New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-26

ican market. In plain figures. the out
side price here would be $3.50 for an
article which might De of five thousand
words; in New York $500 and upwards:
in special instances much more. But
then, l suppose it must once more be
said that while we are dealing with mod
est sums $3.50 goes as far in London
as $500 in New York, and farther Yes,
partly owing TO the American tariff and
much more owing to the extortionate
prohts Of the American middleman, who
levies upon the consumer a toll far
heavier than the English tradesman
thinks il possible TO exact. Were it much
augmented here. the Engishman would
protest and rebel. The American sub
mits. This is a much more closely Cr-
gained community than ours and there
is here civic spirit Of which there is in
the United States hardly the beginning.
In another paragraph Sir Henry Lucy
observes that when Motleys correspond
ence came out Mr. Gladstone specially
noted letter in which the German
Chancellor invites Dear Jack" his old
college companion, to visit him, talk of
old times and sing once more the old
songs. and Mr.. Gladstone remarks:
For many years | have thought
knew Prince Bismarck. But this sheds
new light on his character"
The remark is Gladstone all over. He
thought he knew Prince Bismarck, and
he never knew him nor anything about
him. Never was ne a good judge of
men Never did he have a point of con-
tact or intelligent sympathy. a sympathy
of any kind. with the great German. He
heartily disliked him. He totally mis-
conceived him. He judged him and his
policy by English standards as he did
most men on the Continent but Bis
marck most Of all. He applied 10 him
the moral tests by which he would judge
an Englishman; tests which would sat
isfy the Nonconformist conscience; TO
which. though he detested Nonconform
ity. as any great ChurChman must. he
attached a political value. He judged
Disrael i'm the same misleading way,
and to the day Of his death never uu-
derstUOd his great rival. He never met
Bismarck. 1t is not probable that he
ever forgave the Iron Chancellor for re-
fusing to see him when, being then at
Hamburg I'm one of Sir Donald Currie's
ships, he proposed TO go To Berlin to
meet Bismarck.
His conception of BsmarCk's personal
character was based on his antipathy
10 his policy, domestic and foreign
neither OF which did Mr.. Gladstone ever
master. The people about him. the
group Of idolators by whom he was al
ways surrounded TO his misfortune and
detriment. piled him with misrepresen-
tations Sir Algernon West remarks In
his "ReCOllections" that ne considered
Mr. Gladstone the greatest man who
ever lived That was the tone. They
troOked no rival near the throne on
which sat the god Of their idolatry. His
own family, naturally enough, were
among the adorers, Mrs. Gladstone chief
Of them all. l forget whether | have
ever told you the story OF the brass dish.
| but here II Is
once when in Paris wandering-oh, the
delight Of it,-about the quais and among
the narrow, gloomy and entirely fascl-
mating streets on the left hand Of the
Seine, CHANGED upon -a-brac shop
where they sold brasses and bronzes. |
went IN and looked about. Hanging on
the rear wall were number Of brass
| plates on each one OF which was the
portrait Of 4 celebrity in repouSSe One
was Gladstone. bought IL, for no great
sum. took II with me to England, and
sent II to Mrs Gladstone. She was de-
lighted. When next met her che asked
me where l got IT and where it was
made | told her It was made IN
| Cologne, and was on sale in this shop on
the left bank of the Seine in Paris.
Then:
Was this the only one?"
The only one l saw Of Mr.. Glad
stone"
Were there other portraits beside
his?"
"One"
Whose"
Prince Bismarcks."
81 hope you did not buy that"
Mrs. Gladstone thought il, as it was,
kind Of tribute to Mr.. Gladstones fame
that his portrait should be stamped on
sounding brass in a foreign land. 1t
pleased her. but half her pleasure was
gone when she heard that the same
honor had been done to Bismarck Even
when she knew it was done in "A great
German city she seemed 10 think It de-
tracted from the homage which 70 her
mind ought to have been paid 10 her
husband and TO him alone. For her, he
alone existed She would hear of no
competitor. 1t was q very wifely and
altogether delightful trait.
Prince Bismarck considered Mr.. Glad
stone a man of words, maker CT
speeches, def parliamentarian, an
adroit electioneering agent. Mr.. Glad
stone considered Prince Bismarck a man
Of deeds, as he was, but Of deeds which
the Engishman, judging, as most Eng
lishmen do, from purely English stand
point, condemned on ethical grounds
For Mr.. Gladstone as a statesman the
| great German had almost-or perhaps
quite-a contempt. The work which the
| English Minister, in describing his own
career, called a work of liberation the
German Chancellor called a work Of de-
struction. That Bismarck's life task
was creative Mr. G. admitted; but on the
methods Of creation from which the Ger
|