Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-10-05
GLADSTONE'S CHIyALROUS ACT
Tracked q WsywaFd Wife to Induce
Her to Return Home.

Her to Return Home.
Attention has been recalled to q but
little known and mnch misintrrpreted
episode in the career Of Mr.. Gladstone
by the bankruptcy Of Colonel Horace
Walpole, nominally the adopted son,
but in reality the illegitlmate issue of
the late earl of Oxford, and for whose
unworthy sake the old peer left every
stick and yestige of property away
from the earldom. which descended to
his nephew, the present peer, who for
tunately is married to rich American
girl, daughter of the railroad magnate,
Daniel Corbin of New York.
Some fsFty years ago the late earl OF
Oxford eloped with Lady Lincoln, wife
of Lord Lincoln. who was 1T the time
Mr.. Gladstone's most intimate friend,
and who subsequently became duke OF
Negaastle. Lord Lincoln subsequently
obtained a divorce from his wife. ana
the most important testimony furnish
ed in support of the petitioners case
was that of Mr.. Gladstone, who adj
mitted ~ court that he had spent much
time and money ip tracking the fugi-
tive couple All oyer Europe until ne
finally ran them to earth in the north OF
Italy. The idea that Mr.. Gladstone
should thus have played what appear
ed to be the role Of private detective
In the affair brought upon him Much
obIoauy, which it took him many years
to live down. Yet those who know
him best are aware that there was noun
ing further from his mind when he M
deftta,ls the arduous task Of Following
the eiopipg et9lppllte through Europe tnan
the idea Of playing Il fpfe in the divorce
case or TO securing testiAenF ier LII
coin. Gladstone believed that iie han
great influence with Lady Lincoln, ana
his one and only aim was to induce her
TO return to her husband. who WIS so
dee,dy attached 20 her that he was pre-
pared to fergiylt her and to restore her
to his heart and home If she had gone
back to England with Gladstone. II
Mr.. Gladstone failed IN his mission 1t
was not for want Of pleading, but sole
~ AMI entirely because Lady Lincoln
was SO iafafflattesd by the many ana
undeniable chartis Of that handsome,
cultured and dashlng married roue, the
late Lord Oxford. that SHE declined 70
ieaye him under any circumstances. IL
was oniy then that Lord Lincoln reiuc-
family made ny bis mind to OBTAIN 4
divorce, and asked his friend Gladstone
| 10 help him in the matter.
LORD Oxford 4 couple Of years later
deserted Lady Lincoln, WHO ultimately
BECAME the wife of picture dealer At
Brussels, where she died q few years
ago. Bnt i.sfa Oxford undertook 10
provide Tor the soa whom she had
| borne him Oh tie shores of taaa}k s ONO
in italy. and as his countess +aa pro
| vided him with nothing but daughters
he got to be very fond of the boy and 70
,oe., ,,pon him as his only son. lie per-
mitted ham 10 bear the name OF Horace Horace
WalpoIe, which was his own CHRISTIAN
name and patronymic; secures sor MN
\ commission in the guards when ne
grew up, ana when he died couple Oh
wears ago left him ayesg bit Of property
| that was not entaiiea. It has nst lasted
the colonel long, for he has beefs ae-
clared bankrupt with liabilitles o.
| $500 900 and assets Of about S2o,oVV'
this too Ia spite of the fact that no'
alone landed estates yielding an IN
come of $4,000 year. but likewise
almost 81 600, 900 in ready cash. The
coioaes's losses pave been incurred al
most entirely ~ the turf Louis
1 Globe Democrat.