A Story about Mr Gladstone.

Manawatu Herald, 11 June 1892, Page 3

A Story about Mr Gladstone.

« Mr Frank Hall, who painted Mr Gladstone, also painted a portrait of Mr Bright, " when Mr Bright was sitting for his portrait, so Mr Hall told the story, he hazarded the remark : — ' It must be a very pain • ful thing for you, Mr Bright, that after all these years you should have found cause to sever your connection ' ? ' Indeed it is,' responded Mr Bright, with a sigh ; to think that after we have trodden the same path together, shoulder to j shoulder, and hand in hand, we should be forced apart in the evening of our lives ! And by what ? By a bogey that has risen up within him, and is beckoning him away from duty and sense, by his own Frankenstein's monster. Do you know, Mr Hall, I seriously fear that my dear old friend's mind has really become radically undermined ? When I was painting Mr Gladstone, the subject of Mr Bright's porfcrai' cropped up. 'Ah 1 ' said Mr Gladstone, with much interest, ' and how did you find him ?' ' Fairly well, and he spoke very affectionately of you, Mr Gladstone.' ' Did he indeed ?' replied he, sorrowfully, 1 did he indeed ? Ah, that was a cruel blow. That after a life-time of mutual esteem and of good work carried through together we should be divided on so clear a question ! ♦ Tell me, Mr Hall ' — and here his mouth twitched and his voice shook with great emotion — ' tell me, did you observe anything in the manner of my old friend which would lead you to believe that his reason was becoming in any way unhinged?"'