AN AMERICAN PORTRAIT OF MR. AND MRS. GLADSTONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8082, 24 September 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

AN AMERICAN PORTRAIT OF MR. AND MRS. GLADSTONE.

A correspondent of the New York World gives the following sketch of how Mr. Gladstone looked on the occasion of the presentation to him of the bust subscribed for in New York The ex-Premier wore a light grey frock suit. His waistcoat was white, and upon it hung a pair of black-rimmed eyeglasses. * In the lapel of his unbuttoned frock coat he wore a large pink rosebud. Around his high standing collar he wore a loosely tied blue and white polka-dot scarf. Upon his right hand he wore a gold knot ring. He stood in a string light. His face, which looks pale under the glare of the gas in the House of Commons, to-day showed an undercurrent of colour. His cheeks were slightly pink. He appeared robust and full of vitality. Ho is of medium height. His shoulders are slightly rounded. His head is large. His forehead is high, full, and only slightly wrinkled. His grey hair is very thin, but yet there is enough to bring over the top and to conceal in a measure his baldness. His eyebrows are very pronounced. His eyes are deep, dark bla:k. His nose is a fierce, prominent Roman one. His mouth is large, thin-lipped, and drawn down at the corners, parallel with the deep lines upon each side of his nose. The lower part of his face is very square and positive. His closely shaved beard made a blue tint upon the "lower part of his face.

His voice is very clear, musical, and deep. He speaks without the slightest hesitation or affectation of the average English orator. Ho speaks without any distinctive English accent. He held his silk hat in his hand and leaned on a black stick as he talked. Ha was very mnah in earnest and made the occasion of the presentation of this testimonial very important by the character of his speech. His picture of the political situation and his prophecy of the future made a positive sensation in the crowd of representatives of English newspapers who occupied two press tables near him.

Mrs. Gladstone, who was near him, moved about from side to aide, alternately looking at the testimonial and at her husband as he was speaking. She is a very amiable, gracious-looking, lady, with iron-grey hair, thick and abundant, brushed down over the ears. She has good colour,{regular features, and clear blue-grey eyes. There was a look of admiration and veneration apparent in her face for her husband, which bo interested Congressman Collins that he said he took more pleasure in watching her than he did Mr. Gladstone. Her dress was light-blue silk covered with black lace. Her bonnet was of black lace with blue ostrich tips, She wore no gloves.