AT GLADSTONE'S TOMB

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 30, 4 August 1923, Page 14

AT GLADSTONE'S TOMB

BULGARIA'S TRIBUTE TO A GREAT STATESMAN.

The memory of Gladstone was honoured on 19th May, by the Bulgarian ■ Minister, Mr. Standoff, who, on behalf of his Government, placed a wreath in Westminster Abbey at the foot of the statue where Gladstone, lies buried, to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of his death. The wreath, says the "Daily Telegraph," was composed of laurel, red carnations and .Madonna , lilies, and.thus' displayed the Bulgarian.colours; which are red, white, and green. It bore the inscription, From the grateful Bulgarian people to Gladstone on the twenty-fifth aniversa/v of his. death 1898 to 1923.". Mr. Standoff was accompanied by Mmc Standoff and family, the full staff of tile Bulgarian Legation, members of the Bulgarian colony, Sir Edward Boyle (lion, secretary, Balkan Committee). Lady Boyle, members of the N=ar East Association, and Mr. Kenneth Ledward, representing the National Liberal Club. Viscount Gladstone, Viscount Morley, and Lord Fitzmaurice were represented at the ceremony. The party was received at the Abbey by Mr. Kn'app-Fisher (Receiver-Geii-eral), the Dean of Westminster (Bishop Kyle), Canon Stoor. Canon de CandoJe, and Minor Canon Jocelyn Perkins, and proceeded to the great statesman's tomb. The Bulgarian Minister, in depositing the wreath, snid Gladstone's name would ever be associated with the birth of the Bulgarian State, and the grateful Bulgarian people venerated the •memory of one whose life was consecrated to the noblest purposes and whose work left a great and beneficent influence on the political and social thought of his generation. "Famous men had the whole world for their tomb" (so wrote' Lord Morley), and not only were they commemorated by columns 'in their own land, but in other countries a. memorial of them was graven in the hearts of men. ■So it was with Gladstone:

Sir Edward Boyle, who placed a wreath of laurel on the statue on behalf of the Balkans Committee, said Gladstone in his attitude to the smaller peoples truly interpreted the spirit of freedom that animated the people of his own country. The Dean of Westminster thanked the Bulgarian Minister for his eloquent tribute to a great English statesman, and expressed the hope that the spirit that animated Gladstone would animate the people of England to-day.