The times., 1898-06-12
MRS. GIADs1oNE,s GOODNESS.
Like the Dead Statesman, She. Too.
Is SGrand."

Had William Ewart Gladstone lived
through this year, he and his wife would
have celebrated their sixtieth wedding
anniversary together. their marriage hav-
ing taken place at Hawarden In 1899, at
which time Mrs. Gladstone was nearly
thirty years old.
Mrs. Gladstones entire life has been
passed in the pretty village of Hawarden.
! as she did not consider her residence in
| London TO be really living but merely
concession TO duties of state. She was
| born in Hawarden Castle, which belonged
| to her father. Sir Steven Glynne, baro-
| net of fine old family. Her mother,
daughter of Lord Brabrooke, was wom-
| an of remarkable force of character. so
| clearly demonstrated in her training of the
| two boys and two girls in which task she
| had no assistance, as Sir Stephen died
! when his elest child was about eight years
| old. Soon after, her brother the Hon.
| George Neville. became rector of Hawar-
| den parish, which had the reputation of
| being one of the worst districts in Eng
| land. and he and Lady Glynne set ener-
| getically to work to reform the rustics.
| Schools were opened and the parents brib
| ed to send their children, the children also
| being bribed to attend.
I
| toys were the forms taken by these EN-
| cOura gements'' and the two little girls ac-
| companied their mother constantly on
! these philanthrOpic expeditions. Neither
ever lost her interest in poorer humanity
| even when married. and claimed by the
| duties of exceptional social positions.
| The two sisters were married on the
same day. the younger becoming the wife
| of Lord LyttIeton. Mr.. Gladstone SYM
| pathized heartily with his wife's views
| and helped her plans in every way. The
| Newport Market Refuge and Industrial
| School at Westminster was his idea, and
ne was its president for many years with
| Mrs. Gladstone as vice-president. The
| Refuge is to help people who are out Of
| work and TO teach them useful trades
| when they possess none. There is little
| red tape about the institution. and during
| every year about 1900 people receive a
nights lodging. about 10000 meals are
given and about 800 persons find employ
| nent.
During the cholera epidemic in London
| in 1866, Mrs Gladstone established a home
for the little ones left orphaned. She lat
| er created a COnyalescents Free Home.
| which is now in a lovely house in Essex.
| surrounded by lawns and shrubbery and
| with a forest close behind. Every year
| more than loo men. women and children
enjoy the benefits of this beautiful home.
An orphanage at Hawarden is another
of Mrs Gladstone's good works. II was
| started in a very severe Winter when the
| poor were starving for lack Of work. Mr..
Gladstone gave occupation to as many
men as he could. in cutting foOtpaths
| through the grounds and woods of Ha-
| warden. while Mrs. Gladstone gave shell
ter to their motherless children in a large
house lent to her by her brother Sir Ste
| ven Glynue. When the pressure OF that
season relaxed. the home became an or
phanage for boys who go TO the village
school until old enough to learn a trade,
which is then taught them.
In addition 10 these most helpful insti-
tutiOns, Mrs. GIadstone-always with heI
husbands aid and counsel-has helped tC
form and carry on almost numberless 9TH
! ers. For many years-more than a quar-
ter OF a century-when in London, she
also visited the London hospital every
Monday morning.
Mrs. Gladstone is said to have been sin
gularly beautiful in youth, claim borne
out by a picture OF her when a girl, and
is a gracious and lovely old lady.