The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-19
GLADSTONE AND BLAINE.
A Memorable Drive from London to
Aberdeen.
The Road.

Inc ROAD.
Some years ago, when Mr.. James G.
Blaine, of the State of Maine, was at the
height of his political power in the United
States he paid a visit TO England TO enjoy
don to Aberdeen Mr.. Andrew Carnegie, the
famous ironmaSter of Pittsburg, Pa, being
the host. Every preparation was made
with scrupuous care, and Mr.. Gladstone ac-
cepted an invitation to be one Of the party
end expressed himself especially pleased
with the idea of meeting Mr. Blaine, whom
he had never seen, but with whom he had
had, in his official capacity, frequent com
munications when Mr.. Blaine was a mem
Der of the Washington Cabinet. He was
secretary Of state under two administra-
tons, and narrowly escaped being nom
mated as President by the Republican
party, which suddenly changed its mind
and selected General Harrison as the candi-
date, who was elected by an overwhelming
majority.
Mr.. Carnegie was delighted to bring the
two statesmen together, and, OF course they
were placed side by side. A careful route
was mapped out by an expert, for changes
Of horses, hotels to be stopped at, supplies
and, in short, no expense was spared to
make the trip agreeable to all concerned
The party was not large one, and as the
weather was pleasant-it was early in the
month of June-everybody was in high
spirits, especially Mr.. Gladstone, who, de-
spite his seVenty-twO years, climbed up to
his seat with the happy audacity of a mere
lad. 1t was said at the time that Mr.. Glad
stone looked ten years younger when he left
the coach, and the deep lines in his face,
seemed to have disappeared. Every now
and then he would descend from the coach
and walk a mile or two. and, occasionally.
when the horses were being refreshed, ne
would walk on IL advance with Mr. Blaine,
he said that Sir Andrew Clark, his
physician, had ordered him, when possible,
to walk five miles a day. And 9th men
about the same height, by the way-were,
considering their respective ages (Mr. Glad
stone was quite ten years the older) and the
enormous mental labor they had gone
through, brisk, vigorous pedestrians, and
got over the ground with alacrity of much
younger men.
1t was treat to hear Mr.. Gladstone talk
on that coach. and l feel certain the Eng
fish statesman found his American con
frere a satisfac tory conversationalist Thos~
talk took wide range, and, curiously
enough. they hardly touched current poll
ties As I said they were holiday-rnaklng,
and shop" was left out of The running.
/ verify believe, If l could have heard all
they said, they had a turn at the restora-
ton of learning at Alexandria, the Eleusi-
sumptuary laws Of ancient Rome, With pOs-
sibly a few fleeing illusions to the Saxon
Heptarchy and the conquest OF Africa by
Belisarius. 1t is thus that great scholars
learnedly converse when they have the his
tory of the world at the tips of their fin
gers. 1t has been said Of Mr. Gladstone
forth instructivey on the erection of the
Tower of Babel, with Illustrations of the
confusion of languages, and go through the
chronological range or centuries, with
glances at Peloponnesus. Lacedaemon, CO.
rinth and Babylon, with observations off,
hand on the Pythian games Of Delphi and
the Scythian invasion of Asia Minor, B. c.
624:
the. wonder went. and still the won
der grew
That one small head could carry all he
knew.
The Grand Old Man at the dinners en-
route maintained a vigorous appetite, and
went steadily through the menu each day
with as much relish as though the dantiest
chef d'oeuvres by Franeatelli or Benoist had
been served. And what a time the old
statesman spent over each helping! He
mastieated slowly, and did not bolt his food
We all read the published statement which
went the world round of the journals OF
how many ways OF the jaw are necessary
to convert a mOuthful of food into a pre-
pared paste ready for the stomach 10 do
its share of assimilative work successfully,
and witnessed daily illustrations of the en-
pTemier's conscientious performance Of his
wholesome theory. He was a deliberate
feeder and / do not believe ne ever had a
twinge of indigestion in his life. He para
phras6d the old saying, Eat in haste and
repent al leisure. One day at dinner the
conversation turned on the digestibility OF
certain foods when Mr.. Carnegie CHANGED
70 remark what martyr 10 dyspepsia Car
lyle mad been Yes said Mr. Gladstone.
''he smoked too much. Quain tells me he
ate quantities Of sodden gingerbread. and