Mr Gladstone and the Ladles' Gallery.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 423, 27 November 1889, Page 6

Mr Gladstone and the Ladles' Gallery.

In a very pleasant article in the new number of the. National Jttvleiv, Mr Radclifle Cooke,- M.P., gives" the following account of a visit of- some girls under his e&corb to the House of Commons : I know cf old what each one will say. "Oh, how small it is ! And is this really the House of , Commons ? Is that Mr Gladstone ?" " No," I interpose :' '"Mr Gladstone is not here to- ; nighty that is Mr'YWH. Smith, the Leader of the House. '•' * Ob-, iride&i ! W here does Mr Gladstone sit?' Thank you so much." Candour compels me to admit, much as I distrust this etatesman,"thatMr Gladstone is | theonly member invariably inquired after. I have endeavoured to excite interest in other politicians, with small success. " That tall man," I have said, •• is Mr Raikes, the Postj master-General" — no display of emotion. ! " That elderly gentleman, with white hair and beard," I. have continued, "is Mr Childera " — no sign. ' " And that youngish man in the corner seat, feeling for his moustache,' 1 I have sometimes added, '• is Lord Randolph Churchill " — slight shiver. But when I have been able to .say, *' There, that is Mr Gladstone ; that old gentleman looking this way, with his, hand to his ear, listening so attentively to, the t member addressing the House, who is Tim,othy Healy, of whom you may have h«ard," the beautiful being I inform at once brightens up, and exclaims, "Is it really 1 How nice,! Thank you so much,"

An old bachelor, who was quite a wit, lived alone in a very uncomfortable»looking place, and his apartments were always in grent dtsorder. ♦ Why don't you get married V said a friend, one day. ' Then you would' have some one' to fix up things here, and make it <look< homelike. 5 ' The fact is, I never thought of it,', said' he. ' But it does look reasonable that a better half would make better quarters.