Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-09-09


Of the great statemar who sways the
destinies Of Great Britain. She has
notable personality Of her own,
worthy in its energy and Sagaeity of
him with whom her life is linked
While the husbands career has al
ways been interviewer with the highest
affairs Of state, the wife has shown her
genius for administration by the char
liable enterprises in which she has
taken 50 active a part. Most things
come about naturally rs the effect of
growth; and it is interesting to 20 back
to the childhood of Mrs. Gladstone TO
trace the influences which directed her
mind to deeds Of benehcence. Things
have changed since Mrs. Gladstone was
little girl, living with her sister and
brother al Hawarden castle nearly
eighty years ago.
Mrs Gladstone's father, Sir stephen
Glynne, died young, when his eldest
daughter Catharine lMrs. Gladstone
was scarcely ; years old.
Tradition remembers him as a very
handsome, liyely-minded man, and it
is said that Catharine Gladstone grew
up very like her father.
one Of Mrs GladstoEe's first vivid
impressions is Of the fright she got by
seeing the "mLtes," then the fashion
no important funerals, standing about
the castle while her dead father lay
in state 1t gave her a lifelong horror
of elaborate and expensive funerals.
Her father was succeeded in the
baronetcy and estates by his eldest son.
Stephen Richard. then but a boy of 5.
Lady Glynne, daughter OF Lord Bra
brooke, was left with the sole charge
Of the property and the children. She
was a beautiful woman Of strong char
acter. Fortunately about this time
her brother, the Hon. George Neville,
came to be rector Of Hawarden Parish,
The castle and rectory We're within a
quarter of an hours walk of each other,
and it was a precious boon for Lady
Glynne to have her brothers jUdicious
help in the management of the large
estates, and i'm the education of her
two boys and her two girls.
This was about the year 1918. AT
that date Hawardeu, in common with
a village in Cheshire had the deserved
reputation Of being the most wicked
place in all the country round. Mr..
Neville, with Lady Glynne's consent,
closed the worst of the public houses.
and inaugurated a system Of education
for the parish, setting up schools in
Hawarden village and in the districts
round.
In 1899 She married William Ewart
Gladstone. whose great genius already
forshadowed his future emincnce The
same day her youngest sister married
Lord Lyttleson. Those who were eye
witnesses Of that double wedding and
all the wonderful festivities in the
village are becoming few, indeed.
In her married life Mrs. Gladstone
found occupation to the full She was
always the true and careful mother
who would not give over her duties to
another, even to the best Of nurses.
She was devoted TO her husband in his
inccssant political tolls.
Mrs. Gladstone soon became a center
for philanthropic work Of all kinds
She and Mr. Gladstone started Newport
Market Refuge, which is now carried
on at Westminster, with an industrial
school attached.
Begun in Soho in 1853. it was Mr.
Gladstone's idea, for he saw many
friendless wanderers as ne went at
night between the House of Commons
and his home.
-,rs. Gladstone threw herself into
I is scheme. and The work was started
with an efficient committee. From the
bc"unug Mr. Gladstone has been
president and his wife a regular visit
or The object Of The refuge is to give
shelter to persons out of work and no
temporary distress, to enable them To
tide over their difficulties and TO find
fresh employment. 1t does not take IN
the practical casual, or loafer, hul the
weary, sore-fOoted travellers, who have
walked far in search Of work and
found none Such are always admitted
us far as room permits, and have the
assurance Of a week lodging free, with
the prospects OF iu tAteuStol oL lllhe
il the committee see reasonable
chance of their getting work
In the course eff a single year, writes
Mary q. Burnett in the current number
Of McClure's Magazine, about 1900
nights lodgings and 10000 rations have
been granted, and 300 men and women
have obtained employment or else have
been sent home to their friends.
1t need scarcely be said to those who
have kept pace with recent events that
the most vital feature of General
Booths great work in London follows
closely the model set by the Gladstone
institution.
1t was soon found advisable TO add
Boys Industrial School to the work of
the Refuge. Many lads in distress
were constantly being discovered, who
would certainly drift into a life Of
idleness and dishonesty IL not taken
in hand. SO the managers determined
to try the new eombination-refug