Mr Gladstone's Popularity.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 29, 5 January 1885, Page 4

Mr Gladstone's Popularity.

The following is an extract from a private letter written by a gentleman whose official duties connpcted with the management of one of the Scotch railways brought him into contact with Mr Gladstone during his Scotch tour : — " I travelled with Mr Gladstone from Ballatcr to Old Meldrum on Monday last, and the crixwds at ; the stations where the trains stopped were terrfiic. There was no controlling them either, • as they would not be kept back either by t'he" 1 police or anyone else- . The eagerness to get a -look at the J '^Grand Old Man 1 was something marvellous; and all those who could get near enough fought for a shake ,of his hand. You connot imagine 'without seeing it, the enthusiasm, of his reception wherever he went. It was something parvellous; and- so 1 widespread. Tne Tories seemed, f o have disappeared altogether. , When we came down on Monday, Gladstone's train passed a train at IJanchory, m rwhich the ,Prince. of Wales was travelling Both trains were m the station together. An immense crowd had gathered to see and liear Gladstone. The train.; (going inHne opposite'direction',)arrjved two or three . minutes before (^adstone's. t . The, . people re« cpgnised the Prince, and, .gave the' 5 usual /loyalj" cheers;, J»at when -Mr Gladstone arrived the Ovation he met ; Mwjth was tremendous,, putting into the shade thereception accorded to the Prince. I saw the face of the latter just ais lie was tela^ingilihTi'lielb'oked both , astonished, and ? amused j *bow(cd . liiudlyj to/; Gla^&tqiie as i $te\r car* images passed. It was the same everywhere., A.. King could not have got a worthier reception than Glads|tyne did-" G.Q.Mv will soon have, t|o vbe translated " Great Old Man".