MR GLADSTONE AT THE PLAY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3111, 22 March 1883, Page 3

MR GLADSTONE AT THE PLAY.

Sitting upon the Premier’s knees in a private box at Drury Lane Theatre a few nights since (says a London paper of January 19) was a little boy of five years, with light luxuriant curls, and arrayed in a sailor’s dress. Ho clapped his hands with delight at what he saw, and when the clown produced a box ot crackers, and threw them to the children In the stalls and private boxes, the anxiety of the child to catch one of the trifles was quite touching to behold. The Premier seemed to enjoy himself immensely, and frequently gave free swing to the gaiety of the hour. But as perfect mundane happiness is an impossibility, a cloud passed over his amiable features when an enchanting lady, described as the Fairy Queen of the Eoses, and very splendidly attired indeed, bounded to the footlights and warbled a song, the substance of which 3?as that the country had bad enough >of “Liberal Governments,” and would Ifee delighted to witness the return of a M Tory Administration 1” Great cheer* ang followed, in the course of which the •little boy clapped bis tiny hands. But there a lady intervened, while papa statesman seemed anything but gratified and, looking at his watch, suggested that it was time to go ; and shortly afterwards went bis way, being met in the corridor by the detectives, who saw him ; safely into his carriage. This was,how'ever, an unnecessary precaution, as there .were not, half-a-dozen people in the itheatre who were aWare of the interesting fact that the greatest statesman of . the age had condescended to come among them.