The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-30

III ouice. ne RECORDS snow through the
centuries long service among officials.
Within the last half century there have
been many marked examples of this
course as pursued. Gladstone, Bismarck,
Salisbury and many others could be cited.
The wise men are ordinarily kept to the
front, and wisdom with most men, if it
ever comes, is concomitant of age and
long experience. But history is also full
of many able young men holding high
and responsible offices, men remarkably
young. Great Britain furnishes many
examples of leaders among highly gifted
and ambitious young men. We may cite
Mr.. Pelham, who entered the House of
Commons at the age of %; Lord Chath-
am, at 26; Mr.. c. j. Fox, at 90 Mr.. Pitts
the younger, at 81, and he was Prime
Minister before he was %; Mr.. George
Canning at some o. perhaps; Sir Robert
Peel at 81; Mr.. Gladstone at 90. These
were foremost men, of very great prom
Use, who became vastly distinguished.
They all were leaders of the House of
commons at some time. They began
early, and well they might for they
were extraordinary. Nearly every one
became Prime Minister. But where in
equals at the time they entered Parlia-
ment? Mr.. G. f. Emerson. in his very
interesting and valuable Political and
Literary Biography" of the illustrious
and Incompatible statesman, orator and
author, w. h. Gladstone, says of them:
Il do not hesitate to say you cannot
match them out of the history Of the
British House of Commons for the hun
dred years which precede our own day."
Pelham entered Parliament in 1719, and
Gladstone in 1882. In the admirable life
referred to the author in his Preface"
says that there is no instance in politi-
cal life of such an unfailing maintenance
such continuous Vigor, or mental power
as that exhibited by Mr.. Gladstone" He
died in his S9th year, and his mental
powers were not abated, but marvellous
to the very close. 1t will interest to
quote few lines from Earl RusseIls
book, "Recollections and Sug-
gestions. He says of Gladstone long
before that great man had eliminated:
''There can>bc no doubt that Mr. Glad
stone, by his great eloquence, by his
power of developing the most abstruse
proposition, and embracing at once in his
large capacity the most logical demon
stratiens with the most captivating and
dazzling rhetoric, has made for himself
a fame which, in the lapse of centuries,
will suffer no eclipse" Mr.. Emerson
remarks of what the very distinguished
statesman wrote of Gladstone. that he
indicated only one aspect CT his char
acter. Wonderful as is the combination
of lucidity and eloquence, the earnest
moss and sincerity with which he has
labored to make political science practi-
cal is even more admirable The moral
nature and the intellect are harmonious in
working. No Finance Minister ever eX-
planned the complicated details of q
Budget with similar clearness, elegance,
and force" John Bright, one of the very
greatest and most popular orators Eng
land ever had, was very pronounced
OF Gladstone and placed him
above all possible rivals.
DR.. Samuel Johnson is a great char
acter and force in Eighteenth century
English literature. He was extraordinary
in everal particulars-in his physical
makeup with his very queer convul-
nance, his imperious manners, his Curl
nance, his imperious manners, his Curl
GUS actions, his mandatory and domi-
mating talk. his slovenly dress, and yet
behind it all there throbbed one OF the
most manly and affectionate hearts,
overtiowing with sympathy and the milk
of human kindness But 1 am not about
to discuss this extraordinary author and
conversationalist, however inviting the
theme He is the best known of all the
authors and contemporaries OF his time,
owing to many biographies of him, and
especially that masterpiece of all lives,
''Boswell's Johnson 1 wish now to
reproduce few excerpts from his cpin-
ions as given by his wonderful bio
grapher. Speaking of the pleasures OF
society,"" as Boswell termed them, the
able Doctor said: ALAS. sir. these are
only struggling for happiness" He had
hearty dislike for American indie
pendence. There are thousands of ma
tive-born Americans now who begin to
suspect that it was a bad exchange when
the English government was thrown off
for such thing of,usurpation. oxtrava-
gance corruption, brutality and wicked
ness as this government now is" John
son was extraordinarily kind and beneyo-
lent. | never read of man of tend
erer, more sympathetic heart. He was
always ready to help the suffering and
helpless, and his benefactions are numcr-
Gus and most remarkable. | give but
one instance out of scores that are re-
corded Once coming home late at night
he found a poor woman lying in the
street He carried her to his home on
his back. and found that she was re-
duced to the lowest stage of want, pow
erty and disease. He took care OF her
at his own charge. with all tenderness,
until she was restored to health, and
then tried to have her put into yir-
tuous way of living. His house, IN MS
later years, was filled with various waits
and strays, to whom he gave hospitality
and sometimes support, defending him
self by saying that if he did rot help
them nobody else would. He made some
judicious remarks on praise. ! copy a
sentence or SO: Every man willingly