New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-20
"STOPPING WORK"
THE BREAKDOWN OF TWO ENGLlSf
STATESMEN SUGGESTS SUKN FL
az, r,tJr>rr, I>DNLD J.EISI'RE

I noticed a few days ago a London dispatch OF
three lines which, in spite Of its hTcVity' Was
full Of pathns II was 10 the effect that MI
Gladstone had at length stopped work ana
that his tim was spent in beng rcau w.
talked to- sung and played To. and entertained
IN every possible manner consistent win MS
age and innrmities by the members oi ms
family. and by devoted friends, such as Lore
Rendel and Sir Alscrnon West and others VINO
seem to give their whole time 10 the comfort
solace and welfare OF the Grand old Man, os-
teening It a privilege to be permitted 10 d" so.
In order to realize what the announcements
means that Mr.. Gladstone las at last stopped
work" i: must be borne in mind that re''Na-
ton and rest from his all-absorbinE duties az
Minister Of the Crown and az lrade: o! one OF
the two great political partic' o! Great bil'ahh
during n public career of nearly threescorc years
and ten have never in his cas-" meant ldiehess
and cessation Of work. bat merely the turning
of his attention to other fields of inteHcctuaI
and physical activity.
MIR GIADSTONES CLASSICAL WORKS
When. four years ago, he was compelled by
his difficulty Of hearing and by other troubles
due to his advanced age to resign the premier
ship to Lord Roscbery, and 10 retire from Par
liamenary life. he Immediately set u work
upon a Translation Of the poems of Horace INTO
;:,cl.sh verse and lpon q commentary Of GER !
tain books Of thr old Testament; alternating |
th,yo T. him delightful diversions 10y the writ
liz cf a ru:nhcr Il monographs, pamphlets ana
rc,iew articles upon topics Of the most incred-
BIZ varied character. This. after all. was quite
f. k~rIing with the nature Of the man. who |
fn..rd the chief intellectual recreation 81 his
lcrc and Extraordinarily busy lifr in the study |
q Homer ard merely the most important ~
whose essays have been gathered and puhi'shed
IN ery,n fat volumes entitled "Glcanngs oil
Pas Y"ars" I'll" subjects dealt with ar" as |
widely divers" porcelain ana 'Iectclt! |
ahsfrus- problems Of theology and American |
politics. questions Of finance. %: astronomy OF |
Ch.rcsc rolicy. If ancient Greece and NeapoIi- |
tar d-spoti,,n. Indeed. it is difficult TO find any
important matter controversy that has |
cropped NJ during the entire reign of Queen |
Victoria ard II her predecessor. King William |
" on which Mr. Gladstone has not written |
ard that to. with entir" mastery of his sub |
feet and in tn most interesting. eloquent and |
instructive manner
Itut his marnum opus is undoubtedly his |
"Studics on Homer and the Homer" Age" en-
bodied in three large volumes one Of the most
eminent If literary critics described these tones
as "a very great work which would he the
worthy fruit of "A life spent in learned retire !
mcri but which. coming from the pen Of one
of our first orators and statesmen. is altogether |
%oLd"rful." The critic in question described II
As the work Of a lifetime, and 50 II would appear
Il most people. But TO Mr.. Gil Idst"re whose
activity has been 80 cXubcrant that even in ms
eifhteth year he "Oul1 not be satisfied with The |
ordinary and conventional forms Of physical ex-
ercisc but had to resort to the choppng down Of
huge trees in his park al Hawarden, the writing
OF these VOLUMES on Homer and the research
they cntaiI,d were nothing more thar "A mere /
intellectual rastimc and recreation.
LORD sALIsbURY's HOBBY
Mr. Gladstone is 10y no means the only states ,
man 81 the Old World VINO has sought recr"a-
ton from his political ard administrative duties,
not in cessation Of LABOR. but merely in some
other Kind Of work; and. indeed there seems t. /
be disposition IN the part 81 tn" various ma P
tons of Europe to select IN III leaders states
men who have achieved distinction and fame l.. .
walks of life other than thosc purely political .
Thus L0rI Salisbury finds relief from the labor
involved 10y his tenure Of the joint office: Of the
Minister Of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister
in chemistry and electricity. Every leisure mo- /
ment - devoted TO tine superb laboratory fitted
VI in his home at Hatfield, ard there is scarcely
any learned problem scientific que stion Of
The day that does not receive his attcntion-an
attention characterized 10y srch hrcaGth Of view
a. invite regret that he cannot his way
10 impart at AL times these most desirable quail
ties To- his political opinio *.
Never did hc appear to such advantage as a
scientist a. on the memo S.blc occasion when. '
some years ago, he delivered the opening address
at the meeting Of the BIRTHS Association at OA-
ford with modcs,y conspicuously alrcnt from
his pUlitirdl uttcranCps. and craving indulgence,