THE WIFE OF THE GRAND OLD MAN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1790, 15 March 1888, Page 3

THE WIFE OF THE GRAND OLD MAN

A recent sketch of Mrs Gladstone, the wile of England's ex-Premier, says eho waa bern In 1812, and o*me of an excellent family, being the daughter of Sir Richard Glynne. Even bb a girl ahe showed markod capacitioa for leadership, and waa alwnya the head and front of all the plane originated m tho nursery or schoolroom. Her disposition has always been calm and reposeful, and thouuh sho haa never bean greatly given to enthuahsm, when Bhe once beoomeß Interested m any matter she devotes herself to it with a quiet persistency tbrvt is generally effective m produolng the desired result. She is extremely independent, and little ipfluencod by wealth or position ; In faot, the impariousness of her temperament leads her to prefer for tao most part people to whom Bhe herself represents thoae qualities. She greatly prefers being courted to courting, aud during her hußband'a lucumbency of the Premier ship ahe came In contaot with royalty as little as was consonant with the necessities of tho position . Ambitious ai Bhe Is for him, she is better pleaeed to be at Hawardea, their country seat, than anyvrhere el bo In the world. Mrs Gladstone has Interested herself very actively la the condition of the cottagers about Hawarden and has stimulated n taste for the panting of shrabs and flowers by offering rewards for tho best display. In the echoola she has introduced teachers who instruct the children m Bowing, embroidery, oooking, and various handicrafts Bulted to boyß. She ia extremely charitable, and it is told of her that daring tho Lancashire ootton famine ehe employed fifty inon laying out roads and otherwise improving tho Hawarden Pa*k at a salary that kept their families from want until the troubles at the mills were at an end Sho has founded at Clapham an Industrial school for b«yß and a home for aged and incurables, which are both under her direct supervision, and are both model charities. One one occasion a young woman whom tho had helped oame aud asked her what service Bhe could do m return to Bhow her gratitude). In reply, Mra Gladstone Bald, ' Do something for somebody else A kind word, a bit of practical advice, a helping hand even if there is not much m it will always be doing somethtng for mo, and more than than that my child, will be doing something for yourself and something for your God.' Mr Gladstone has always found In thlo Btrong, well-rounded woman hifl gr6ftteot auppnrt, and roward.