New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-24
LONDON NOTES.
rr1r BIOGRAPHIES OF THE TWO GRAND
OLD MEN-THE STAGE AND SOME
OF IT'S CRITICS
London, April 8.


have been at work for several years either upon
nm autobiography OF an authorized memoir
which will be his political will and testament
10 Germany Mr. Gladstones library Is stocked
With material in private papers ana correspohu-
ence for a political history OF the victorian
reign. The authorized biographies or THESE TWO
veterans will be among the most important
books of the century. They Will embrace De
tween them the political history or Europe ana
Great Britain They will be prizes Tor wh'ch
the publishers OF the Continent and the Eng
.speaking world will compete with intense
eagerness and energy.
Mr.. Gladstone has always had a definite plan
for employing the final leisure or an eVen'iui
lifetime in the production OF an AUTOBIOGRAPHY
rhrouehout his career he has been most me-
thodical and panstaking in filing and preserving
private letters and State papers FOR future use
The Hawarden library has gradually become "
great storehouse Of Gladstoniana The Vc'cr-
an statesman from time to time has arranged
readusted classified and revised this material
but never has had the heart to destroy any Oh
IT, Engrossed as he was with public affairs
and allowing himself only one recreation. the
toilsome but congenial one Of literature, he
waited for the tranquil hours or retirement
from the storm and stress of politics. never
ergy in reserve for putting his volumlnous
material in order and reviewing In the serenity
OF old age the great events Of his life when
the opportunity came he overrated his failing
resources and undertook as a preliminary inter-
AIRY recreation the arrangement and annexation
of Bishop Buffers works. The autobiography
was put aside for a final tour de force.
There has been, indeed nothing more charac-
teristic Of the invincbe spirit Of the veteran
statesman than his last belated effort to grappie
with this great enterprise. He was nearly
blind; he was very deaf; and his physical pow
ers were waning; but his will was unconquer-
able. Although a most lucrative publishers
contract was declined because he felt uncertain
Of his working capacity he chung tenaciously
to the idea that he might have release from
pain and be allowed a little more time and
strength for this final effort He Is reported
by some Of his intimate friends to have begun
this work of writing an autobiography and TO
have concentrated his energies upon 1t under
conditions which would have appalled, any one
else 1t was an Illustration of his courage and
grit almost striking as the coolness with
which at eighty-four he asked the occust. who
had found one eye sfghtless from an old cata-
ract and the other one seriously impaired by the
formation Of one, to operate without
old cataract he hoped to have one good eye
while the other was becoming useless and he
did not finch from the operation. but wished to
have it done on the instant. The same fort-
tude has been revealed In his attempt to write
In autobiography during his closing weeks Of
tnremitting physical anguish.
HANDED OVER TO MR.. MORLEY.
The undertaking was abandoned few weeks
ago, and the papers, correspondence and notes
which were Immediately in hand were sent 10
Er. John Morley. This fact, which / mentioned
n a cable letter a fortnight ago has seemed 70
Indicate that the authorized literary executor
lad biOgrapher will be the devoted friend who
has shared his confidence during recent years
more intimately than anybody else. On all
grounds except one that Of sympathy In rclig
ious views, Mr. Morley is the one Englishman
who is pre-emnenty qualified for undertaking
this work. In scholarship, literary sense Of
proportion lucdty OF style and philosophic dig
nifty Of treatment other English biographer
can enter the lists against him. He is the one
man capable OF writing the Home Rule chapters
precisely as Mr.. Gladstone would wish to have
them written. He has loved and reverenced
his great leader and in return he has been trust
ed as a comrade equally Of the mind and Of the
heart There has been no friendship in English
public life so noble and beautiful that which
has knit together Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Nor
ley. The selection Of Mr.. Morley the blog-
Yapher and literary executor of Mr. Gladstone
will be generally regarded here as the most ap-
proprate choice which can be made.
am Informed. however. that publishers who
have already approached Mr. Morley on this
subject have found him communicative and