New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-21
1T GLiDSTONE'S HOME.
SIMPLE LIFE or ENGLAND'S GRAND OLD
Man At HAWARDEN
w f. Curtiss Chester letter in The Chicago
Record

Man At IIAWARDEN.
w f. Curtiss Chester letter in The Chicago
Record.
on my way from Manchester southwark
dropped of here To pay the respect that every
! American owes 10 Mr.. Gladstone. whose stately
home Is six miles from Chester the most quaint
and venerable and. they say, the Oldest in
| England Ills estate is spelled Hawarden. but
the natives not only drop the II" but the
next two letters also. and call II Arden. so
| when | told the cOachman where wanted to
! 60 he did not understand me.
| Il want TO see Mr.. Gladstone"
"Ho yes; Mister Gla'stun. 'Ee lives at Ar
den. an you1 just catch the Of gentleman at
| prayers"
! Every evening AT o'clock the venerable
statesman walks through the grove that sur
! rounds his mansion 10 the little parish ehurch
/ Of Hnwarden. ~ which his son stephen IS
| vicar and prays for tho Queen. the Prince or
/ Wales the Ministry. the two houses OF Parlia-
! mcnt and all others in authority. and makes
/ the responses In deep tone Of voice that can
be heard by all the congregation. II 'ns hev'
| stephen isn't there Mr.. Gladstone reads the SER
/ vice himself.
/ The little chapel. which Is very ugly In APP
pearance outside but beautiful within. Is half
/ all,d with his servants and pous villagers. and
/ there are usually a number OF strangers VINO
! find out at Chester. "A We did that thlS IL thf'
! host time 10 see him E'c doesn't mind meeting
| strangers and has become used 10 having them
! remain al the church door to shake hands with
| him as he passes out. In fact he rather ex-
! poets them 10 show him that mark OF respect
]
! home these DAYS for he does not like to have
his rest and recreation disturbed. II n stranger
| wishes T. call upon him IL is customary 10
! write a note asking the privilege ana ny re-
arm mail his secrctarv viii serd a reply saying
| that Mr. Gladstone regrets that his strength
/ or his engagements VIII not permit MN ~
indulge. etc: or II he feels Ia the huii,or lUr
! society, he will name an hour and receive you.
! But II often requires three or -FOUR Gays l"
/ accomplish the act OF courtesy. -, ooo
The beautiful park At Hawarden. with Nuo
] ind a.
! castle are open every day for the enjoyment OF
| the public and picnic parties Come from chester
| and railway excursions from the nelBhpoilhS
| country for hundred miles around 10 ENJOY
! Mr. Gladstone's hospitality. The mansion is
| surrounded by IA high stone wall TO protect the
! family from intrusion. but when ne ieeis par-
ticularly well the old gentleman taxes pleasure
| I'm showing himself To the eXcursionlSts' ana
| often makes n little speech. Yesterday chor
| from Il church in one Of the neighboring towns
| OF Wales came over for holiday and serenaded
him He appeared upon the wall shortly after
| the singing began and. after listening 10 two or
| three selections. called the party around him
and in a pntriarchal way told them of the IN
nuence Of music upon the human mind.
Then he asked them to sing Cardinal New
mans latest hymn. Lead. Kindly Light and
thanked them for the pleasure he had enjoyed
He will not discuss politics or any i've topic
either In public or private without preparation
II he has anything to say upon subjects that are
occupying the attention Of the people. ne dc
tates Il letter to some acquaintance and gives IL
to the press.
Although he is over eighty-scvcn. he locks as
hearty as when | first him. fifteen years
ago and walks with firm step. but carries a
stiff buckthorn stick to lean upon He has not
entirely abandoned his habit or wood hOpping.
but does not indulge In II daily. as he formerly
did His evening walk to the chapel and strols
around his garden sufficient exercise for his
aged limbs.
The little village Of Hawarden Is very old IT
dates back to the Roman occupation. but Is only
n little street extending perhaps quarter OF n
mile There is a schoolhouse in the churchyard.
an inn, the proprietor OF which is licensed 10
sell spirits malt liquors and tobacco. to he con-
sumed on the prcmises,' "A general store and
blacksmith shop AMI most Of the residents have
placed temporary stands In front OF their dwell
lngs from which they supply refreshments to the
cNcursionists that come almost daily.