Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-10-05

panion.-"Take it away. How can
do two things at once?" These are
perhaps the very first well authenticat-
ed words ever used by Mr.. Gladstone.
He was then a small boy, doing his
lessons, when he was interrupted by
the entrance of p nurse, bringing him
Il dose Of physics. The words will
seem to some foreshadowing of the
aStuteneSS of the old parliamentary
any situation; but to those who know
Mr.. Gladstone more than specifically,
they contain one of the secrets of the
SureneSs and success Of his work
Never overload your ship; never let
your business overlap" That has been
his first rule. His second rule, but not
second in Importance, is whatsoever
thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy
might
SO it has come TO pass that each per
son who meets him on his own subject
or work in life feels that that is the
subject in which Mr.. Gladstone'S real
heart lies. Nobody who has watched
him and taken note Of the intensity
with which he throws himself into the
subject in hand can be surprised at
this. The theologian, the scholar and
the politician each in turn would say
that Mr.. Gladstone was before all
things a theOlOgian, scholar, pOliti-
clan, while even subjects unimportant
in themselves, when brought before
him, are treated for the moment with
this characteristic energy ard earnest
ness.
At the same time, as has been said
by friend: mo words can eXaggerate
the extraordinary charm and brilliancy
of his conversation, especially when
any one is present who will resist the
temptation to be silent listener, and
will leap into the arena, take up the
cudgels, throw in questions and
criticisms, CT in any other way act
us steels to flint"
There is nothing peculiar or elabor
ate in Mr.. GladStone'S method of work
ing. Interruption is almost fatal to
him, but his power of concentration is
so great that conversation, so long as
it is consecutive, may buzz around him
without his being conscious of any dis
turbance. He is unable to divide the
machinery of his mind, as many can
do, working several smaller parts at
once; he concentrates the whole upon
the one thing.
When asked a question he often
n
he gives the impression of not having
hard but if his interlocutOr is patient,
he will get his answer in course OF
time, train of thought must be
finished
Ono reason why he gets through in
one Gay more than most people do In
4 week, is his economy of time. This
is Il habit which must have been &C
quired long ago, as in the year 1889
that Of the double marriage of Mr.
Gladstone and Lord Lyttelton to the
sisters Catherine and May Glynne-
the two brothers-inlaw surprised their
wives, and aWed them not Il little, by
filling up all odd bits and scraps OF
time with study or work. Out of their
pockets would come the inevitable little
classic at chance times of leisure.
Mr.. Gladstones day has often been
described, but it would be an omis-
sion not to give it here, especially as
the accounts in newspapers and re-
views are seldom accurate. No mem
Der Of the Hawarden household can
for a moment compete with Mr.. Glad
stone i'll regularity and punctuality.
Always in his library his Temple of
Peace" by o'clock, he has, if in his
usual health, never been known since
the year 1912 to fail to appear at !
church, three-quarters of a mile off, at
$50 for morning service. Nothing but
illness has ever hindered him from
daily attending this service. This is !,
only carrying out a principle which was
in his earlier days by the |
daily prayers which he had with his !,
two servants when, yong man, he
lodged in the Albany, in London.
His correspondence is sifted by the |
son or daughter living most at home, :
and soon after breakfast a selection
from his letters is brought to him. An
average of one-tenth only of the postal !
arrivals is laid before him, and Of
these he answers about one-half. An
collection might be made
out Of the remainder, for probably no
public man was ever addressed or con-
suited On so many hundred subjects. |
When he is in office the system is
more elaborate. The whole morning,
at home or on visit or hOli-
lay, is given up to business; and after
o'clock luncheon he resumes work for
IN hour or so, and till lately, occupied
he recreation time with tree-cutting,
which he chose as giving him the max
mum Of healthy exercise, in the min
mum of time. But for the last two or
hree years he has generally spent the
Lfternoon at his new library. What
S to be the future Of this library is a
ecret still locked within Mr. Glad
tones own breast. But whatever it
,e, the library is certainly in no sense !
dapted to become what is now termed
a free library" being. first and fore
most, distinctly theological in its
haracter.
To this building, erected few years
go close to the church, he has trans
orted 24,OOO books, every single vol
me Of which has been put into it's new
est with his own hands. Only those p
Tho have arranged their own few hum c.
reds Or thousands of books will real Il