The Grand Old Man

The Grand Old Man is by Richard B. Cook. The preface says William E. Gladstone was cosmopolitan, that for more than half a century he has been the active advocate of liberty, morality and religion, and that in all this he has been upright, disinterested and conscientious in word and deed. A passage from the pen of an eye-witness says the children and their parents argued upon everything, and would debate as to whether a window should be opened, and whether it was likely to be fair or wet the next day.

A story of Burke has the astonished king ask “What are you doing?” and gives the reply “I am making the greatest minister England ever saw.” The text says an act of aggression produced a storm of public indignation, and that it was regarded by the people generally as an attempt to wrest from them their liberties and enslave them. The text says tea, of which Mr. Gladstone was particularly fond and of which he could partake at any hour of the day, or night, was served in the afternoon at 5 o'clock.