Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1898-02-18

England's Grand Old Man-What "a
North Dakota Farmer Thinks About

A special cable dispatch recently
received brought the news, "there is
grave reason to fear Mr.. Gladstone,
"the grand old man" (who was then at
Cannes, south Of France) will not live
to see his native Shores" l once had
the pleasure Of seeing Mr.. Gladstone.
1t vas after business hours when l
lived in Westminster about fifteen
minutes walk from the houses Of
parliament. I took a stroll down to the
palace yard, and as I walked down the
terraced walk to Westminster Hall,
Mr.. Gladstone came out of the house
of commons, passed close by me under
the bunch of gas lamps, looked straight
at me to see if he knew me, stopped,
and looked up at the great tower clock
called Big Ben. 1 recognized his strik-
ing features at once, IS / walked past
him into Westminster Hall. (The
largest room in Europe unsupported
by pillars, where many a noted historic
trial has taken place, like the impeach-
ment of Warren Hastings, Viceroy of
India.) This noted mans life has been
my study and admiration from boy
hood days, and someone has said, we
become in great measure like what we
study and admire, though often un-
consciously. l only hope it may be so,
though possibly with much inferiority
in this case. l was first led to take an
interest in William Ewart Gladstone
through his initials being the same as
my own. I we'll remember hanging up
in my fathers office was a grotesque
cartoon representing the celebrated
actor w. E. G. going through his
acrobatic and juggling performances
before a lot of lrishmen. He was show
ing considerable sleight of hand with
a ball inscribed, disestablishment of
the Irish church. Childlike, I had one
time imagined this cartoon had some
reference to my own father, who's
initials were also like my own, w. b. G.
until n day I received light by father
explaining it was a comic sketch of the
prime minister Of England, William
Ewart Gladstone. Everyone knows
how he has served his country in
parliament for over sixty years,
occupied the position next to the
throne three II four times, to say
nothing of other high offices and
honors. Always the friend of liberty
and freedom, his belief in and devotion
to the principles of Christianity (if he
had not been a great statesman--not a
polititian- he would have made an
eminent ecclesiastic) the unique and
commanding position he has held for
many years in the councils and regard
of nations, his political career being
only equalled in purity by his private
life, his eloquence as an orator, his
unceasing industry and economy of
time, all denoting wonderful intellect
of the first order, and lately in his
eighty-ninth year, on the verge of the
grave with his great eason clear and
unclouded, we witness the sublime
and pathetic spectacle of this great
and good man, writing book on the
Immortality Of the soul. Shall we not
take to heart at such a touching sight,
our W "sweet singer" Longfellow's
inspiring words:
olives of great men MI remind us
We call make our lives sublime,
And departing leave behind lis
Footprints on the Gands Of time"
Mr.. Gladstone's life (just plain MI.
Gladstone-he was offered a peerage
repeatedly by the queen, but always
declined the elevation to the house of
lords) has been devoted to the service
and good of his fellow men. When he
passes away, not only England, but the
whole world will be the loser. In an
article where our space limited, we are
scarcely able to allude to his inveterate
abhorrance of war and all its hideous-
ness. OF his undying opposition to
greed, violence and oppression where
ever exhibited, of how he raised his
magnificent voice in behalf of Bulgaria,
Armenia and Greece, of his disdain
and disgust for tho great powers Of
Europe bolstering up for the sake of
bondholders, the decrepit, semi-bar-
barous, corrupt carcass of the Ottoman
empire. And last, but not least, his
faithful never firing services for the
better government of Ireland, his ever
great wish to conciliate and satisfy the
aspirations of the Irish by giving them
"I1ome Rule" which only an hereditary
house of lords not amen able to public
opinion, prevented, by their veto and
rejection. In his long distinguished
career as Il law maker, he became pain
fully aware legislation will not wholly
Though sometimes alleviate and
mitigate) cure the fostering sores and
liberated evils of the body polite.
Not long ago he uttered this memoir
able testimony to the efficacy of true
religion: stalk about the great ques-
lions of the day, there is but one
question, and that is the Gospel. 1t
alone can and will correct everything
needing correction" In conclusion we
must admit in the contemplation of
such a life as this, it is exceedingly
difficult to bring in ones humble self
for application. One feels like a
mouse beside a noble lion. The only
thing we can say in this respect-the
lives of such men as Gladstone, Wash
ington and Lincoln, are pure models
| Of service and duty for would-be public
men. Each Of their great hearts made
all the ends they aimed at be for the
best good of their country, and for the
glory of God. A great writer has said,
and the stanza contains a rich and
beautiful sentiment:
W. live in deeds, not ycars;-in thoughts. not
hrcatlis;-
IL feelings, not in figures on u dial.
We should count time hy learts-throhs. liz most
| lives
Who thinks most-feels tho uohlest-acts tho best"
When we look at Mr.. Gladstone's life
in the light of this exquisite poem we
realize how long he has lived beyond
tho grand old age of ~eighty-nine; and
we must concede his footprints on
the sands of time" cannot be erased or
o%bliterated, as long as mankind
v%enerates n noble and great character.
w. T.. GOOZEE.
THE DREADED CONSUMPTION CAN
BE CURED.
T. a. SlOcun, NJ. c., the Great Chemist
and Scientist, Will Send, Free,
Three Bottles of His Newly
Discovered Remedies