Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-05-19

Their son, Stephen z. Gladstone. the rec
toI there, follows the practice OF college
chapcls, where one of the students is usual
ly selected to read the Scripture lesson.
The selection of devout laymen for this of
lice, however, is common practice in the
English church, as it was in the early
churches and in the Jewish synagogue
Dir. Giadstone's Town Life.
Columns on columns have been written
Of Mr.. Gladstone's wonderful strength as
anSld man. 1t is doubtful if the world has
seen such another When in 1882 he was
made prime minister for the fourth time,
he was 81 years old, and though he had
Just passed through q most exciting cam
paign be entered upon his duties as head
Of the government with seemingly unim-
paired vigor. 1t was doubtless to his ex-
IRENE simplicity ard purity of life that he
owed his phenomenal virility.
His time was usually about equally di-
vided between London and Hawarden.
When he was prime minister his London
residence was of course the famous hons e
in Downing street, that has for SO long
been the official home of the premier AT
other times he has rented. Between 1886
and 1892 he was the yearly tenant of a
house In st. James square, Pail Mall,
where he bad for neighbors the Dukes of
Cleveland and Norfolk, the Earl of Derby.
the Marquis of Bristol, Earl Cowper and
other great men. His rising hour when in
town was $50. He dressed for the day at
once, and if the weather was good, some
times when it was bad, took an airing be-
fore breakfast.
The morning meal was always plain
one, lasting half an hour, during which
time he usually absorbed all that was of
interest to him in three or four morning
newspapers. After breakfast he disposed
of his correspondence in his library. When
he was in office he always employed several
private secretaries. When ',out'' he had
but one assistant, usually his son. After
his letters were attended to it was his Gus
tom to devote the remainder of the morn
ing to reading. Luncheon was usually
taken alone and consisted of a small slice
OF beef or mutton and glass of claret.
The afternoon, and often the evening. was
devoted to political duties For many
years Mr.. Gladstone was accustomed when
in London and not busy with politics in the
evening to dine out He rarely gave din
ners. Sometimes he visited the theater or
opera. Midnight was his hour for bed, and
he used to light himself to his room with a
candle. He used to say that he always left
business outside his bedroom door, and
hence always slept well He never used to-
bacco in any form. His drinking was con-
fined to claret, Of which, however, he was
not professed connoisseur.
He was always neat but never smart in
his attire, and he had profound dislike for
old clothes. In town in winter he used to
wear tall black hat and black clothes.
which included a short overcoat with a
long, queer cape. In summer he wore
gray cashmere and tall white hat. To
Mrs. Gladstone was left the task of caring
for his wardrobe.
Gladstone's Scholarship.
In 1856 Mr.. Gladstone visited Winchester
college, which had in his student days been
| sort of rival to his own college at oxford.
OF course the students gave him a royal
welcome, and their orator for the day adj
dressed the premier in a somewhat lengthy
speech in Latin. Mr.. Gladstone listened
with the closest attention, as politicians
and statesmen always do on such occasions.
and the waggish ones probably thought his
attentive manner mere form and politeness.
To their surprise, however. he replied at
once with equally classic Latin and in such
detail as to show that not statement in
the address had escaped him.