THE DIARY OF A JOURNALIST
LAST night Mr. Gladstone had a little dinner party in St. James's Square. Just now in excellent health and spirits, he delighted his guests with his marvellous lore of recollection, which loses nothing by his dramatic style of narrative. Much pleased by the news received yesterday by cable from the United States announcing the success of an interesting little episode. A week or two ago he received a pressing invitation from an important industrial community in the States styled the Mutual Building Association. It was their annual meeting last Friday, and they besought Gladstone to send them a little message. Colonel Gouraud undertook to manage it through the phonograph, into which Gladstone spoke the following admirable little essay :
"The purpose of the meeting on the 14th may, I conceive, be summed up in two words, self-help and thrift, and I cannot, although much occupied, refuse to send to it a few words of congratulation and good-will. It is selfhelp that makes the man, and man-making is the aim which the Almighty has everywhere impressed upon creation. It is thrift by which the self-help for the masses dependent on labour is principally made effective. For them thrift is the symbol and instrument of independence and of liberty, indispensable conditions of all permanent human good. But thrift is also the mother of wealth; and here comes a danger into view. Wealth is the mother of