New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-18
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
MR. GLADSTONE AND HIS CAREER.

Roberts BROTHERS.
THE PEOPLES LIFE OF WILhIAM bMA Fp
1872 Cassell & Co.
Mr. Lucy's book simple and straightforward as
II is is as absorbing as romance. IL Is the re-
suit Of minute study of Mr. Gladstone IN pupHc
lfe. study that has lasted for score OF years
Other aspects Of his career are alluded TO- pu'
The only one fully exhibited is that OF GLADSTONE
As a statesman But this serves TO bring Out the
moods and peculiarites Of a character as rich
and varied as any that the world has seen A
fact which strikes one forcibly is the carry De-
ginning OF consciousness and memory in the chld
who as a man was to show bounaless mental
activity After the lapse Of more than eighty
wears Mr. Gladstone remembered, as ne once tolu
the author. the pattern Of dress worn by his
nurse which he must have observed al the
mature age Of eighteen months. When four
,.aars old he was taken to visit Hannah More
who was then near seventy. and he remembered
distinctly what she said 70 him. and little later
he noted the sound of cannon that announced
victory over Napoleon before the exile IN Eloa'
Thus in this biography the study or the ero"t"
OF a powerful mind begins clearly almost with
the dawn of life itself. Attention was not
habit 10 be acquired by Gladstone II was MS
nature His alertness TO impressions must nave
had much to do with that liveliness OF temporal
mont which led Lord Beaconsfeld once 10 de-
scribe his great rival as an Italian in the CUSTODY
of a Scotchman. and which was deplored by MI
Gladstone's father, who credited him with great
ability but with little stability. other men are
absorbed in one pursuit or in a single line of
study But Gladstone has been able 10 oeNo'e
the same intense effort to many objects Nor is
there any sign that he abandoned any purpose on
which his heart was set II he was unstable he
corrected the fault by so ordering his laoors as
IN renew from time to time his interest in each
task Only short time ago he gave 10 the
world his translations Of Horaces odes. Bat the
Indications are plain that these were the frult OF
a special activity that began many years ago III
other fields the case was the same AT any gwen
moment the lo0ker-on might imagine tnat ne sa"
signs of instability in the rapidly with when
Mr. Gladstone turned from one task to another
from legislation 10 theology. from Homer 10
Horace: but looking over the record when MI
Lucy has set down, one sees that these sudden
changes were merely steps in lifelong develop
ment and that in fourscore years and more rev
things begun have been left diminished
Another thing which Mr.. Lucy's book brings
,o,o - the reader is the wonderful fitness of Mr.
Gladstone's environment from his childhood on
ward :, bring out all his varied powers. There
,.as IN his case no struggle with adverse fortune
exnausting the best and freshest years or man
hood Wealth. social position, leisure. a finished
education-all were his, well as the privilege OF
deliberate choice in the matter OF career Inc
wish of his father closed one avenue which ne
might have preferred. He was not to be a clergy
man But his regret for the loss OF this opportu-
nitv must be slight in view Of the vast array o1
bis writings on theological and religious topics
He was not obliged To choose a profession ny
which 10 earn a livelihood, hence he has been at
liberty 10 devote all his forces 10 his Ideals his
fame was already considerable before he left 'he
university. The renown ot single speech opener
an easv way for him into Parliament An oppor-
tune book endeared him to the Churchneh ol Eng
land II there was any delay among the political
leaders of the day in giving him work to DO IL was
only such delay as was necessary TO test his aoiii-
ties II is not one Of the least remarkable facts IN
his career that his first speech in the House Of
Commons should have been a defence OF negro
slavery That alone would be sufficient to show
how long ago his political career began and now
great have been the changes in his opinions 10
these changes hostile critics refer when they seek
to prove that Mr. Gladstone is OF an unstable
mind But It cannot be said that there mas beeh a
greater revolution in him than in the world around
him In the times 10 which his first speech IN
Parliament belonged. even so wise man as Cole
ridge did not scruple to defend slavery from the
noint of view of a Christian anxious FOR the con-
version Of the heather. The unbending conserva-
tism Of those days in as much thing OF the past
in the English Nation as it Is in Mr. Gladston"
himself. Reform has followed reform. ana the
raa, leader can afford 10 be Indifferent to his
ord for consistency. with the other record Of what
he has achieved open TO the eyes Of all men. He
could not have done what he did If he had chung to
the principles and prejudices Of his youth On the
contrary he would long ago have been looked
,non with wonder as a specimen Of archaic
thought and practice This hostile criticism, now
ever though IL was expressed in bitter and We
berent language. was not 50 serious as II seemed
Otherwise Mr. Lucy would not be able 20 say that
in Mr. Gladstones closing days in the House OF
Commons there was nothing more noticeable
than the attitude Of respect. almost Of deference
with which he was treated by his political oppo-
nents He repaid this courtesy on their part IN
way all his own. "Of Mr.. Gladstones manifold
moods" says Mr.. Lucy there was none more
charming to the House Of Commons than that In
which he sometimes chatted with 1t on Tuesday
or a Friday night" ndulging in "reminiscences OF
old times and vanished faces with elbow leaning
on the brass-bound box. ne spoke In low CONVEX
sationa tone Of Canning OConnell, Lord Aber-
deem. Sir James Graham. Golden and others
whom he had known and worked with in years
long past" Even IN times Of greatest party feel
ing the attitude Of his most troublesome adver-
saries is represented by Mr.. Lucy as more mis-
chieyous than malicious. Mr.. Gladstone, himself
a consummate actor with genius for COMEDY
never could put off the character appropriate 10
the House Of Commons, nor take it otherwise imam
seriously His overwhelming energy bereft him OF
that repose Of manner which Is the ideal or the
English parliamentarian. He was easily pro-
voked by much inferior men. ITO call oh! ON
and An, Ahr when the veteran statesman. borne
down through the day with imperial cares was
occupying an hour Of the evening In strenuous de-
bate did not require much mental activity or seem
to demand prodigious recompense Yet II led Mr..
10 ainr cd nffi