MR GLADSTONE’S FAVOURITES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 22, 3 June 1893, Page 527

MR GLADSTONE’S FAVOURITES.

The great English statesman, Mr Gladstone, has a little grandchild to whom he is devoted, and her name is Dorothy Drew. Dorothy is a frequent companion of the (frand Old Man (as his admirers affectionately call him) when he is at his country seat in Wales, and an even more constant attendant upon him is the Pomeranian dog Petz. A correspondent of the London Daily Graphic says : * Every morning the dog will wait outside the door of Mr Gladstone’s dressing-room in order to accompany him on his daily walk to morning service at the church. Petz’s favourite diversion is running after sticks—a game that never seems to tire him—and no one is fonder of joining in the game with him than Mr Gladstone himself. Nearly all the ex-cabinet ministers, when visiting Hawarden Castle, have had to contribute in this way to Petz’s amusement. ‘ Mr Gladstone often tells a pretty little story of the dog’s pertinacity. Engaged in tree-felling one day, with Petz as his companion, Mr Gladstone paid more attention to his favourite recreation than Petz deemed consonant with his own claims to notice. Whereupon he kept picking up chips, and carrying them to Mr Gladstone’s feet, as a hint that he wanted them thrown for him to fetch. Determined to tire him out if possible for once, Mr Gladstone continued at his task. He was, however, unable to resist Petz’s final move, when he brought up a larger ehip, and dropped it right on to his master’s boot, accompanying the action with a most distressful and appealing glance into his face.’