Mr Gladstone and Oysters.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 215, 13 August 1887, Page 3

Mr Gladstone and Oysters.

Whatever cUo lie the result of the peregrination into Snuli Wales, the woild has at lea*t enuiched it-, knowledge by learning that Mx Gladstone does not eat oysters. The occasion on which the discovery was made i^> delightfully chronicled by the stepdogger (for" the " Daily News ") of the great man on his tnuels : — Hawng in \ iuw the close of the season, one woman at the door of an oyster •jhop in\itedMr Gladstone on his return from his walk to come m and have some oybters. Mr Gladstone < ourteously declined. The good woman would not take a refusal, but pressed the p.nni. "I don't eat oysters,"' .-aid the .statesman. "Ne\er mind, come in, man, anyhow," responded the fishwife. "But, my good woman, oysters do not agree with my digestion," said he. " I don't care," continued the tern pti ess. taking him by the slutr.e ; "but you must come in, man. Ha\e one oyster — have one, at any rate that wont kill'ee." The right hon. gentleman, however, was firm ; even this form of coercion was not according to his way of thinking. In the end the crisis was a.ve i ted by the appearance of Mrs Gladstone. " Theie. my good woman," said Mr Gladstone, pointing to his -wife, "that is the oyster eater, and my son there eats them too.'' The people around' laughed and cheered, and in the end the Gladstone party went into the modest refreshment nouse and ate brow n bread and oysters. Mr.s Gladstone, an the oyster cater, is chai ming.