The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-10-11

den Castle contains more than 10000
volumes, which are freely loaned to al
most any person in tho neighborhood
who wishes to read them. At one time
this library was unlimited, but the priv
lleSe was so much abused by some per-
sons that few years ago a rule was laid
down limiting the time for which q
book might be kept to one month.
With this exception, however, Mr..
Gladstone's library is still the free-loan
library of The whole country side.
Beginning his career as an orator.
Gladstone. the greatest of living states
men. has achieved an un-lvaled rom
cation as parliamentary speaker the
intense gravity and earnestness of his
,utterances CARRYING conviction to the
minds of his hearers. In over fifty
years of public life he has either insti-
gated or participated in series of
measures which have caused most
admirable change in the English laws
and government, the most notable be-
ing the extension of the franchise 10
every man who has an established
home.
He was born at Liverpool an En-
glishman by birth, but of Scotch de-
scent. His father was a wealthy mer-
chant, who acquired large fortune in
the West India trade.
He was educated at Elton and the
University of Oxford, and graduated
before attaining the age of twenty-five
years. He entered Parliament in 1892
as member for Newark, Nottingham
shire, which borough he continued to
represent until 1916. During these
years honors fell profusely on the head
OF the youthful commoner, Handsome
Gladstone" as he was called. At this
time he was a constant contributor to
the Quarterly Review" chiefly on
literary and ecclesiastical subjects.
In 1884, he was made junior lord of
the treasury, and three months later,
under secretary for colonial affairs. In
lS4l, Mr.. Gladstone was made vice
president of the council and master of
the mint. In 1913 he relinquished the
first named of these offices in order to
assume that of president of the board
of trade. In 1915 he entered the cabi-
net as secretary for the colonies, under
the premiership of Sir Robert Peel:
but soon resigned this Office and also
his seat in Parliament. In 1851 Mr..
Gladstone broke away from the con-
sentative party. The following year
he became chancellor of the exchequer,
q position for which he showed a mar
velous aptitude, handling the national
accounts with an easy mastery, and
presenting them before the House Of
Commons and the country with degree
of eloquence which perhaps had never
before adorned so unattractive a mat
ter as national finance.
In 1858 Mr.. Gladstone declined 8
position in the cabinet, but accepted
special mission to the Ionian Islands.
In June, 1859, he again became chan
cellor of the exchequer, under Lord
Palmerston, at whose death, in 1865.
MIR. Gladstone became the leader Of
his party in the House of Commons.
IN 1868 he became premier for the first
time, which Office he held until 1874,
when the conservative reaction displac-
ed him. While in power he disestab-
lished the Irish Church. passed the
Irish land bill of 1870. and also an edu-
rational reform bill; he abolished the
purchase of commissions in the army,
and established the system of voting by
ballot in elections.
In 1880 the country welcomed the
liberals back into power, and Mr.. Glad
stone again became premier, which
office he held until 1886, with the ex-
ception of brief intervals. Under this
great statesman's leadership. the per-