GLADSTONE’S POEM TO “MARCOT.”

Star (Christchurch), Issue 20073, 9 October 1920, Page 1 (Supplement)

GLADSTONE’S POEM TO “MARCOT.”

MRS ASQUITH’S STORIES OF THE “ G.0.M.”

Mrs Asquith, continuing her memoirs in the “Sunday Times,” says.: “The political emit that caused tile greatest sensation when I was a girl was the murder of Mr Burke and Lord Frederick Cavendish* on May 6, 1882. . . . These murders tended to confirm Gladstone in his belief that tho Irish were, people whom we did not understand, and that they had better bo encouraged to govern themselves. Ho hoped to convert his colleagues to a like conviction, but Chamoerlain and he disagreed. “When Mr Gladstone went in for Home Rule, society was rent from top to bottom, and even the most devoted friends quarrelled over it. Our family was as much divided as any other. “Our follies in Ireland have not only cursed the political but the social life of this country. It was-not until the political ostracisms over Home Rules began all over again in 1914 that 1 realised how powerful socially I and my friends were in the ’eighties.”

GLADSTONE THE WIT. Turning from Gladstone) the politician to Gladstone the man, Mrs Asquith reveals him in the role of poet. After her first visit to Hawardcn lie sent her a poem addressed to “ Margot.” We quote the concluding verses ;

Up hill and down dale, ’tis ■« capital namo To blossom in friendship, to sparkle an fame; There’s but one objection can light upon Margot, Its likeness to rhyming, not ineanino-, of. argot. Never mind, never mind, ive will give ( it the slip, ' ’Tis not argot, the language, but Argo .• the ship ; ' And by sea or by land, I will swear you may far go Before you can hit on a double for Margot.

UGLIEST MAN. An example of Gladstone’s sense, of humour is afforded by the following story told to Mrs Asquith by her husband:— “I was one evening, in a very thin House, seated by the side of Mr Gladstone on the Treasury Bench, of which wo were the sole occupants. Suddenly he turned to "me with, an allot groat animation, and said in his most solemn tones, ‘ Have you over considered who is the ugliest man in the party opposite?’ “Mr Asquith: ‘Certainly; it is without doubt X.’ (naming a famous Anglo-Indian statesman). “Mr Gladstone:. ‘You are wrong. X. is no doubt an ugly fellow, but a much uglier is Y.’ (naming a Queen’s Counsel of those days). “ Mr Asquith : ‘ Why should you give him the preference?’ “Mr Gladstone: ‘Apply a very .simple test. Imagine them both magnified on a colossal scale. X.’s ng-lines-M would then begin Ut look dignilied and even impressive, while the more you enlarged Y. the meaner lie would become.’ ”