The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-05-27
GLADSTONE CONE
Greatest BlgliShmal Of Ace
Passes Away.
PEACEFUL ENDING OF LIFE
Grandeur of Grand Old Man ACcen-
tuated at the Last-Knew His
Hour Was at Hand.

NEW YORK, May 18.-A London
cable to the Sun says: The passing of
Gladstone is accomplished. 1t was
peaceful at the Iast-peacefuI and ma
jectic Death won no victory over the
greatest EngIishman of his time. The
arch enemy was to him a friend and
refuge, whose coming he had longed
for, and whose presence brought only
infinite solace. His pathetic craving for
peace, which has wrung the hearts of
his friends and the nation during the
bitter weeks of suffering was followed
by calm and joy at the advent of the
messenger of release which robbed his
deathbed of all sadness.
The grandeur of the grand old man,
say those who saw him during his last
hours, was calm and sublime as he
welcomed the final summons. It is a
simple story, this record of the closing
hours of life which, more than any
other in the century, perhaps, has in
f1uenced the lives of his fellow coun-
trymen during two generations. The
pain, which, though intermittent, was
most cruelty severe for nearly nine
months, had gradually subsidized for
three or four weeks past. This was
due, not so much to the use of NOR
phine, which was employed more or
less since January, as to the fact that |
the nerves themselves mercifully ex-
hausted their capacity for suffering.
Gladstone's amazing vitality for one |
of such advanced age served both to |
prolong and intensity the agony which |
his terrible malady always inf1icts. The |
disease was not only malignant, but in |
VOlved tuberculosis of the bone, which |
is one of the most painful of Affections. |
There is no need to dwell upon his for
titude and the agony during the dread |
full ordeal. The pitiful story is only |
too well known, and none wondered at
his pathetic yearning for death. His
felt justified in gradually |
increasing the use of Opiates and other
pilliatives until within a fortnight
when the destruction and numbering of
the nerves by the progress of the dis
ease made it no longer necessary.
Drugs were used sparingly during the
past ten days, the result being that
was conscious and clear
n mind, except for brief spells of deli
rum, due chiefly to weakness.
The failure of his strength was so
gradual that the doctors thought, even
Monday, that the sufferer might be
spared until the close of the month,
md encouraged the family to believe
hat the end was not imminent, but
the sudden approach of the great
change came during the night. His
'est became fitful, and his remaining
vitality rapidly declined, and at day
Dreak Tuesday it was evident that his
asst hours were at hand. The members
Of the family were summoned, and
nearly all of them spent the day by /
he bedside Of the sufferer
Gladstone well knew his hour had
come and plainly the thought brought
lim sweet content. He was conscious
most of the time. but almost beyond
the power of speech or motion. The
great mind was still active, still YER
SaClIe. he surprised MS WaJcn6rS at
by murmuring a prayer in the
French language, with which he was
perfectly familiar but seldom used in
the ordinary affairs of life. His vital
forces continued to diminish and dur
ing the afternoon his pulse became al
most imperceptible. His breathing
was but of the faintest and his extrem-
tiles became cold from the feeble ac-
ton of the heart.
There was a slight rally about sun
down and the night was passed in a
natural sleep. During Wednesday there
was a slow flickering of the vital flame
and there were occasional intervals
of semi-cOnsciOusness until the end
came at o'clock this morning.
Though a national funeral will prob
ably be accepted by the family. there
is little doubt that the remains of Mr..
Gladstone will be laid to rest in the
peaceful graveyard at Hawarden, ad
joining the church where he was mar
ried more than a half century ago.
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