A FARMER’S INTERVIEW WITH MR GLADSTONE.

Western Star, Issue 910, 3 January 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

A FARMER’S INTERVIEW WITH MR GLADSTONE.

AH’ AMUSING EPISODE, On the occasion of the recent private visit of Mr Gladstone to the old house of Panmure, near Carnoustie, once the favourite residence of the Maules of Panmure, a vbry amusing episode occurred; As/the " visit .was Quite a private affair, every precaution was taken to prevent the public getting access to the grounds, ‘oil intruding on the privacy* tif the Earl of Dalhousie and. his! guests/ Notwithstanding this, a considerable number of the residents of the VRls,gs l made their way to Panmure, in thii hop'd of catching a glimpse of Mr 'Gladstone, and amongst them was a retired faa'mer, a pawky oln man, and agenuib&specimeh of the' old,’ schodl ;df 'Sfibtch farmers. He walked briskly upto-the gate, and was about to pass ■ through, when the gatekeeper barred his progress, and- sharply intimtited that there was “ no admittance/’ ' “What d’ye say exclaimed the astonished farmer. “ .Will fe ho’ lat a body in?" “No,” was’the reply; “no strangers are to be allowed within the grounds.” “ But I maun -hae in to see the great man, an’ I winna -tab’ ‘no’ tor an answer.” Butthela'dy was firth, and would not yield,,' * A'ctowd of 1 visitors frbih the seaside village had by this time gathered round ~the gate, all equally anxious; for admittance; While the> portress s wae holding a p&rlby, with the fresh arrivals, the bid ihfih J 'slyly slipped out of sight* welked-alsng the road foc a short distance* clim bed the boundary access, to. the 5 grbubde./ .'Dojibling the porter's up the carriage drive towards thetoansion. He had not gone far when he whSs met by a gentleman” in high authority, who, amazed at the bid man’s: audacity, levelled his '’eye-glass,'and; aftor' purveying him ly : denrknded, “ What dp yorf/Twaut “lyeli, frien,” coolly replied the farmer, “ I’ve come to \ see -that; great man you hae wi’ you the day. WJrnur do you think; he ! -might be enow?” The gentleman - saw he had a tough character - to deal;Mth,” a moment’s ■reflebtioh l ;t ’ h l e ! concluded that it would ;bA best/ to//got, him quietly cornered// tfi r, prevent. the possibility of a scene. Accordingly he led- hiin to a’tetirbd pfirhrbr the policies, and told him to wait there and the. Premier i would pass 1 thnt>way shortly. But the old'farmer #as too impatient to wait, and, disregarding the injunctions of-the-high^dignitary, he struck a bee-line. for /their mansionhdudfi. 1 itis pbrseveranoe met with its due reward.; for before he.,had mine 'eii^unfeto^lie; : E£u?I r £kb v axlua guests.’ Advancifig bfiskly ’ .up J to 'the Efirl, the old man but aiß v h|na» arid greeted him 'wpth you’, the/dayy ihy /LbrdT ..T’vci cbmp'to' see . that ;greMj?iaap^ wlfiria gae' awa br.'f shakd Aands Mm.” The Eatl qM Man by the baud; and then intrqdvfced him'fb ‘Mr on; the estate.’ The ' Premier, jhpb.k hands with .tire ’ he was well, arid soforth. % “ but; Thr proud- to' sge Gladstone" T .Man, ’ you’re a' clever cMel, ’ we; hay’na mo.nylike hut yptihg - b urkie there,’’, ailudi’ng Dali hbusie, “‘that’e promts’ ' weeL j } Man bfit'’ I’m gladl‘to ‘see you" looking! weel and .hearty, An’ ;this » the misttesfi dpehter,.’j sugpoTe* I Hob hre ye,’ mbin. ? * maim excuse me, but' we’rp a’ sae'prppd‘tp ‘ Thus the honest o,ld* shaking" ’ 'Haii|fß. . jail Ifist'Re bhlle''themgiving; a parting shfike Mr 'Qifid* stone’s hand- / He wfis po elated'atrihiß honour conferred -upon /him %a|s, he told' the story to all his friends, anil hp was heard to declare in a/, burs!// of enthusiasm, “ thafhe would not wash the Hand that had grasped the palm of Mr Gladstone for the next sos