GLADSTONE'S GOLDEN WEDDING. The Commemorative Album. (From Our Special Correspondent.) London, July 26.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 404, 21 September 1889, Page 6

GLADSTONE'S GOLDEN WEDDING. The Commemorative Album. (From Our Special Correspondent.) London, July 26.

All day yesterday the Grand Old Man and his Grand Old Wife were kept busy receiving presents, messages, and congratulatory visits anenb the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage, or golden wedding. The " Daily News " says : . Almost the first of the messages received at fcho house in Oames-street was a tolegram irom the Queen, in which her Majesty congratulated Mr and Mrs Gladstone upon the jubilee of their marriage. The "Queen made reference to the jubilco of her reign, which was celebrated two years ago,and also expressed wishes for the continued happiness of the ex-Premier and his wife. Asmight be expected on such an occasion, the number of letters received was unusually large. Mr Gladstone, always an early riser, was up and preparing bo attend early morning service when the postman delivered' his tirst congratulatory load. Amongst the letters was one couched in the most kindly terms from the Prince of Wales, offering the most hearty congratulations on behait of himself und the Princess. There was also a letter from the King ot the Belgians expie&sing his good wishes on the happy occasion. All thi'ough the day came a succession of letters and telegrams, each conveying the expression of hopes for the continued welfare of Mr and Mis Gladstone. Shortly before eighbo'clock Mr Gladstone went out to early morning prayers. After the Benediction had been pronounced he Hurried home to preside at the anniversary wedding bieakfast, at which only members of his own family we're present. The right honourable gentleman appeared to be in the best of health, and in great spirits. As he ascended the stairs his step was sprightly, and he received with-smiles of pleasure the good wishes of the members ot his household. The first to greet him as ho came from church was Mrs Gladstone, who was looking remarkably well, and with her were grouped all the members of her family with two exceptions — Mrs Drew and Mr W. H. Gladstone, the, eldest son. The latter, whois just recovering from a rather severe illness, remains in Devonshire by the advice of his medical attendants, and had to be content with communicating his congratulations through che medium of the post. Before breakfast was over many carriages drove up to the house and .a small group of people collected round them with the view of ascertaining the reason for such an unusual number of calls. Sir William Harcourt was thedrstof bheex Cabinet Ministers who havq worked with Mr Gladstone to pay a visit. With him he brought an offering of flowers which Mr Gladstone accepted with a cordial shake of the hand. Next came the Earl and Countess of Aberdeen, bringing with them a wedding present in fche shape of a breakfast "service in white and gold, arranged on' a gold and white cloth, and decorated" -with a beautiful 'palm in a gilded basket. The Earl and Countess hoped to have been in time for the present to have ,&een used at tho wedding breakfast, but in Uiis they were disappointed. They insisted, however, upon arranging the $|bbh and the service in another room for use on a futuie occasion. Sir F. Knollys, the Prince, of Wales' private secretary', shortly afterwards arrived, and made most kindly inquiries on behait of the Prince and Princess, at the conclusion of which he returned to Marlborough House to report that Mr and Mrs Gladstone were in excellent health, and had received the Prince's congratulations with the sincerest thanks. Mr Osborne Morgan, Lord and Lady Rosebery, the Hon. A. Lyttelton, Lady Stepney, and a large number of other visitors, many of whom had been members of Mr Gladstone's Administrations, also paid early visits, while telegrams from absent friends arrived at every minute, among them being a long message from the Marquis of Du florin. To-night there will be " high jinks " in honour of the occasion at the National' Liberal Club, which i 3 being decorated and hung with roses by the artist who got up the Empire Theatre so smartly for the Shah's visit. The commemorative album which is to be presented to Mr and Mrs Gladstone, as a gift from the members, in celebration of their golden wedding, is a unique typo of that form of testimonial. The artists who have combined in its production, virtually as a labour of love, are Mr Marcus Stone, R.A., Mr J. MacWhirter, A.R.A., Mr A. Parsons, It 1., Mr Arthur Severn, R. 1., Mr H. Holiday, Mr Walter Crane, and Mr Lewis F. Day. The covers, which are 22in. by 16in., are ot golden brown crushed morocco, tooled in gold with emblematic device by MiLewis Day, and it bears on the top the words, " \Villiam Ewarfc and Catherine Gladstone, A.D. 1839;" and at the bottom, "A.D. 1889, National Liberal Club." The congratulatory address is brief, and in it controversial politics are almost entirely avoided ; it is distributed over five pages, the bulk of the space on each being taken up by the work of the artists above named. The fiontispiece is a beautiful half figure by Mr Marcus Stone, typifying freedom ; and it may hero be stated that all the pictorial contributions are water-colours, and that the ornamental designs throughout are upon a gold background. The first page, by Mr Lewis Day, is a general rehearsal, by the medium of a scroll taking the form of a capital G, of the works in which Mr Gladstone, as the foremost statesman of the age, has taken part. Wreaths around the parent stem give the names of all the children of the distinguished couple for whom this work of art has been made ready. On the mid-rib ot the leaves of the scroll will bo found reminders of the Income Tax Budget and Succession Duties Act, and at Free Trade that particular branch stop". Another, however, tends in a different direction, arriving at the Oxford University Act (with the arms of Oxford), the French Treaty (with the lion and eagle), the abolition of bhe paper ' duties (symbolised by the People's Edition ot Walter Scott, Mr Gladstone's favourite author), tho Ballot Act, Abolition of Purchase, Alabama arbitration (with a ship symbolical of that notorious ocean incendiary), Educational, Agricultural Holdings, Employers' Liability, Corrupt Practic.es (introducing the famous axe), and Franchise Acts. Home Rule is accentuated by bhe Irish Harp crowned with the cap of liberty. This symbolic scroll starts with the tender green of youth, and proceeds upwards through a gradation of colours to the rich russet of autumn. This is the page which contains the commencement df the address, and the initial " O " for " On behalf " is charmingly foliated, and bears the names of the constituencies re- i presented by Mr Gladstone, with the dates. J