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Show GLADSTONE FAIUNQ FAST. The Grand Old Man Has Aged Many Toari In the Vast Three Months. Those who feared that his retirement from public life would bring upon Mr. Gladstone just those evils which he designed de-signed to avoid are beginning to find their judgment justified. The Grand Old Man has aged many years in the past three months. The picture he made at the Dr. Andrew Clark memorial meeting meet-ing was a pitiful one. He was a feeble, bent octogenarian, who leaned upon a stout stick even when addressing the audience from his chair. His words were brave, polished, well chosen and appropriate. Not a shadow has yet crossed cross-ed his shining intellect, but both flesh and spirit are breaking. He is not ilL No specific malady is trndermining his marvelous vitality, but a great change, which his grieving friends cannot fail to recognize, is making rapid progress. He has lost interest in life. That is ominous. For 60 years he found rest in other forms of activity and peace in new struggles. Work has been his only recreation. rec-reation. Fresh responsibilities never failed to renew his vigor. His friends are beginning to understand now what Sir Andrew Clark saw clearly that for such a man to fold his hands means despair de-spair and death. Every effort will be made now to provide pro-vide the warrior statesman with tasks and ambitions sufficiently important to keep alive that energy which craves and feeds upon what in most men would destroy it. If his enthusiasm can be revived, he may remain many days a f gure of which the nation will be most proud. If not, then nothing can long delay the end. The most remarkable effect of Mr. Gladstone's retirement has been clearly emphasized in connection with his first public appearauce. His enemies have already become his friends. He has completely com-pletely ceased to be a partisan figure in English politics. London Cor. New York Sun, |