The Blackpool Herald. — 1879-01-31 (Blackpool, Lancashire, England)

LOCAL GOSSIP.  The cold weather is sending the " birds " out of the fields into ths towns for shelter. But the change is like falling out of the frying pan into the fire. One day last week a hen partridge fluttered in at the door of Mrs. Moore's shop in North Shore, and was captured as soon as looked at, killed, dressed, and in due time furnished a capital repast for the family. This almost beats cockfighting, or the suicide of the hare at South Shore the other week.  The Blackpool Conservative Club has commenced, I observe, a series of "political lectures," by affording Mr. Bottomley an opportunity of ventilating his notions anent Lord Beaconsfield and Mr. Gladstone. "Comparisons are odious," says the good ' George Herbert, bat I cannot help thinking that, for a long time back, the general run of comparisons of which the two greatest living statesmen have been made the subject, have not dealt out honest measure. There are many persons to whom the lines would apply— Railing and praising were their u=nal themes; And both to show their judiment in extremes, So over-violent and over-civil, That ev'ry man with them was God or Devil. I don't mean to say that Mr. Bottomley comes under this category of critics, for although the lecturer treated his doubtless sympathetic audience to the usual "railing" at the Liberal chief, yet I am bound to admit that the hard words were mostly "quotations," and that he did not scruple to recognise in Mr. Gladstone one of the brightest spirits of our time,whom all men admired, and all men revered." That isn't faint praise; although it was preceded by the usual catch-cries. The truth is that it is a mistake to make either " God " or " Devil "of any human being. No one denies that Lord Beaconsfield has fought his way upwards in political life both bravely and resolutely, that he had set himself an almost impossible task, the resuscitation of an almost defunct party,—certainly a thoroughly disheartened party. Mr. Disraeli's "education of his party" must be allowed to be the most astonishing political thing of this century. He has proved without a doubt that no politician "has studied the people of this country with more intuition" than he. But when Mr. Bottomley rhapsodises so heedlessly as to say that "even Lord Beaconsfield's very imprudences are calculated beforehand," he admits something which goes far to prove the contention of the Prime Minister's political opponents, namely--that the Earl is excessively imprudent where international interests are concerned. Lord Beaconsfield's " vice " is a leaning towards sensationalism. All his more prominent moves on the political chess-board go to show that. The Suez Canal shares, the importation of black troops into Europe, the annexation of Cyprus, all prove his love for sensationalism. Lord Beaconsfield once said that Mr. Gladstone had not even a "redeeming vice " Mr. Bottomley thinks the Liberal statesman has many ; but it may be taken for granted that his lordship has had More opportunities of coming best to a conclusion than has had the Conservative lecturer. For my part, I think both statesmen " shine refulgent " in their several spheres. No man could have "resurrected" his party so cleverly as Mr. Disraeli. No man could have shown more unselfishness, more largemindedness, more cultured statesmanship, than Mr. Gladstone, and no British statesman, I venture to say, will live longer in the admiration and respect of the British people than William Evert Gladstone. What Wellington said of Peel, "We are all proud of him," every Englishman, whatever his political creed or prejudice, says of Mr. Gladstone.  I confess to be considerably puzzled what to make of the following effusion sent to me for publication the other day, by the person who received it through the post. There seems, on the face of it, much "method" in its madness. The writer is evidently a victim to the present depression in trade, but "mixes up" matters in strange fashion. The letter is directed to a well-known gentleman in "Newroad, Blackpool," and reads as follows : Sir,—ln your charity do you remember the idiot and the imbecile. You know not the privations and sufferings of these poor creatures, neither can any man tell you the tale. They are cut off from this wind's *mares and pursuit.. They are confined in houses sad Institutions, something after the fashion and manner of them which have broken the laws of their country. They have their fears and doubts like unto other men, and have no, the power of mind or strength of body as thou has, to contend with thy troubles No man nor pen can describe the t unts and feelings of these thy poor brethren. In thy charity do remember than I pray thee. Thou will not regret it when thou art laid on thy death bed.