The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-26
SLOWLY DYING.
Life of England's "Grand Old
Man,
Is Ebbing Out at His Castle of
HaWarden
NOTHING CAN BE DONE
BY His Physicians Except to
Alleviate His Suffering.
The Aged Statesman Realizes
the End is Near.

London, March 26.-Next to the prob
abilities of war the public is most keen
~ interested in the condition Of Mr..
Gladstone, though not permitted to
know how i'll he is. Perhaps 1t should
be said he is not so much i'll, as that
has powers are failing and that he is
apparently sinking under the weight of
years and vital exhaustion. The best
informed people admit that his ail1nent
is impossible of cure and that his physi-
clans only hope to alleviate the pain he
is suffering
The Lancet says on the subject of the
surgical advice called in: This can
scarcely be interpreted otherwise than
that there is serious cause Tor the
symptoms from which he has suffered
for nine months. At his great age, the
gravity of an ai1ment is apparent and
the exhaustion in consequence, is pro-
IOnged. The severe neuralgia is in it
self an unfavOra BILE feature. His vital
ity, however, is wonderful, and his gen
eral health is good
An examination of the patient with
the use Of the ROentgen rays disclosed
inhamed cartilage; but there was no
sign of cancer.
Although inquiries and press para
graphs are strictly kept from Mr. Glad
stone, it is said he has bid farewell to
several old friends and knows his end Is
approaching.
Referring to his illness, Mr.. Glad
stone said to d friend: "A final lesson
a final trial.
The old statesman has been sensibly
happier at Hawarden than at the Ri
viera, or BOurnemouth.
A painful incident of Mr. Gladstone's
illness has been his bombardment by
unlimited spiritual advisers. Not a
mail reaches his residence without con-
tanning showers of chapters of the old
or new testaments, extracts from the
lives of Scriptura1 perSonages, or isola-
ted texts, hymns poems, etc
n Of fa1- oil e.
heart in the Irish landlords opposition
to the local government bill. The ma
jority of them cordially dislike many of
the provisions of the measure; but there
is too much division in their ranks in
regard to the ACCESSIBILITY of open hos
tility to allow making a vigorous fight.
The government IS fairly confident of
passing the bill before Whitsuntide.
The measure has undoubtedly further
accumulated the differences among the
Irish leaders who have been described
by Mr. Augustine Burren, home ruler
member of parliament for the west di-
vision of Fife, as men who sit scowl-
ing at one another like third rate trag-
edians."
The liberals are inclined to take a
serious view of the exaggerated eulogy
of the conservative administrati on
which Mr.. Timothy NJ. Healy 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
>
pendent of Liberal support as Mr.. John
Redmond.
The Prince of Wales is theoretically
learning bicycle riding at the Riviera,
accompanied by an instructor and an
equerry.
A curious effect of hard cycling is re-
porter from France. Out of the last
batch of cOnscripts no fewer than eight
widely known cyclists were rejected as
being physically incapable of military
duty. Diseases of the heart were the
chief reasons for their rejection. This
causes profound astOnishment all
classes thinking them at least fit to be
accepted as military cyclists.
Ensign Chandler of the United States
cruiser San Francisco had an amusing
experience on his way to C1raveSend He
was in Madrid when the San Francisco
suddenly started for England and he
was obliged to go to Paris, and from
there to Dover, where he was recOgniZ-
ed by two Scotland yard detectives as
answering the description of a man
wanted for forgery. They Swallowed the
ensign to GraveSend and were only CON
WINGED of their error when reaching the
ship.
Mr.. Chandler supposed he was being
watched by the British government
The president of the board of trade,
Mr.. c. T. Richie, has appointed a com
nittee composed of Representatives of
the board of trade and three great ma
rine underwriting corporations under
the craftsmanship of Sir Francis Jeune
president of the probate divorce and
admiralty division of the high court of
Justice to consider the long standing
grievance of the Atlantic ports against
the Chesapeake ports in which British
ships during winter are allowed to
load beyond the North Atlantic winter
line
The committee met this week to or
gauize.
Lady Castle Rose headed the list of