age, he
will describe in the career of Glad
stone, statesman of the highest mo-
tives, of the noblest aspirations, and
man pure in his personal habits and
life. In drawing this contrasting
picture as between the days of Fox
and Gladstone it is well to remember
that extraneous conditions have much
to do with this, for since the first de-
mocratising of the English institu-
tions IN 1882 the ever increasing re-
sponsibility of the whole body of peo-
pie have had much to do with the
higher standard of uprightness in
public life.
AS an orator Gladstone stands out
pre-eminently today and as regards
his past eloquence the same thing
may well be said that was once APP
piled to Fox by one who had been con-
WINGED against his will: "Ah! you
have never been convinced under the
wand OF the enchanter." 1t was I'M
der Gladstone's administration that
national education was placed upon a
broad and substantial basis. 1t was I'M
der his auspices that the purchase of
commissions in the army was abol-
ished, thus undermining the caste
element in the army and navy; and it
was his powerful influence and efforts
which materially assisted in freeing
Bulgaria from the tyranny of the
Turk. In fact his high aims, his
career and his work will stamp him
with the future historian as a states
man, an administrator, and liber-
ator.
Apropos of national topics, all
things have their peculiar rises, and it
is well known that the gay and strik-
ing uniforms of the continental and
British armies are no exception, for
next to the martial music of the army
and navy, nothing is so soul inspiring
to the average mortal as the various
pet combinations of colors incorporated
in the various uniforms. There is
great danger we will loose all this it
seems, for already Belgium and other
continental powers are moving in the
matter of abolishing all bright colors,
such as red, from the army uniforms;
this being rendered necessary as the
science and art of war advances, for
the latest innovation, smokeless pow
der, will make conspicuous mark in
the battlefield sure attendant upon a
largely increased loss of life and limb.
MELLEN COLE.
HOT INDICN ATInN