Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-27
Last ofthc Victorian Statesmen.

The death of Lord Salisbury marks the
passing Of the last of the great statesmen
of the Victorian age in Great Britain-a
period made brilliant in public affairs by
the names Of Melbourne and Peel and
Ialmerston and Derby and Russell and
DisracH and Gladstone and Salisbury.
Otn"r names there are which stand out in
the annals Of the reign of the good queen.
but those here given are to be considered
by themselves because of their premier
ship in the British government
II to be great is to be misunderstood as
somebody has said, then Salisbury had
unusual opportunities to achieve great
ness. 1t is related of him that outside of
me members Of his own family he never
mad an intimate personal friend and that
/ the only members of his cabinet beside
his nephows whom he ever consulted ex
cept on official business. was Lord Chan
ceilor talsbury. Several of his ministe-
rial colleagues never exchanged a word
with him except on their Introduction or
across the cabinet table; while even the
personal appearance of the great ma ioritv
OIL the members of his cabinet was unfa-
mlliar to him. 1t was one of his peculiari-
Ties to seldom look at person. and when
sitting in Parliament his eyes, except in
tlme OF debate, were usually fixed on
| the stained windows above him. In pass
| ing to and fro between the Foreign Office
and the House of Lords he almost invari-
ably walked with his massive head thrown
forward upon his chest while his hands
were clasped behind his back, and the
| great numbering figure, with eyes cast
| to the ground, was seldom recognized nv
the people.
In these few descriptive sentences we
! have the key to Lord Salsbury's attitude
! toward the people as well as something
Of an index to his character. After read
ing these characteristics of the dead
statesman we are not surprised to learn
that he was never known to go inside of
! a theatre or concert hall except to attend
a political demonstration, that his chief
recreations We're chemistry. theology.
philosophy varied with French novels.
While he cordially detested popular in
terest in public affairs and found his chief
governmental ~elight in foreign relations
| DttduS' H' tOulu utdl WIN them
hampered by the criticism of the vulgar
crowd Lord Salisbury had a gentler side
to his nature He lived chiefly for his
family, and his devotion to his wife, for
whose love he abandoned riches and for
a time wrote as means of gaining a
livelihood, has been compared to that of
the late President Mckinley for his in
valid wife, which won the hearts as well
as the admiration of all beholders.
Outside Of Lord Saisbury's great do
mesticity his life is to be considered
chiefly from the standpoints of intel
lectuality and public service. As already
limited he was a thorough student, and
had he been cut aloof from governmental
duties literary career would unques-
tionably have served to give him dis
tinctlon in an age famous for its numer-
Gus authors Of high standing and bril-
liancy, His magazine articles were eager
~ sought, while his speeches showed
qualities which delighted readers as well
as hearers. lie could be philosophical or