The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-02
THREE OCToGENARIANs.
Pope Leo XIII, Gladstone and Bis
murck.
From the New York Sun.


From the New York Sun.
OF the three notable octogenarians Of
Europe Leo XIII, the supreme pontiH of
the Catholic world; Gladstone, the ex-
premier of England. and Bismarck, ex-
chancellor of the German empire, the old
est is Gladstone, who was born in 1909, and
the youngest is Bismarck born 1915, while
the pope who was born in 1910, is but two
months younger than Gladstone.
The three octogenarians differ as great
ly from each other in their genius as in
their life work. Each of them possesses
exceptional traits of character. The pope
is spoken Of as the "Pacihcator." Bis.
marck as the Man of Blood and Iron,'
Gladstone as the Grand Old Man"
The only one of these yet in active SER
vice is the pope, who was elected as SUI
preme pontiff in 1873. Prior to that tins
he had been Archbishop of Damiata Ap-
ostolic Nuncio to Belgium, Bishop Of Per.
ugia, and member of the College Of Cardi-
nails.
Gladstone was a member of parliament
as early as 1882; he subsequently held a
great variety of office under the govern
ment including the office of chancellor Of
the eXchequer. He was premier for the
nrst time as successor to Disraeli in 1853
and for the second time in 1880 and for
the third in 1886, and for the last time from
1892 to 1894, when he resigned. He has been
the author of many books, theological,
classical, and political
Bismarck career has been less varied.
In 1919 he was chosen member of the
second Chamber of the Prussian Diet; he
was subsequently Prussian ambassador to
st. Petersburg and to Paris. Prussfan
minister of foreign affairs and finally, in
1871, chancellor of the German empire.
which he held until he was relieved by the
present kaiser.
u the three octogenarians the pope is
the one who possesses the most amable
ana kindly disposition; Gladstone is man
or warm temper. which is apt to become
not when he is aroused; Bismarck is d
parsonage of exceeding Feasibility, which
characteristic, however, according to all
accounts, has become greatly modified
since his fall from power.
The pope is the most eminent Catholic
scholar and theologian of his time; Glad
stone is q man of vast and varied learn
ing bismarck has made no mark upon the
age outside of statecraft
The pope's activity in the business Of the
NAANA vi - ttdStltSS. lie Keeps watch u
MS charge in every country; he receives
ana holds intercourse with prelates, priests
ana other visitors from all parts of the
world; he compOses encyclicals upon many
subjects; he labors necessarily for the uni
hcation of Christendom; he performs all
MS duties in manner al once precise and
Vigilant Gladstone, though retired from
ONCE, is busy with one thing or another
every day of his life He is engaged at
literary lqhOFs ba Of and
abroad; he keeps an eye upon the affairs
Oh church and state; he gives utterance to
ms views upon public questions and re-
tains his interest in them; his powers seem
TO be in excellent order; he takes the great
est enjoyment in life and action. He may
yet again be heard in parliament. Bis
marck, the youngest of the oetogenarians,
mas passed into retirement for the remain-
der of his existence. He himself has told
within the past few weeks, of the effort ne
mad to make to take part in the celebra-
tion OF his eightieth birthday, and TO re-
ceive the many delegations which have
waited upon him. His participation in the
ceremonies has been hard trial for him;
ms speeches to the delegations have been
very laborious and short; and it has ire
quently been necessary that he should re-
ceive the help of his friends while moving
about.
Gladstones thoughtful, careful. and
venerable Wife lives to cheer his years u
was but recently that Bismarck became d
widower; the supreme pontin never mar
rfes.
There are often reports about each Que
OF the three octogenarians that his DEAN
Is at handi but at least two of them ara
ceaselessly busy, and only one OF them
talks gloomy 1t would seem that the pop7
Is never Kept from his duties by the conui-
ton of his health. 1t is certain that Hlau,
stones occasional ailments are put o.
short duration. Bismarcks frame mas
been more seriously shaken than thar u
either of his two contemporaries. Y ct !.
were idle to speculate upon the prospe['S
OF life for any one of the three. II may -
that the oldest of them will outllVe 'N0
youngest
1t is not in every age of the world nc
three such octogenarians as those NJ NJ
spoken of are seen. 1t is not often 'Nl
three veterans of their distinctiVehess
character hold such places in the WorLu ,
they have held contemporaneously. -
nave been but few instances in WhCH a.
pope of the years of Leo XIII has 6een
active as he is. Gladstone is wlthou' -
parallel in British annals. BismarcA ~
without a rival in the past as he was -
first chancellor Of the existing German e''
pire
The three octogenarians must occur. .i.
large place in the political and ecclesie7
cal history af the nineteenth esns'-