Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-10-18
HIS GUIDING STAR.
MRS. GLAOSTONE'S PART IN HER
GREAT HUSBANDS CAREER.
She Was sympathetic and Profound
ly Religious, but Tactful, and a
"Grande Dumc'' WithaI-A Grateful
Husbands Tribute.

"Grande Dame" WithaI-A Grateful
Husbands Tribute.
Mrs. GladstOne's manner was full OF
grace and charm. The genuine amiabil-
ity of a completely unspoiled nature
showed itself in every word and look.
Hope Scott has left it ON record that she
was Il potent canvasser, and no one ell.
tered more naturally into the frolics of
the young or the little interests of the
poor. But she was also essentially
'.grande dame" Her walk and bearing
as she passed the royal presence at the
drawing room were long the admiration
OF those whose duty obliged them to
stand by the throne OF in the general
circle" and in her habits, manners and
style of speech she was great lady of
the old school. This quality gave a pc.
cular effectiveness to her dealings with
pertness, forwardness or undue familiar.
ity, and when she thought it her duty to
administer snub no one snubbed SO apt.
Iy. 1t was impossible for the subject not
to feel the process and equally impossible
for him tor herr to rebel against it. But
these exercises of social discipline were
rare, and, for the rest Mrs. Gladstone
diffuscd geniality, good temper and cheer.
fulness wherever she went.
Few women of her generation had SO
wide a circle Of attached friends. She
was an indefatigable letter writer, and
her correspondence, accumulated through
60 years. contained letters of the highest
interest from the most famous person.
ages, royal, political and ecclesiastical, of
the present reign. But it was in the
h,,,,o chat bn ovnolIpI Sbo bod haaD
devoted daughter and sister; she was to
the last an exemplary mother and head
of a family, and when we think of what
she was as a wife Mr.. Gladstone's words
about the queens marriage may, with
perfect eXactness, be applied to his own,
Even among happy marriages it was
exceptional. so nearly did the union of
thought, heart and action both fulfill the
ideal and bring duality near to the bor-
ders of Identity" From the earliest days
of their married life Mrs. Gladstone
made her husbands health, not always
so robust as in later years, her prime
care, and her skill and watchfulness drew
from him the characteristic compliment,
"My wife is no inconsiderable physi-
clan" An even more valuable contribu-
ton to his happiness Gf not to his sue
cess) was the sCdulous care with which
she warded off whatever might tend to
disturb the Vulnerable temper and i'm
petuous moods" which, 40 years ago,
he acknowledged as his own. Their mar.
ried life was one long honeymoon, and,
though indeed fully charged with solemn
interests and issues, it had also a jocose
and genial side which was inexpressibly
attractive. No one who ever heard it
will forget the quaint enjoyment with
which Mr.. Gladstone used to sing the
refrain of his favorite Thinkers Song:"
A ragamuffn husband and a rantipoling wife,
Well fiddle it and scrape it through the ups and
downs of life.
The slightest sketch of Mrs. Glad.
stones character would be glaringly in
complete if it disregarded her religion.
This was not a mere aspect or attribute
of her character; it was the basis of her
nature and the handspring of her life
Her views were those of the traditional
high Anglican school, which she illus
trated in its characteristic graces of rev
erence, gravity and unobtrusive devotion
But her heart knew no distinctions OF
sect. She walked In wisdom towards
them that are without" and her lifelong
works of mercy were literally all embrac
ing. The House Of Charity in Soho, the
Newport Market Refuge, the Woodford
Convalescent home, the House Of Mercy
at Clever, the Orphange at Hawarden
are only a few of the good works with
which she was intimately connected. On
the occasion Of her golden wedding Car
dinal Manning wrote:
Il have watched you both out on the
- 4. 80
shores. You know how nearly / have
agreed in Williams political career, espe
cially in his Irish policy Of the last &c
years. And have seen also your works
of charity for the people, in which, as
you know, | heartily share with you.
There are few who keep such a jubilee
as yours; and how few of our old friends
and companions now survive! We have
had long climb up those 80 steps
for even you are not far behind-and |
hope we shall not break the pitcher at
the fountain | wonder at your activity
and endurance of weather. May every
blessing be with you both to the endI'
That activity and that endurance were
maintained almost to the close, though
the great occupations and interests of life
were gone. In 1889 Mr.. Gladstone said:
ut would not be possible to unfold in
words the value Of the gifts which the
bounty of Providence has conferred upon
me, however unworthy | may be, through
her" And in his will he wrote, Il desire
to be buried where my wife can also lie."
1t was the tribute of a grateful love nobly
earned and richly given. Mr.. Gladstone's
political career awaits the verdict of his
tory, but wherever he is remembered
there will also be remembrance of that
pure and courageous spirit which was the
guiding star of his fortunes and the good
angel of his house, london Times.
Hog cholera is giving the Poland