GLADSTONE IN PRIVATE LIFE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 25

GLADSTONE IN PRIVATE LIFE.

I saw Mr Gladstone first when he was about sixty years of age. Happening to sit very near him at a dinner party, I had a good opportunity of examining his appearance closely and of making mental notes of his 'conversation. I had heard him called " a sloven," but it struck me that he was even scrupulously neat, from the arrangement of his already thinued locks to that of the small bouquet in his button-hole; and during the number of years that I had the good fortune of seeing him from time to time the same care was always apparent. The most noticeable point about Mr Gladstone's physique is his immense head, the extreme development of the superciliary ridge giving his dark eyes doubly the appearance of being deeply set. I had seen many photographs of the statemam, in all of which the likeness was striking, but all of which more or less exaggerated pecularities, and gave the impression of a remarkably plain, almost a repulsive, person ; whereas at the period to which I refer he was really a handsome man ; the women all thought so, and with their heroworship there mingled a good deal of personal admiration. Mr Gladstone affected no mysterious reserve in speaking of the .political questions of the day; he was frank and evidently sincere. While avowedly the champion of the people, he occasionally made remarks of a startlingly conservative character. I heard him say, when some one present spoke lightly of "weeding the Upper House of the spiritual Lords "—" — " No, no ; not one bishop could be spared."

He thought that in schools " those youths should be class-mates whose similar position in society would bring them in contact later in life."

He remarked quite earnestly to a lady sitting sitting beside him, " I am sorry you like Cromwell ; I like Charles the First."

He spoke with affectionate reverence of the present royal family, evidently appreciating not only their public position, but their private virtues. .

His manner, nevertheless, had a republican simplicity, and when a chord was touched' in which the inalienable rights of man vibrated, his eye kindled and flashed, while his tongue poured forth an eloquent appeal, or protest, as it might be, and he showed himself a true Liberal.

Mr Gladstone was then in the zenith of his power as supreme ruler of England, the virtual director of that august assembly, the House of Commons ; but he was so modest and simple that he did not know either fact, or so self-re-strained that he never let the knowledge appear to those around him. In the course of the evening-— I still speak of

the first time I saw him — some one asked Mr Gladstone if he had seen a letter in the Times, I forget now on what subject. " No," he had not seen it. The paper was handed to him, and he sat 'down under the light of a lamp to read it. In his own methodical way he drew forth a pair of spectacles from his pocket, lad justed them, smoothed the paper, and became quite absorbed in the letter in question. Then I observed a peculiarity in his countenance which I had never noticed in that of any other human being, unless in a very slight degree. Two or three minutes before he had looked a well-preserved man of fifty ; but now there flame suddenly into his face at least twenty added years of age, and continued there for tho space of time that his attention was- concentrated on the words before him. He read slowly and deliberately ; he did not " pluck the heart " out of tho paper, as reviewers say, he read and pondered each syllable. When he had finished, he again carefully smoothed and folded the paper, methodically closed his spectacles, and returned them to his pocket. The lines aud furrows disappeared, as if by magic, from his face, and he was again the well-kept man of fifty. So sudden a transition can scarcely bo described in words. Mr Gladstone is loved by his friends as firmly as he is hated by his enemies. In society he is very popular, in a great measure because he assumes no air of superiority, is entirely free from arrogance, and never monopolises the conversation. He listens patiently and politely even to a bore, never shosving weariness. He is not at all unwilling that another star should shine where ho hhines, aud no divertion of attention from himself ever appears to awaken his uneasiness. I was present on one occasion at a table at which the famous but somewhat eccentric Professor Blackie sat next but one to Mr Gladstone. The professor, who is very energetic and vociferous, brandished his arms while he was speaking, and that so wildly that a lady who was seated between the two distinguished men had more than once to draw suddenly back to avoid his clenched haud striking her face! He interrupted Mr Gladstone's remarks several times, the interruption being borne with perfect equanimity and met by a smile, not of superiority, but of indulgence for the " God-intoxicated man." The subject under discussion was one which both men had much at heart — Greece and its modern explorers. At that time Mr Gladstone was the hardest 'worked man in England; but from his extraordinary habits of order and method he found time for everything ; he never let a note or letter remain more than a day ov two unanswered, even those which came from obscure individuals, and in many cases the formal reply of his secretary was followed up almost immediately by an autograph letter, always couched in courteous terms, and, where he was interested, in the most cordial expressions.

