The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-27
Mr.. GLADSTONE'S HEALTH
IN is BEING FAST UNDERMINED BY
AGE AND SUFFERING.
The Famous Statesman BOmbarded
Condition Has Become Critical.


bilities of war the British public is most
keenly interested in the condition of Mr..
Gladstone, though not permitted to know
how i'll he is. Perhaps it should be said
he is not so much i'll as that his powers
are failing, and that he is apparently sink
ing under the weight of years and vital ex-
haustion. The best-informed people admit
that his ailment is incurable and that his
physicians only hope to alleviate the pain
he is suffering. The Lancet says on the sub
ject of the surgical advices called in This
can scarcely be interpreted otherwise than
that there is serious cause for the symptoms
from which he has suffered for nine months.
At his great age the gravity of any surgical
ailment is apparent, and the exhaustion, in
consequence, is prolonged. The severe neu-
ralgia is in itself an unfavorable feature.
His vitality, however, is wonderful and his
general health is good" An examination OF
the patient with the use of the Roentgen
rays disclosed infiamed cartilage. but there
was no sign of cancer
Although inquiries for press paragraphs
are strictly kept from Mr. Gladstone, it is
said he has bid farewell to several old
friends and knows his end is approaching.
Referring to his illness, Mr.. Gladstone said
to friend: "a final lesson-a final trial"
The old statesman has been sensiby happier
at Hawarden than at the Riviera or Bourne
mouth.
Elaborate precautions have been taken to
keep any information from reaching the
press concerning Mr.. Gladstone, but it is
learned that his condition is most critical
A painful incident of Mr.. Gladstone's ILL
ness has been his bombardment by unin-
vited spiritual advice. Not a mail reaches
his residence without containing a shower
of chapters of the Old or New Testaments,
extracts from the lives of scriptural per-
sonages or isolated texts, hymns, poems
etc.
1t appears, after all, that there is little
heart in the Irish landlords opposition to
the local government bill. The majority of
them cordially dislike many of the provi-
sions of the measure, but there is too much
division in their ranks in regard to the adj
visibility of open hostility to allow making
a vigorous fight. The government is fairly
confident of passing the bill before Whit
Suntide. The measure has undoubtedly fur
ther accentuated the differences among the
Irish leaders who have been described by
Mr. Augustine Birrell home-rule member
of Parliament for the West division of Fife,
as men who sit scoWling at , one another mother
are inclined to take a serious view OF the
exaggerated eulogy of the Conservative ad-
INDUCED in during the second reading of the
bill, which they consider as done with the
object of discrediting the leadership OF Mr.
John Dillon and to convince his country.
men that he is as equally Independent OF
Liberal support as Mr. John Redmond.
The Prince of Wales is energetically
learning bicycle riding at the Riviera, ac-
cCmpanied by an instructor and an equerry
A curious effect of hard cycling is re-
ported from France. Out of the last batch
of conscripts no fewer than eight widely
known cyclists were rejected as being phys
ically incapable of military duty. Diseases
of the heart were the chief reasons for
their rejection. This causes profound as
constituent, all classes thinking them at
least mt to be accepted as military cychsts'
Ensign Chandler, of the United States
cruiser San francisco, had an amusing ex-
perience on his way to Gravesend. He was
in Madrid when the San Francisco sudden
ly started for England, and he was obliged
to go to Paris and from there to Dover,
where he was recognized by two Scotland
Yard detectives as answering the descrip-
ton of q man wanted for forgery. They
We're only convinced of their error when
reaching the ship. Mr.. Chandler supposed
he was being watched by the British gov
eminent
The president of the Board of Trade Mr..
c. T. Richie, has appointed a committee
of Trade and three great marine underwrit-
ing corporal tons, under the Craftsmanship
of Sir Francis Jouneu, president of the Pro-
bate Divorce and Admiralty division of the
High Court of Justice to consider the long
standing grievance OF the N1rth, Atiantii c
which British ships during winter are not
allowed to load beyond the North Atlantic
winter lire. The committee met this week
to organize.
Lady Castle Rose headed the list of the
newly elected Killarney poor-law guard
ians. She was nominated by her father-in
law, the Earl of Kenmare. Her appearance
in this role has aroused the greatest inter-
who hope that if members of the aristoc
racy take up such duties greater measures
of relief for the distressed will follow.
The recent bitter winter weather has pro-
duced a new fashion, the smartest John
MES" appearing in short fur capes over
their overcoats, thereby causing much
amusement and chatting.
The French line steamer La Bretagne,
which sailed from Havre to-day took one
hundred carrier pigeons with the view of
testing the possibility of establishing COM
munication with the shore in case of acct,
dent If the experiment is successful all
steamers of the French line will hereafter
carry pigeons. The experiment is viewed
with great interest though skeptically.
Mr. Sidney Webb, chairman of the tech
meal education board, is a passenger on the
White Star Line steamship Teutonic, which
sailed for New York on Wednesday from
Liverpool. He intends to investigate the
experiments in technical education intro
duced in the United States.
The numerous railroad mysteries (there
have been five of them since Sunday have
caused a renewed outcry against the dan
gers of compartment carriages and there
are demands that legislation compel these
railroads to adopt corridor cars. The bod
les of three male passengers have been
found this week on railroad tracks in diff
ferent parts of the country under circum-
stances pointing to foul play. and two men
have been shot in railroad carriages.