The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-03-11
GLADSTONE'S MANNER OF
LIFE.
The Great Statesman's Simple
and Regular Habits-PIain


and Regular Habits-PIain
Food, Plenty OF Sleep.
Mr.. Gladstone is in the best of health,
sleeps remarkably well, and SO far from
having shown signs of decreasing vitality
through an inability to maintain an
appetite for food the right honorable
gentleman enjoys his meals with the zest
of young man. Wh,p he rises he
invariably takes tepid bath, and every
morning before breakfast, while at
Biarritz he attended church and, since
his return to London has frequently
taken little walk in the grounds of
Downing street. His first meal usually
consists of hard boiled egg, slice of
tongue, with tea and toast. After break
fast he devotes himself to his correspon-
dence and for several hours is busy with
his private secretary and receiving such
political callers as may arrive.
For luncheon Mr.. Gladstone takes
cold meat, milk pudding and cheese
He drinks couple of glasses of light
wine, and sometimes finishes with
| glass of port. Ats o'clock disengaged
he has afternoon tea, His dinners are
selected to his taste. He takes soup,
fish (if it is to his fancy; but usually
| dimes off one dish, which he selects and
does not depart from. He is very fond of
rice pudding and prunes and rice and
upon either of these, but more especially
the former he would, if the etiquette of
the dinner table permitted it, make an
entire meal. He drinks claret ard to
his cheese has a liberal glass OF port
wine. Half of this he takes with his cheese
and sips the remainder in conversation
over dessert. When dining out Mr.,
Gladstone takes two or three glasses of
champagne, concluding, as usual, with
port. He does not drink coffee because
1t is seldom made to his liking and be-
ing astringent, keeps him awake.
While at Biarritz rule was made that
Mr.. Gladstone should be left alone at 10
| O'Clock every night. This rule is likely
to be adhered to still and the other even
ing while the guest of friend, he left at
quarter past 10 and was in bed IS
miuutesslater. Mr.. Gladstone has with
very rare exceptions, always slept well I,
and for some time was in the habit of
remaining 10 bed until uoon. This was
when he felt fatigued or desired to think
out some matter which specially engaged
him. But at BiarritZ be never lay in
bed but once, and that was two days
beforelthe time fixed fof his departure,
when he was attacked by cold in the
| head, and reverted to his old rule, kept
his bed for "a hours and thus regained
his usual health. Since the right honor
able gentleman returned to London he
has risen early, and is as vigorous and
hearty as his friends could wish Mr..
Gladstone lives very plainly, his regimen
being guided by authority but his
appetite in London is good. On one
occasion at Biarritz be was asked how
he slept, to which he replied gayly
Well have done my nine hours.
His memory is as keen as ever, and at
the Biarritz dinner table as when he
dimes at home or with friends IN London
he was the life of the party. On one
occasion when Mr.. Tollemache was
| present there was a discussion about
classics and Mr.. Gladstone quoted not
single lines of Greek but whole passages
On the voyage from Calais the channel
was very stormy and Mr. Gladstone lay
down, but did not suffer from seasick-
ness. The reports of his i'll health and
| lessened vitality have caused the
Downing street post bag to be.unusually
heavy, aud great deal of i'll afforded
time has consequently been expended in
refuting these idle inventions.