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seemed to have no dislike at all； though Lord Salisbury had more
than once insulted him。 On one occasion （in 1890） he remarked to a
colleague who had said something about the prime minister's
offensive language： 〃I have never felt angry at what Salisbury has
said about me。 His mother was very kind to me when I was quite a
young man； and I remember Salisbury as a little fellow in a red
frock rolling about on the ottoman。〃 His leniency toward another
violent tongue which frequently assailed him； that of Lord Randolph
Churchill； was not less noteworthy。
That his temper was naturally hot； no one who looked at him could
doubt。 But he had it in such tight control； and it was so free from
anything acrid or malignant； that it had become a good temper；
worthy of a large and strong nature。 With whatever vehemence he
might express himself； there was nothing wounding or humiliating to
others in this vehemence； the proof of which might be found in the
fact that those younger men who had to deal with him were never
afraid of a sharp answer or an impatient repulse。 A distinguished
man （the late Lord Chief Justice Coleridge）； some ten years his
junior； used to say that he had never feared but two persons； Mr。
Gladstone and Cardinal Newman； but it was awe of their character
that inspired this fear； for no one could cite an instance in which
either of them had forgotten his dignity or been betrayed into a
discourteous word。 Of Mr。 Gladstone especially it might be said
that he was cast in too large a mold to have the pettiness of
ruffled vanity or to abuse his predominance by treating any one else
as an inferior。 His manners were the manners of the old time； easy
but stately。 Like his oratory； they were in what Matthew Arnold
used to call the grand style； and the contrast in this respect
between him and most of those who crossed swords with him in
literary or theological controversy was apparent。 His intellectual
generosity was a part of the same largeness of nature。 He always
cordially acknowledged his indebtedness to those who helped him in
any piece of work； received their suggestions candidly； even when
opposed to his own preconceived notions； did not hesitate to own a
mistake if he had made one。 Those who have abundant mental
resources； and have conquered fame； can doubtless afford to be
generous。 Julius Caesar was； and George Washington； and so； in a
different sphere； were Newton and Darwin。 But the instances to the
contrary are so numerous that one may say of magnanimity that it is
among the rarest as well as the finest ornaments of character。
The essential dignity of his nature was never better seen than
during the last few years of his life； after he had retired （in
1894） from Parliament and public life。 He indulged in no vain
regrets； nor was there any foundation for the rumors； so often
circulated； that he thought of reentering the arena of strife。 He
spoke with no bitterness of those who had opposed； and sometimes
foiled； him in the past。 He gave vent to no disparaging criticisms
on those who from time to time filled the place that had been his in
the government of the country or the leadership of his party。
Although his opinion on current questions was frequently solicited；
he scarcely ever allowed it to be known； and never himself addressed
the nation； except （as already mentioned） on behalf of what he
deemed a sacred cause； altogether above partythe discharge by
Britain of her duty to the victims of the Turk。 As soon as an
operation for cataract had enabled him to read or write for seven
hours a day； he devoted himself with his old ardor to the
preparation of an edition of Bishop Butler's works； resumed his
multifarious reading； and filled up the interstices of his working…
time with studies on Homer which he had been previously unable to
complete。 No trace of the moroseness of old age appeared in his
manners or his conversation； nor did he； though profoundly grieved
at some of the events which he witnessed； and owning himself
disappointed at the slow advance made by some causes dear to him；
appear less hopeful than in earlier days of the general progress of
the world； or less confident in the beneficent power of freedom to
promote the happiness of his country。 The stately simplicity which
had been the note of his private life seemed more beautiful than
ever in this quiet evening of a long and sultry day。 His
intellectual powers were unimpaired； his thirst for knowledge
undiminished。 But a placid stillness had fallen upon him and his
household； and in seeing the tide of his life begin slowly to ebb；
one thought of the lines of his illustrious contemporary and friend：
such a tide as moving seems asleep；
Too full for sound or foam；
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home。
CHAPTER VI： SOCIAL QUALITIES
Adding these charms of manner to a memory of extraordinary strength
and quickness and to an amazing vivacity and variety of mental
force； any one can understand how fascinating Mr。 Gladstone was in
society。 He enjoyed it to the last； talking as earnestly and
joyously at eighty…five as he had done at twenty on every topic that
came up； and exerting himself with equal zest； whether his
interlocutor was an arch…bishop or a young curate。 Though his party
used to think that he overvalued the political influence of the
great Whig houses and gave them more than their fair share of honors
and appointments； no one was personally more free from that taint of
snobbishness which is so frequently charged upon Englishmen。 He
gave the best he had to everybody alike； paying to men of learning
and letters a respect which they seldom receive from English
politicians or social magnates。 And although he was scrupulously
observant of all the rules of precedence and conventions of social
life； it was easy to see that neither rank nor wealth had that
importance in his eyes which the latter； especially nowadays；
commands in London。 Dispensing titles and decorations with a
liberal hand； his pride always refused such so…called honors for
himself。 When Mr。 Disraeli became Earl of Beaconsfield； his smile
had a touch of contempt in it as he observed； 〃I cannot forgive him
for not having made himself a duke。〃
It was often said of him that he lacked humor； but this was only so
far true that he was apt to throw into small matters a force and
moral earnestness which ordinary people thought needless； and to
treat seriously opponents whom a little light sarcasm would have
better reduced to their insignificance。 In private he was wont both
to tell and enjoy good stories； while in Parliament； though his tone
was generally earnest； he would occasionally display such effective
powers of banter and ridicule as to make people wonder why they were
so rarely put forth。 A great deal of what passes in London for
humor is mere cynicism； and he hated cynicism so heartily as to
dislike even humor when it had a touch of cynical flavor。 Wit he
enjoyed； but did not produce。 The turn of his mind was not to
brevity and point and condensation。 He sometimes struck off a
telling phrase； but never polished an epigram。 His conversation was
luminous rather than sparkling； you were interested and instructed
while you listened； but the words seldom dwelt in your memory。
After the death of Thomas Carlyle he was beyond dispute the best
talker in London； and a talker far more agreeable than either
Carlyle or Macaulay； inasmuch as he was no less ready to listen than
to speak； and never wearied the dinner…table by a monologue。 His
simplicity； his spontaneity； his genial courtesy； as well as the
vast fund of knowledge and of personal recollections at his command；
made him extremely popular in society； so that his opponents used to
say that it was dangerous to meet him； because one might be forced
to leave off hating him。 He was； perhaps； too prone to go on
talking upon one subject which happened to fill his mind at the
moment； nor was it easy to divert his attention to something else
which others might deem more important。 Those who stayed with him
in the same country house sometimes complained that the perpetual
display of force and eagerness fatigued them； as one tires of
watching the rush of Niagara。 His guests； however； did not feel
this； for his own home life was quiet and smooth。 He read and wrote
a good many hours daily； but never sat up late； almost always slept
soundly； never missed early morning service at the parish church；
never seemed oppressed or driven to strain his strength。 With all
his impetuosity； he was remarkably regular； systematic； and
deliberate in his habits and ways of doing business。 A swift reader
and a surprisingly swift writer； he was always occupied； and was
skilful in using even the scraps and fragments of his time。 No
pressure of work made him fussy or fidgety； nor could any one
remember to have seen him in a hurry。
CHAPTER VII： AUTHORSHIP
The best proof of his swiftness； his industry； and his skill in
economizing time is to be found in the quantity of his literary
work； which； considering the abstruse nature of the subje