New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-20
AT GLADSTONE'S DEATHBED.
HIS LAST WORD AMEN" TO THE LIT
ANY READ BY HIS SON

show that his end the most peaceful mag
Unable There was no sign Of pain distress
Mrs. Gladstone claspea her husbands hand and
occasionally kissed ii. while the Rev. Stephen
Gladstone read prayers and repeated hymns
The only other evidence that Mr.. Gladstone
realized his surroundings was when his son
recited the Litany. Then the dying man feebly
murmrred Amen" This was the last word
spoken by Mr. Gladstone
The nurse in the mean while bather the brow
OF the patient who showed gratefulness. Then
came the gentle. almost imperceptible cessa-
ton OF life in the midst OF his sons prayer.
and the weeping family slowly filed from the
room. taking Mrs. Gladstone, who was IN
duced to lie down. and who soon slept quietly.
Mrs. Drew. Mrs Henry Gladstone, Mrs
Stephen Gladstone. Miss Helen Gladstone and
others attended early Communion this morn
ing at Hawarden Church. conducted by the Rev.
Stephen Gladstone. The ordinary service was
prefaced with selected prayers from the Burial
Service.
The family had been summoned at a m,
owing to the perceptible sinking noticed by the
medical watchers. From that time until Mr..
Gladstone peacefully passed awav no one left
the death chamber. The only absentee was
little Dorothy Drew. who had tearfu!ly com
planned that her grandfather did not recognize
her.
Even In that hour Of agony kindly thoughts
for others were not wanting. The old coach
man. who had been unable TO be present when
the servants bade farewell to the dying man,
was summoned and remained TO the end with
his master
At $40 a m. Or. Dobie took his leave Of Mrs.
Gladstone and returned to Chester. deeply
affected. Indeed. almost every one around the
Castle was in tears.
Many kilograms Of sympathy are arriving at
Hawarden Castle.
AMBASSADOR HAYS MESSAGE
The following dispatch has been received at
Hawarden from the United States Ambassador.
Colonel John Hay:
To the Right Honorable Herbert Gladstone.
Hawarden.
beg TO present to all your family my heart
felt expression Of sympathy nj your personal
loss, and at the time TO reverently con-
graduate you and the English race everywhere
upon this glorious completion Of n life filed
with splendid achievements and consecrated to
the noblest purposes JOHN HAY.
The following bulletin has just been posted
In the natural course Of things the funeral
will be at Hawarden. Mr. Gladstone expressed
a strong wish TO have flowers At his funeral,
and the family Will be grateful II this desire is
strictly respected.
THE COURSE OF HIS LAST ILLNESS
According to the description OF the Illness
given by Or. Dobie Mr.. Gladstone's heart had
been weaker and liable TO failure for the last
eighteen months two years. When. IN Sep
TENDER last. he went TO Scotland with George
Armistead. he drove about and exposed himself
a good deal, though he al that time expert
encing the effect OF his weakened condition.
Subsequently he suffered considerable irritation
in the face and head and II was decided TO try
beneficial; but the physicians called in for an
examination found that, owing TO swelling OF
the mucous membrane covering the lower tur-
binated bone II was impossible TO far
back as could be seen in Il healthy nose. The
appearances did not point 10 the condition be-
ing of tumo. polypus, but suggested
rather that there was merely thickened and
more or less infammatory condition OF the mu-
cous membrane.
DR.. Dobie then recommended Cannes. his de-
cison being based on Mr.. Gladstone's personal
knowledge that the climate OF Cannes had a de-
cidedy beneficial restorative effect upon his
constitution. and upon the conclusion that the
local condition OF the would not be aggra-
waited by taking drives which. in the English
climate was inevitable. In DR.. Dobies opinion.
the drives the patient took in this country re-
tarded the development OF the affected part
The seat Of pain was in the region Of the an
trum. where there was considerable swelling
and pressure at one time: but the swelling az
terward diminished and the pressure and pain
were relieved.
CHANGE FOR THE BETTER
These favorable changes led Dr. Dobie 20
believe that the use OF simple remedies applied
10 the nose aided by the genial and invigorat-
ing atmosphere OF Cannes would do much 10
store the nose and cheek 10 a normal state.
Mr.. Glads,one's circulation had not been
strong az usual, and there tendency at
times TO an increase in the frequency of the
pulse: but these symptoms were not considered
by DR.. Dobie to be any reason why his patient
should not go abroad: and II was hoped that the
change would operate benencially upon Mr..
Gladstone's spirits and remove the tendency TO
depression which was occasionally noticed by
those around him.
AT this time Mr. Gladstone had abandoned his
reading; but he advised to renew the old
habit so far possible. and accordingly he re-
read with much enjoyment several OF Sir Wal
ter Scottg works. He also took with him to
Cannes a large supply OF books 10 enable him TO
continue his theological studies; but the sojourn
there did not bring about the improvement
hoped for
On one occasion. January 81. Dr. Frank, who
was his medical attendant during his stay there.
found Mr.. Gladstone's condition TO have become
extremely grave and alarming. This condition.
which lasted some hours. DR. Frank attributed
to weakening OF the hearts action.
Mr. Gladstone returned to England great
~ depressed because his hopes OF what Cannes
would do for him were disappointed. lie stayed
q few weeks at Bournemouth but the facial pain
was excessive He suffered much during those
DAYS even more than in the later stages Of his
illness at Hawarden. and he was glad to get
back his home.
After DR.. Dobie had examined him and
srred him that he might live for some months.
be seemed disappointed and pathetically re-