MR GLADSTONE AS A BOY.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 36, 12 September 1891, Page 360

MR GLADSTONE AS A BOY.

John Gladstone, the father of the ex-Premier of Great Britain, trained his children to give a reason for every opinion they offered. It was in this way that Wm. E. Gladstone was early trained in debate. On one occasion William and his sister Mary disputed as to where a certain picture ought to be hung. An old Scotch servant came in with a ladder, and stood irresolute while the argument progressed, but as Miss Mary would not yield, William gallantly ceased from the speech, though unconvinced, of course. The servant then hung up the picture where the young lady ordered, but when he had done this he crossed the room and hammered a nail into the opposite wall He was asked why he did this, • Aweel, Miss, that will do to hang the picture on when ye’ll have come round to Master Willie's "Peenion.’ The family generally did come round to Williams opinion, for the resources of his tongue-fencing were wonderful, and his father who admired a clever feint as much as a straight thrust never failed to encourage him by saying, • Hear, hear ! Well said ! Well put, Willie !’ if the young debater bore himself well in the encounter.