The sun., 1895-05-27
THREE OCTOGENARIANS.
POPE LEO xIIL OF ROME, GLAD
STONE OF ENG LAND, IND BIS
MdRCk or GERMANr.


Their Long Cnreer-Their Distinctive Per.
sonniity-Thrir Work In the World
Their Place In History-OnIv One OF Oh.
Three - Yet Active In Onlcinl Duty.
or the three notable octogenarians OF Europo.
Leo KILL. the Supreme Pontff Of the Catholic
world; Gladstone, tho cx-Premier OF England.
and Bismarck, ex-Chancellor OF the German
empire, the oldest Is Gladstone. who was born
In 1900, and the youngest is Bismarck, born
1915, while the Pope. who was born in 1910. IL
but two months younger than Gladstone.
The three octogenarians differ as greatly 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 Pact.
fcator," bismarck as the MAN OF Blood aud
Iron" Gladstone as the Grand Old Man"
The only one of these yet in active service 10
the Pope, who was elected Supreme PontiH
in 1878. Prior to that time he had been Arch
bishop OF Damiata, Apostolic Nuncio to Belgium,
Bishop OF Pcrugia. and member Of the College
OF Cardinals.
Gladstone was a member OF Parliament as
early as 1882; he subsequently held q great
variety of Offices under the Government, includ.
ing the office OF Chancellor OF the Exchequer.
He was Premier for tho first time as successor
TO Disraeli 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.
lie mas Deeu tIe hutuOI VI pOohs, tHtOlORl.
Bismarck's career has been lcss varied. In
1910 he was chosen n member of the second
Chamber OF the Prussian Diet; he was subse.
quently Prussian Ambassador TO st. Petersburg
Affairs. and finally, in 1871. Chancellor Of tie
German empire, which he held until he was ro-
lieved by the present Kaiser.
or the three octogcnarians, the Pope Is the one
who possesses the most amiable and kindly dis
position; Gladstone is a ~ man l, OF warm wa temper.
Bismarck Is parsonage of exceeding rascibility,
which characi ieristic, however, according to all
accounts. has become greatly modified since his
The Pope is the most eminent Catholic scholar
of vast and varied learning; Bismarck has made
no mark upon the age outside Of statecraft.
hpp ssy IL hs hseps %sssh Of Of H. h.
charge in every country; ne receives and holds
itors from "a ali pa parts Of tho world: he COMP eomposss
encyclicals upon many subjects; he labors inees.
fT n ns
else and vigilant. Gladstone. though retired
Eusy With shps nR.hsr
he keeps an eye upon the affair. q
interest in them; his powers seem to be in OK
in Parliament. .Bismarok The youngest Of tho
has tola G within the past few w;esks e; Of the Of
1OrC ne naQ 10 mako 10 taRe part In tn0 CeleOfe-
tion CT his eghtieth birthday. and to receive the
many delegations which have waited upon him.
His participation in tho ceremonies has been q
hard trial for him; his speeches to tho delega-
tions have been very laborious and short: and
1t has frequently been necessary that he should
receive tho help Of his friends while moving
about.
Gladstone's thoughtful careful and venerable
wife lives to cheer his years. 1t was but recently
that bismarck became . widower; the Supreme
Pontif never marries.
There arc ofton reports about each ono Of tho
three octogenarians that his death is at hand,
but at least two of them are ceaselessly busy,
and only one Of them talks gloomily. 1t would
seem that the Pope is never kept from his duties
by the condition of his health. 1t Is certain
that Gladstones occasional ailments are but OF
short duration. Bismarck's frame has been
more seriously shaken than that of either OF his
two contemporaries. Yet 1t were iole to specu-
late upon tho prospects of life for any OF tho
three. 1t may be that the Oldest OF them will
outlive tho youngest.
1t is not in every age Of tho world that three
such octogenarians as those here spoken Of are
seen 1t is not often that three veterans of their
distinctiveness OF character hold such places in
the world Is they have held contemp mporaneously.
There have been but few instances in which Q
Pope Of the years of Leo XIII. has been as ao-
tive as he is. Gladstone is without q parallel in
British annals. Bismarck is without q rival In
the past, as he was the first Chancellor of tho
existing German empire.
The three octogenarians must occupy q large
place in the political and ecclesiastical history
OF tho nineteenth century.