San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-01
STORIES ABOUT GLADSTONE.
When the Grand Old Man Dared to Sa,
Must to the Queen of England.

When the Grand Old Man Dared to Sayj
Must to the Queen of England.
A tradesman in st. James street has fine|
collection of Napoleana of which intend to-
tell you one of these mornings This trades
man is a dealer in spectscles and eyeglasses, ]
and his shop is patronized By the best people,
in London. 1t is interesting to hear him tell
of the notables with whom he has had deal
ings. Gladstone has traded with him many
years, and the man tells of an experienced
which illustrates the thoughtfulness of the
"Grand Old Man. One time this shopkeeper|
had a visitor in the person Of a rich uncle
who had come in from the country to see the|
sights, and of course the house of commons
was one of the sights which the uncle was
most anxious to see.
1t occurred to the nephew that he might
without preSuming too far, apply to Mr..
Gladstone for a ticket of admission to theI
gallery of the house. 1t was true that Mr..
Gladstone was premier, and should hardly be-
bothered with a trihing matter of this kind !,
but it was also true that the twenty years.
business relations between the premier and
the tradesman justified to degree the hope|
that the request should be granted. So myI
friend dispatched polite note to the premier.
The next day happened to be Sunday, but I'M
the morning there came hearty knock atthe,
BRIDESMAIDS door. 1t was Mr.. Gladstone
who, on his way to church, had called to leave
the ticket of admission for which his humble
townsman had asked.
am told that Gladstone has always BEEN
most scrupulous in his attentions to the humi
bier classes, conducting himself toward theI
lowly with a thoughtfulness which he does
not always observe toward the nobility and
the wealthy.
"My own opinion" said the tradesman II
have spoken of, sis that the policy now ad
vocated by Mr. Gladstone is the worst one|
that England could adopt; but, all partil
sanship aside, if you were to ask me the nameI
of the greatest Englishman of the present
time | should say Gladstone, by ali means"
Gladstone is hated by his political oppoI
nents with a virulence indescribable. | have
a letter from the leading literary man in Lonl
don in which the ex-premier is referred to as
"a lust punishment" sent by God "to punish!
us for our hypocrisy" The common assert
ton among his bitterest adversaries is that,
Gladstone is weakening intellectually-that:
senility has developed to an extraordinary
degree bis natural vanity, and that he is now
simply paranoiac.
Yet, in spite of his alleged weakness, he is
strong enough to reject peremptorily every
proposition to elevate him to the peerage. Hid
might have been an earl long ago, but he pref
fers to remain commoner. Tue old queen,
has hated and feared him most cordially forj
many years. The two have quarreled like
cats and dogs on numerous occasions, bud
Gladstone has never yet weakened in the face
of royalty.
'.You must do so and So" he once said I'd
the queen.
Whereat her majesty bridled up, and, be !!
slowing upon him whitening look, she cried
angrily: Must, did you sayl And do you;
know, sir, who | amp
Madame" answered Gladstone coolly |
you are the queen of England; but do YOU
know who am? l am the people of England,
and in this emergency the people say 'mustr
London Letter in Chicago News.