The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-30

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MR. GLADSTONE AND ONE OF Ills GRAND
CHILDREN.
took the highest fonors both in classics
and mathematics.
Rt. Hon. William Ewart Gladstone.
NJ. p, Z. c., to give him his full name
and titles is the fourth son OF the late
Sir John Gladstone. In 1854, when only
twenty-five years Old Mr. Gladstone
entered parliament, ever since which he
has been Il member Of the house of
commons. lie was made prime minis
ter in 1865, and remained in power six
years. Last summer he took the Office
for the fourth time, and now the sturdy
old man of eighty-three is at the head
of Englands cabinet.
Mr.. Gladstone lives in Hawardcn
castle, which means sthc hill fort on
the projecting ridge" That at least was
the meaning of the original British
name, Garthddin, which in Saxon
became Haordinc, and in Welsh Pcnar-
lag. But there are two castles of that
name, and Mr.. Gladstone occupies the
modern one, which is only a hundred
and forty years old at the most. The
old and new, however, face each other
One, massive ruin occupied by bats
and owls and memories of the past, and
the other the residence of Enrland's
premier. William the Conqucror, when
he came to England, found the old
castle occupied by Edwin of Mcrcia.
and its history goes back to the first or
second Edward. Mr.. Gladstone, how.
ever, docs not keep this historical ruin
to himself. but admits anybody to the
park. He only requests visitors, saws a
writer, to keep 10 tile gravel walks, and
refrain from writing their names on the
walls Of the old castle.
When relieved from the affairs of
state, Mr.. Gladstone finds no pleasure
so great as his homo life at IIawardcn
There his family arc gathered together
and the great man romps and PLAYS
with his grandchildren as though he
never knew what it was to be blamed
Tor everything that went wrong in all
Great Britain and her colonies. Mr..
Gladstone is ~ wonderful scholar. n
busy writer and speaker, but the little
Gladstone children know him best as n
good, kind-hcartod grandfather who is
fond of fun. lie. too, would prefer to
enjoy their company rather than to be
surrounded by England's great men at
an all-night session of parliament. His
other recreations are walking, and
this is really very funny-chopping
down trees. Our great George Wash
ington, according to tradition, had a like
fondness IN his youth, but by the time
he became president he had probably
outgrown such fancies. Mr. Gladstone.
however, is an expert woodman, and
though he doesn't destroy valuable
cherry trees, he goes out with his az
and takes the kcenest pleasure in fell
ing trees in Hawardcn park. A visitor
to his castle one day noticed an AK be
hind the door in the great hall, where
it had been left by the statesman after
one OF his chopping expeditions. A ell.
rious ornament for such a place il
seems. 1t may be out of compliment to
the boy George Washington and his
Ratchet that the Grand Old Man. Pre-.
fcrs to use an American AK.
There arc few men that have such n
memory as that which Mr.. Gladstone is
said to possess. II has been stated that
he can go at once to his library, and
amid the 10000 books there find in %
moment the volume he desires AS for
quotations from the classics he knows
Just where they are to be found, and
any number of other wonderful things
are related OF him.
1T is truly great thing to be q
scholar of this advanced age, it is fame
to be a premier of England, and pleas
ant TO be the Grand Old Man. of his
country. But far more impressive dc
hnrn,.- al l.. 4
him MS 4 loving man and father, and
sec him with his little grandchildren on
his cc.-IIarpers' Young People.