New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-22
MIR. GLADSTONE-TIIE PRINCE OF WALES
IN THE WITNESS BOX-SIR CHARLES
RUSSELL.
Westminster, February 10.

For some weeks there have been rumOTs cur
rent of Mr. Gladstone's intention to retire from
public life. They were founded upon carefully
phrased sentence in his letter TO Mr. John Morley
| when the surprise Mr.. Parncll had prepared for
the political world burst upon it. The story
found credence only in proportion as it reached
the outer edge of the circle that surrounds Mr..
Gladstone. Those standing near TO him, priv
LEGGED to watch him work and hear him talk,
smiled at the notion. lie himself took no notice
Of the persistent rumOr, but on Wednesday he in
directly answered il in conclusive fashion. On
| that day ne made n speech in the House Of Com
mons which is conceded by friend and foe to rank
| on a level with his greatest efforts The subject
| was of a kind that always inspires his OratOry.
1t was involved in bill proposing TO remove the
bar which tends off Roman Catholics from the
woolsack and from the Lord Lieutcnancy of Ire
land II is almost the last vestige of religious in
| tolerance left the Statute Book, and Mr. Glad
stone hoped to remove it before he quilted the
scene. When he rose the House was crowded, n
rare thing on a Wednesday afternoon when the
meeting takes place at midday. lie spoke for an
hour and ten minutes, with an ease, a fulncss of
voice dignity of tone and n strength of arGu-
ment that charmed the House. if it did not con-
vince the majority. 1t was speech that, had it
been the single effort of u lifetime, would have
incidentally in the course of the session. sort of
recreation on an oT-day in a strenuous campaign.
| il was marvellous achievement for an Octogena-
rian and completely disSipated any lingering idea
| that Mr.. Gladstone, weary of the long fight,
weighted under his load of years. was signing for
rest
Last night after sitting ont a debate in the
| House of Commons and taking part in division
| Mr. Gladstone went of to dine with an old friend,
| one of a few members Of the present Parliament
who were contemporaries of his early years in the
| House 1t was a small party, six all told, and 10
the little circle Mr. Gladstone talked for couple
of hours varicgatcd flashing torrent OF CONVEX
| sation While. when he sits at table, he Is natu-
| rally the centre OF interest and rarely dsappoinis
expectation by ndulging in taciturnty, there IS
no sense of his monopOlizing conversation, as was
| the case with Colcridee or Macaulay. His re
| marks do not take the form of monoloGue. IL Is
really conversation and he does not even lead the
topics hahitually charging on some chance re-
! mark dropped by one OF the circle. But. what
ever be the subject or however great the authority
who floats it, it generally turns out that Mr. Glad
stone knows more about it than any one in the
| ROOM Where he is most interesting Is In his
| "reminiscences Of the men he has worked with dur
ing the last half-century, and of episodes III the
| history he has helped TO make. lie loves TO talk
about Sir Robert Peel, for whom 10 this day he
preserves some Of the vcneTatiOn with which he
approached him when lie was still young man
| and Peel was in his prime. Last night he talked
! much more genially of Dsrae than ever heard
him do before. His admiration OF his ability IS
! generally handicapped by distrust Of his moral
characteristics and dislike of his tactics. Last
night he was unsparing in his praise even invent
| ed new word in his honor. - He was he said
| emphaticay the greatest sarcast that ever spoke
in Parliament and forthwith he ratified of half
dozen of "Dizzics" phrases, some of them
famous, but all Of which he mad heard
His memory is simply phenomenal At touch,
the sound of NAME everything comes back u
| him-tme, place, date, and every circumstance. a.
if it all passed only yesterday, whereas it may
be the incident happened forty years ago. Mr.
| Gladstone is an admirable racontcur, bringing
to the art the gifts Of a rich deep musical voice
and singular mobility of features. One often
thinks listening 10 and watching him. whcthc.
in public or private. that if he were not great
statesman, ne would he an Incompatible actor
] think his the most wonderfully expressive face
! ever saw. It's varying expression illumncS
every turn Of every sentence he speaks, some
times lighted up By mcrricst smile, and anon
cloudcd with awful scOIn or whitening anger
In the course OF conversation last night chance
reference was made to the period of the union
between England and Ireland. Mr.. Gladstone
following out the train Of thought, related some
episode in the Parliamentary negotiations, and
then his eyes flashing under frOwning brOws, and
slowly shaking his head, lie said in deep grave
tones: 1t was a bad busness-a bad business .
Evidently this crime. nearly century old.
| as fresh in his mind if it had been committed
that morning, and reflection upon it gave him as
| much pain as if he realized il for the first
time.
London society is Just now in "A state Of trcmu-
| iOus excitement, eXpcctant Of nice mOrsel OF
scandal that will soon be presented in the Law
| Courts 1t arises out OF caId-playILg trahsac-
| ton which took place at wel-knOWn country
| house Baccarat was the game and il Glanced
when the thunderbolt fell, that the Prince OF
| Wales was the banker. Among the gamblers was
| n young barOnct, with "A familiar though not
| exactly historic name, whose method Of play
| had for night or two attracted much attention
| Being closely watched, no doubt existed III the
| minds of his companions that he was cheating,
and he was plainly told 50. Naturally a scene
occursed. the baronet hoty denying the hard
| impeachment. In the end compromise was
effected He signed document, undertaking
| never to play any more, the company on their
| part promising that the episode should br strictly
| preserved a secret. Somehow or other the story
| aot wind ana il became incumbent OF the baronei
either 10 meet the charge or 10 Ostracisc himself
| He held n commission in crack regiment, and
was plainly told by his brother officers that he
! must do something" lie accordingly handed
| in his papers and has entered against his accuNcrs
Il civil action for libel Five gentlemen well
| known in society. are the defendants, and among
the witnesses to be called will be the Prince OF
| Wales.
Sir Charles Russell will hold brief for the
| defendants upon which new and additionally
| spcy feature has been introduced into the case.
| 4 week or two ago Sir Charles, engaged in prom
| inent case, found himself opposed by barrstcr
| with some practice at the Old Bailey. but little
| known outside It's precincts The famous advO-
cate. once putting on his wig and gown is in
| clined to be truculcnt person. " The learned
| gentleman who almost presGes over this court
| was Sir James liannens gently uttered but
| biting description of Sir Charles, drOpped in the
| course of the Pornell Commission. As rule
barristers. of whatever degree, knucklc under
to him. This Old Bailey practitioner, Mr.. Gill.
| saw his opportunity OF distinguishing himself,
and seized it with skill and bodncas. He did
| more than stand up to the astonlshcd autocrat.
| He inccssnntlv chcClied' him and Tic Secrctli