The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1897-10-23
THE GRAND OLD MAN.
MR.. GLADSTONE IN DEBATE
Tells How He Looked and What He Did
When MAkinga Speech.

HAIRY Furniss, the artist OF London
funch, whose caricatures Of Gladstone are
no S9 vel known In America, has written and
ninstrated a paper for the September Cen
Miss says:
! noticed that he always appeared to be
very anxious and restless before rising to
make speech His first movement upon
socn an occasion was TO arrange his careful
EIn PREPARED notes upon the boz In front Of
torlcal pOmatum-pot. which contained. be-
nese, q mi mixture OF egg-nip and hOney-a re-
SSpe OF slr william Clarke's-he would place
u out OF view on the edge OF the table by
the side OF the box. Then he would sit.
placing both hands upon his knees, with his
face nrmly set, and with his hawk-lIke eyes
nxed upon the speaker, waiting for the sig
nal 10 spring TO his feet Once up. he
seemed composed enough, playing with the
NOTES In front OF him and arranging and &c
arranging them. Then, leaning forward and
laying his hand upon the box, he would be-
Sln slowly, latterly with n husky voice.
Mhen the graceful Introduction with which
ne preIaced his remarks was over. there
would come an Omlnous tug at his wrist.
bands followed by an easing OF his collar
VII. Mlth one finger, step back, a flash from
others describe his speeches
AS an artist, accustomed perhaps TO use
my eyes more than my ears, l content my.
self here with noting down certain personal
tralts-such, for instance. as that when the
great orator paused TO consider a difficult
point he was wont TO scratch the top OF his
determined TO drive an argument home TO his
listeners, he used TO emphasize IL by bring
ing down his hinged hand upon the box with
a tremendous bang. OF which energetic ac-
tion evidence remains In the shape OF many
tell-tale dentS In the boxes. | have examined
these evidences. and IL was interesting To
md that the energy OF the orator was much
greater when he was out OF office than whee
he was In power, the box upon the oppOsi-
ZION side being much more severely marked
than Its fellow In front Of the government
bench, notwithstanding the terrific thump-
Ing TO which that receptacle was subjected
during the memorable grafton Of Thursday,
Another habit peculiar to Mr. Gladstone
during debate was that CT turning around
and addressing members behind him. Upon
one occasion, In 1889. he turned 10 his
younger supporters and gave them this no
table advice: 81 stand here as a. member OF
the House. where there are many who have
taken their seats for the first time upon
these benches. and where there may he some
10 whom possibly / may anvil myself of the
privilege OF old age to offer a recommended
uon. l would tell them of my own intention
TO Keep my counsel and reserve my own
freedom until i see the occasion when there
may be a prospect Of public benefit in en-
/ will venture to recommend them 10 do the
same"-Holding up his hands like an old
parliamentary prophet.
Upon great occasions In the House Mr..
Gladstone's dress was very noticeable. He
was then spruce. In n black frOck coat. light
trousers and wearing flower In his button
hole. This generally indicated that n great
speech was imminent. Whenever there was
any excuse for wearing them, Mr. Gladstone
had a Partially for gray clothes. which
were not too fashionably cut: and once l re-
member that he caused some sensation by
appearing in the house wearing a wedding
favor. Something had evidently tickled his
sense Of humor upon the occasion. for he
was "smillng all over" as he came In: ana
when he sat down by Sir William Harcourt.
to whom he related the joke. his merriment
seemed to Increase. Afterwards he repeated
Il to Mr.. Chamberlain and again to the
speaker. finally quitting the house to tell It
anew outside.