Milford chronicle., 1895-06-14
A FAMOUS TRIO.
The Three Great Octogenarians, Pope E.so
XIII. Gladstone and Bismarck.

The Three Great Octogenarians, Pope II
, XIII. Gladstone and Bismarck.
OF the three notable ootogenarians O
, Europe Leo XIII, the supreme pontiff O
the Catholic world; Gladstone, the ex- pre-
/ mier Of England, and Bismarck, ex-chan
cellor Of the German empire, the oldest 1
Gladstone, who was born in 1909, and tn
youngest Is Bismarck, born 1915, while tn
pope, who was born in 1870 is but tw'
months younger than Gladstone.
The three octogenarians differ as greatly
from each othor in their genius as in theii
life work Each Of them possesses excep
tional traits Of character The pope Il
spoken Of as the "Pacihcator," Bismarck
as the Man of Blood and Iron" Glad
stone as the "Grand Old Man"
The only one of these yet in active serv
ice is the pope who was elected as supreme
pontiff in 1878. Prior to that time he had
been archbishop of Damiata, apostolic nun.
clio to Belgium, bishop Of Perugia and
member of the college of cardinals.
Gladstone was a member Of parliament
as early as 1882. He subsequently held a
great variety Of Offices under the govern
hlent, including the office Of chancellor OF
the exchequer. He was premier for the
first time as successor to Disraell in 1868,
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, theo-
Logical, classical and political.
Bismarck's career has been less varied
/ In 1849 he was chosen a member Of the
second chamber Of the Prussian diet; he
was subsequently Prussian ambassador to
st. Petersburg and to Paris, Prussian
,fr.fs -
1871, chancellor Of the German empire,
which he held until he was relieved by the
present kaiser.
OF the three OotOgeRarians, the pope is
tho one who possesses the most amiable
and kindly disposition; Gladstone is man
of warm temper, which is apt to become
hot when he Is aroused; Bismarck is
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 n man of vast and varied learning;
Bismarck has made no mark upon the age
outside of statecraft.
The pope's activity in the business Of
the church is ceaseless. He keeps watch
Of his charge In every country; he receives
and holds intercourse with prelates, priests
and other visitors from all parts Of the
world; he composes encyclicals upon many
subjects; he labOrs necessarily for tho uni
1cation of Christendom; he performs all
his duties in a manner at once precise and
vigilant. Gladstone, though retired from
office, is busy with one thing or another
every day Of his life. He IS engaged at
literary labor; he travels at home and
he keeps an eye upon the affairs |
Of church and state; he gives utterance to |
his 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 three octogena- !
rians has passed into retirement for tho /
Of his existence. He himself |
has told, within the past few weeks, Of the |
Effort he had to make to take part in the
celebration of his eightieth birthday and
20 receive the many delegations which
have waited upon him. His participation
n the ceremonies has been a hard trial for
aim, his speeches to the delegations have
Deen very laborious and short, and it has
been necessary that he should
'eceiye the help OF his friends while mov-
ng about.
Gladstone's thoughtful, careful and VEN
,rable wife lives to cheer his years. 1t was
nut recently that Bismarck became a wild
,wer. The supreme pontiff never marries.
There are often reports about each one
f the three Octogenarians that his death
s at hand, but at least two Of them are
easelessly busy, and only one Of them
alks gloomily. 1t would seem that the
ope is never kept from his duties by the
of his health. 1t is certain that
occasional ailments are but Of
hort duration. Bismarck S frame has been
lOre seriously shaken than that of either
his two contemporaries, yet it were idle
D speculate upon the prospects of life for
ny one of The three. 1t may be that the
ldest of them will outlive the youngest
1t is not in every age Of the world that
hree such octogenarians as those here spo-
en- of are seen. 1t is not often that three !
eterans of their distinctiveness of charac-
II hold such places in the world as they !.
ave held contemporaneously. There have
cen but few instances in which pope Of
10 years Of Leo XIII has been as active /
J he is. Gladstone is without parallel
l British annals. Bismarck is without a
val in the past, rs he was the first chan
flor Of the existing German empire
The three ootOgenarians must occupy n
rye place in the political and ecclesias :
cal history Of the nineteenth century,
ew York Sun.