Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-19
THE GRAND OLD MAN.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GLAD
STONES PRIVATE LIFE.
HE IS A TREMENDOUS WORKER.
Programme of His Days and Incl
dents Characteristic OF the Veto
rams stnIwnrt Personahty-He Is
NoraciOus Reader.
dor the Dispatch)

zine articles and an immense amount or
trouble has been taken to make the read
ing public familiar with the habits and
characteristics OF England's Grand Old
Man. 1t is not possible, however, to eX-
haust the subject when so interesting
personality as Gladstone's is in question:
and so much remains to be told. Here
for the first time are related many fea-
lures OF tn, personality of the old man
that have so far escaped the searching
attention O. the literary fraternity, and
which have been obtained from those
who are and have been close 20 the vete-
ran statesman's side during the declining
years Of his famous life.
HIS DOMESTIC HABITS.
When the wear and tear of public
career became too much for Gladstone,
and he was forced TO retire TO the
quietude OF Hawarden Castle, il was not
to be expected that active life would be
changed at once for one Of complete rest.
Gladstone resting" was an example TO
many men who would feel much offended
if considered other than industrious.
GladstOnc's hour for rising has always
been half past seven, unless the doctor
otherwise ordered, and in that event the
Grand Old Man considered the edict OF
his physician that he must pass more
time in bed in the light of hardship.
He dressed. according 10 the assertion
If Mrs Gladstone, in five minutes, but
this time was probably statement
prompted by the fact that Mrs. Gladstone
always found her husband ahead of her
At the breakfast table, on matter how
much she hurried the arrangements OF
her own toilet.
While dressing it was the habit of NJ.
Gladstone TO read a book. and it is char
acteristic Of the man that he thoroughly
enjoyed the books perused under these
odd circumstances. He would prop the
volume up on the dressing table, and.
while apparently engaged in his toilet,
would be mechanically fixing his apparel
with his eyes on the book instead Of the
mirror, and his busy mind grasping the
details of both tasks I'm a manner that no
other man could successfully accomplish.
GLADSTONE AND HIS LITTLE AXE.
After breakfast, Mr.. Gladstone has
| been accustomed to revel i'm what 10
| him was keen enjoyment-his literary
| work. He did most OF his writing be-
= tween breakfast and luncheon. After
luncheon. during the period when he
was the hale old man that artists loved
| 10 depict clad i'm woodsman's dress, he
would sally forth, axe in hand. 10 cut
down some giant of the Hawarden
| Castle forest. that had threatened 10
trespass upon the light and air OF trees
| mat were worthy OF more space. ms
| ,Tespa sser he would attack with vigorous
| blows. and then there would gather
around him the visitors who were
| always haunting the vicinity or Ha-
| warden In hopes Of being present at just
| such an expedition.
| The ambition OF the visitors was TO
| secure some OF the chips that flew before
| the axe of the distinguished woodsman.
As soon as Gladstone had retired, after
| ;he fall Of the tree there would be a
rush Of relic-hunters. and the chips
would be eagerly gathered up as me-
! mentos Of the occasion. These chlps
| we're always marketable relies. 1t Is
| sad TO reflect that so many homes ia
| Merry England are adorned with sections
II tree trunk. ticketed with a legend
| ,o the effect that they fell before the
axe Of William Ewart GLADSTONE that
never grew in the green forests Of Ha-
| warden. or a forest within hundred
miles OF that picturesque spot.
| Apart from his beloved axe, Gladstone
| had few fancies that were not Of the
most commonplace order. He loved
BACKGAMMON. In the opinion of the old
nam there was no game to equal It. and
Il was one Of the chief delights Of his
ife to play a quiet game In the retire
nent of his own room, when reading haC
Jecome too great a strain for eyes that
scre fast failing.
A VERY PIOUS MAN.
here have been few more pious men
a the world than Gladstone. When
,slked what was the most interesting
atudy he had ever undertaken, ht
,nswered unhesitatingly: Theology
N. deep piety Is shown by the follow
ng from his own pen regarding the OBJ
.ervance of the Sabbath:
The service Of God in this world is al
inceasing service, without interval OIL
suspense But, under the conditions
Of our physical. intellectual, and socla
life. a large portion OF that service Is
,ecessarily performed within the area
which is occupied by this world and il
..o,corns. and within which every Chris
dan grace finds perpetual room for III
.vsrcise. but for its exercise under cir
.umstances not allowing the ordinary
,,,n unless In the rarest cases. tina
a..rpess TO access to the things OF God
fbat directness Of assimilation 10 the 81
zine life, which belongs TO day conse
rated by spiritual service. 50 the grace
md compassion Of our Lord have res
nod from the open ground or WORLDLY
ne a norton Of that area, and have mad
mon il a vineyard seated on a yer.
fruitful hill. and have fenced II in Wit
, his nrivilege-that, whereas, for our 81
49, work the general rule Of direc
..ontact must for the mass or men b.
Win secular affairs, within this happ,
orecinct there Is provided, even for tina
+, same mass of men, chartered eman
,ipation: and the general rule Is reverse'
N favor Of a direct contact with spirit
dal things.
, SEND ME THOSE"
gladstone was a bonanza to the bool
non of his native land. 1t Is fact tina
one day he entered the establishment
Ma London dealer in secondhand books
and when asked by the deferential store
a keeper what books he would like 10 see
q aid with a sweep Of the arm that tool
, in the entire stock, Send me those
q ue had bought the entire store. Whe
% his library became so overlooked ina
$ | be found IL necessary 10 weed out som
: volumes. il was Gladstone custom L
p send the surplus 10 the second-han
I dealers. from whom he frequently bough
them back again at advanced price.
, under the impression that he was Oh
raining volumes that had never lal
= on the shelves Of the Ilawarden library
II CHINA TOTTERING TO ITS FALL.
| I'M, a III