A lady related to me that, having written on the question of " Woman's Rights," a subject much discussed at that time; she sent a copy of her work to the prime minister, and received the usual polite acknowledgement from his secretary, but two or three days afterward had the gratification of receiving an autograph letter from Mr Gladstone, of which I was allowed to make a copy, and which I here subjoin, without, I trust, any breach of confidence : — " 11 Carlton House terrace, • January 31, 1870.

"Madam, — I beg you to accept my thanks for your eloquent work on " Woman's Rights," which I have read alike with interest aud sympathy. Observing that' it is privately printed, and therefore not accessible in the usual manner, I take the great liberty of saying how much I should like to be possessed of one, or, were it possible, of two additional copies : they are intended for destinations which I am sure you will consider worthy. — I have the honour to be, Madam, your very faithful servant, , "W. E. Gladstone."

The great man's sympathy did not prove evanescent ; for several years, indeed until completely overwhelmed with ever-growing business of state, he continued to give proof of interest in the struggling author whose words had touched a vibrating chord in his heart, and that interest was evinced by many acts of kindness. At a period when his detractors tried to undermine his power by industriously spreading a report that he was a Roman Catholic, I had the opportunity one evening, and boldly seized it, of sounding his opinions on the subject. I knew that the rumour had not the slightest foundation, but I wanted to draw forth from Mr Gladstone some expression of opinion which I might quote in the press, or at least get talked over in the literary and political circles I frequented, which would be nearly equivalent to publication. With this view I led the conversation to Cardinal Manning, then Mr Gladstone's intimate friend. Talking of the accomplished Cardinal's attainments, I remarked that, despite his manifold gifts, I thought I saw in his very countenance certain indications of weakness. "No," said Mr Gladstone, quickly, " you are mistaken ; ' weakness ' cannot be attributed to him ; yet I have often wondered how a man of his caiibro of mind could possibly believe in the delusions he accepts."

Mr Gladstone told me that ho approved of everyone doing a portion of manual labour — a practice which he has always observed himself and encouraged in those about him. To this habit a good deal of the vigour of his old age is doubtless due.

Speaking of his physical powers, he once said to me :

" I think I preserve my strength by husbanding it ; if 1 am obliged to sit up late at night I always rise proportionately late the following morning ; and I never do, and never have done, a stroke of work on Sunday." On another occasion we were discussing the use and abuse of wine. He said, on being questioned :

" When I am at mental work I require and take a certain portion of wine, but I can and do work hard with my hands while taking only water."

It was generally at dinner parties that I met the Prime Minister, and I noticed that he was a very moderate eater and drinker, yet without the least affectation of abstemiousness.

The topic of discussion, at one dinner party which I remember was Bismarck. For a time Mr Gladstone was silent, then suddenly turned to me, saying : " If Cavour had had the same theatre as Bismarck he would have been a more distinguished man."

About his sixty-eighth or sixty-ninth year the great statesman began to look old ; he did not stoop, his step had not lost firmness, bub his face became deeply lined, furrowed, and careworn, his eye less bright, though it could still flash with suddenly-lit fire. I met him one day at that time walking rather slowly down Harley street. He recognised me, stopped, and shook hands cordially with mo— a poor Bohemian scribbler — aud I felt honoured by his remembrance ; it was then that I became painfully aware of the great change that mental labour had wrought in him.

A more versatile mind perhaps never existed than that of Mr Gladstone's. Apart from statesmanship, his gifts as a scholar would have made him a leader among men. I do not think he 15 a keen judge of art ; at least I have hoard him laud productions which had no special merit but such as his partiality for the artist led him to attribute to his work.

Of literature he is a just aud generous critic, and despite his labours, he is still an industrious reader. As a man, there is none better living. — " An Old Bohemian," in Lippincotfc's Monthly.