Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-30
GLADSTONE AT HOME.
THE REGULARITY, SIMPLICITY, AND
PURITY OF HIS PRIVATE LIFE.
A Newspaper Reader-HIs Correspondence
Disposed OF After Brcakfast-His
Private Income.

tiButJ-OHo years Oiu vi eiAo @9tu VI n"
December. A stranger observing him
striding along Pall-Mall on his way to
the House Of Commons, head erect and
chest expanded, or hearing him thunder
forth dcnunciations Of Tory misgovern-
ment from his seat in Parliament
would probably set him down as
remarkably vigorous sexagenarian.
Mr.. Gladstone is in truth the
youngest old man in the world. Ills
eyes are full aud singularly bright his
face clean shaven and wonderfully intel
lectual, and his lips tender and tremu-
lous like those OF high.spirited woman.
He is tall, five feet ten inches, and lean.
He has no hair on his face and little on
his head, but his badness IS not very
apparent whom he wears hat, because
there is fair growth OF sllvery grey
locks around the base of the skull.
Mr.. Gladstone owes his unique vlridity
in great measure 10 the regularity, sim
plicity, and purity of his private life.
His time is about equally divided be-
tween London and Hawarden. his beam
tiful estate in Flintshire. When in town
he usually rises at $3.50 o'clock. Detest-
ing laziness and abhorring slovenliness,
he eschews dressing-gowns OF lounge
coats and always dresses for the day as
soon as he leaves his bed.
BREAKFAST.
The morning meal is invariably shared
by Mrs. Gladstone and visitors, If there
be any, which is rarely the case in Lon
don. II is always of plain character,
usually consisting Of fish, bread and but
ter aud tea. Mr.. Gladstone isvery fond
OF fish OF all kinds, and drinks enough
tea in the course Of twenty-four hours to
satisfy half dozen old maids. He fire.
quently absorbs the contents of three or
four journals in the course OF the half
hour customarily devoted to breakfast.
After breakfast Mr.. Gladstone invari-
ably proceeds to the library, where he
disposes Of his immense mass OF CORE
spondence, which, he once informed
friend, aggregates 10000 letters per
year. Having gone through this ardu-
GUS daily routine the Grand Old Man de-
votes tho remainder of the morning to
the study of Dante and Homer or some
| others of his Latin and Greek authors
making marginal notes as he proceeds.
Mr.. Gladstone takes luncheon almost
| invariably alone, eating only small
| slice of beef or mutton and drinking one
glass Of light claret
The afternoon is devoted to social or
political. duties, but Mr.. Gladstone al
WAYS finds time to take long walk by
himself or drive with his wife.
Occasionally he visits the theatre or
opera. and invariably at midnight, but
never before, he takes his candle from
the hall table and lights himself to bed.
! He has himself stated that he always
loaves business outside his bedroom door,
with the result that he invariably sleeps
well.
LIKES AND DISLTKEs.
Mr.. Gladstone does not smoke and
dislikes tobacco in every form. He has
no need for stimulents. and scarcely ever
drinks anything stronger than light
claret. of which he does not profess to be
| n connoisseur. He has profound con-
tempt for smart attire and a profound
dislike for new clothes. In town, IN
winter. he wears tall black hat and
black clothes, which include a queer
| lookieQ overcoat, with long cape fas-
tened on. The cape, which Is absurdly
| disproportionate III length to the coat,
generally opens out as the wearer walks
/ along the street and assumes the appear
ance of great substantial wings. In sum-
mer Mr. Gladstone dons tall white hat
and wears light clothing, usually of gray
cashmere.
Mr.. Gladstone is not rich man. 1t
does not exceed 81, 600 year, and the
demands made upon the purse OF a man
| in his position are enormous.
When residing at Hawarden Castle n
week never passes in which he does not
spend at least few hours in the open
air trying the edge of his famous axe
upon the big trees. But the great solace
of his old age is reading. and the hobby
to which he is most passIonateiy de-
voted is the collection of old and rare
books.
A BoOK-BUYEB.
After attending SANKEY'S wedding in
| Westminster Abbey last summer he es-
capped from the gay crowd and made his
way eastward entirely alone to South
ampton Row, where he overhauled the
stock of q bookseller with whom he ire
quently has dealings. Upon that occa'
sion he bought "The Life of Thomas
Reynolds in two volumes; The
Morning OF Life, IA Catholic religious
book "Ireland Before and After the
Union" 10y Il. b. Martin "The Rise
and Progress of Religious Opinion IN
Ireland" by Mrs. Thompson; Lord
Hollands Remiscenses," Manchester
College Lectures" containing an adj
dress by Cardinal Newman on classical
literature also "Byron's Letters, and
the "Lent Lectures" "The Laws OF
Honor" an account Of the suppression
of duels in France ;"Le Bouddna," by
Saint HiIaire "The French Librarian
or Literary Guide, by Ventonlllac,
"English Synonyms, and Greek
work.
Mr.. Gladstone always has his -pur-
chases rebound, holding that any book
worth reading is worthy OF q good
cover.
Having moved among the great ones
of the earth for upwards Of half a cen,
tury. Mr.. Gladstone is necessarily well
versed in the courtier's art. but he thor
ouehlv dislikes them, and when IN Office
practices them as little as his position as
Prime Minister will permit.
NOT FAvoIITE.
Mr.. Gladstone cannot or will not talk
down 10 the level of the average prince,
and in the presence of the Queen ne
bears himself with an air of proud hui
mility and manly Difference which Is
sometimes embarrassing and not infre
quently annoying to his royal mistress
1t is not to be wondered al, therefore,
that the great Liberal statesman Is not
favorate at court and that he IS rarely In
vited there. E.
During the session Mr.. Gladstone is
very regular in his attendance at the
House. One OF his peculiarities is his
dislike of the inner lobby, which l.
always crowded with newspaper men,
ex-members of Parliament, and a few
| o.bar, ,,.bc on;oxy the precious privilege