New-York tribune., 1903-06-03
RUSKIN,S RASH JUDGMENT
NeD Details Of Has Difference zcith
Gladstone.
From The London Chronicle.

From The London Chronicle
Privileged Ruskin lovers were recently given
the opportunity Of acquiring for a guinea little
volume called Letters TO NJ. G. and h G.
These characteristic letters, all Of them written
by Mr. Ruskin between January, 1873, and May.
1881 to Mr.. Gladsrone's two daughters are or
no slight Importance in themselves and receive
additional value from charming Introduction
by Mr.. George Wyndham, 1nacknowledged
though fascinating fra gnent Of diary, and two
papers of considerable interest by Canon Scott
Holland. AS this volume has not been issued 10
the public and is in the hands OF com
paratively few favored individuals, some indica-
ton Of its contents may be welcome to readers
who may never be able to glance through It's
pages.
To some. perhaps. the connection of this book
with the great name of Gladstone viii be its
chief claim. All who know "Fors Clavigera
are aware that in Letter lyii occurs sig
nif1cant blank, in the middle Of which is state
ment that tine passage now and henceforWard
omitted in this place contained an attack on MI
Gladstone, written under complete misconcep-
ton of his character and. further, that the
blank space is left partly in due memorial of
rash judgment Readers Of "Fors are also
that in Letter the S1th' Mr. Ruskin ex-
presses great shame for the words he had
spoken in utter misunderstanding of Mr. Glad
stones character" In these Letters TO NJ. C.
and II. c." for the first time printed, We
have fun explanation of Ruskin's change of
front.
Gladstone and Ruskin. so we here learn, did
not meet before the beginning OF 1878. It is
somewhat amusing TO read here how, as Ruskn
drove with Canon Scott Holland from Brough-
ton Station TO Hawarden, il was discovered that
he had the darkest view possible OF his host
imbibed from the Master Carlyle, TO whose
ina agination he figured apparently the symbol
Of all with which he Ruskin
therefore extremely tinlid and suspicious, and
mad secured, in view Of possible retreat, a tele
gram which might at any moment summon him
home; this telegram loomed largely the first
day, and We were constantly under its menace
But as hour by hour he got happier. the refer
ences TO its possible arrival came more and more
rarely. and finally il became purely mythical
Mr George Wyndharn tells US that in these
md fhe inst Tey1fh
of mutual esteem between Ruskn and his
rivalled host, and watch il ripening into the
fruit Of friendship: whilst, that ripens,
thousand blossoms of playfulness and affection
are put forth by Ruskin's admiration and love
for the daughters Of the house Canon Scott
Holland says that Ruskin threw off every touch
Of suspicion with which he had arrived, and
showed with all the frankness and charm of
child his new sense Of the greatness and nobility
Of the character Of his host. AS he stood on the
hall steps when departing al the close of his
three days visit he begged publicly TO recant all
that he had ever said thought against Mr..
t5laostone II was complete victory, and all
the more noticeable just because the two talked
& different language and moved in different
worlds. Canon Scott Holland drove with Ruskin
70 the station, and was freely told Of the Joy Of
his discovery. but found him "a little nervous
as TO how he was going 10 explain it 10 the
Master when he got back TO Chelsea
Ruskin himself shall tell Of the change in his
opinion Of Gladstone When in his first letter
January IS, 1879 10 Miss Mary Gladstone, he
expresses gratitude for ha.ing been enabled to
see her father and understand him in his ear
restness. he adds How is it possible for the
men who have known him long-to allow the
thought Of his course of conduct now, or at any
ether time. having been warped by ambition TO
diminish the lustre and the power OF his name?
I have been grievousy deceived concerning him
myself, and have once written words about him
which trust you at least may never see They
shall be effaced henceforward Il have written
TO cancel the page which they are)- If ever
you see them, forgive me. and you VIII know
what il is 70 forgive"
But even after such acknowledgements these
Ruskin INDUCED himself in an occasional fling.
IN the summer OF 1879 he wrote his famous
Glasgow letter. in which he declared that he
cared more either for Mr. Disraen or Mr.
Gladstone than for two old baRpipes with the
drcnes going by steam, but that he hated all
Liberalism as he did Beelzebub and that. with
Carlyle. he stood alone IN England for God and
the Queen. And in April 1884. his conversation
with MI SpielTnann appeared IN The Pail Mall
Gazette and was quoted in every direction. In
II he said hat there was political opinion
he dfd entertafn-that Mr. Gladstone was an
old windbag. who used his splendid gifts OF
oratory not for the elucidation OF a subject but
tor its vaporization in a cloud OF words
That both these roughly expressed sentiments
were I'll received at Bawarden can scarcely be
denied Significant breaks occur in Ruskins
letters TO Mr. Gladstone's daughter that tell
their own tale and Mr.. Spiemann asserts that
Rusl.in told him that the 'windbag' remark gave