Tae return of Mr. Gladetoie from Biarritz, had brought Huiae Rule again to the front in the second week of January, and the entry weather tinged the allusions to the subject in the caricatures. In the Pall Mfall "G_R.E.," who has succeeded Mr. Carruthors Gould and caught something of his style—Mr. Gould himself being evidently too-deep-dyed in Liberalism to be accept ble to the new proprietor of the P.M.G.,—pictutes the grand old man as skating towards a couple of holes in the ice, over one of which is the notice "Danger: Moderate Liberals," while the other has Parnellites and Anti-Parnellites."
carton. in Punch is not quite 60 ud is equally ominous, Master me and Master Morley have just fashioned a gigantic snow man, labelled "Home Rule," in whose button hole Master Gladstone is sticking a shamrock. The legend runs Billy and Johnnie were two little boys, Who wearied of lessons, and tired of their toys.
Says Billy, "D've hit on' an excellent plan Let's go out in the cold, John, and bull Snow Man A conversation between the two boys follows, and Billy ends it with the following words: "But, Johnnie, we've gut to build up this Snow Man somehow, and on ome plant I only hope (entre nows, Johnnie) that a thaw won't wet in, and melt it out of form and feature before it is fairly finished!" As we know now, a great deal too much was made of the reported dissensions among the Gladstonians, Had they: been really serious, the Opposition would probably insisted on a division on the first reading of the Bill. How much was thought of these reports of dissensions—it, seemis to have been forgotten that the Liberal party has never been so homo-generous and subservient to its leaders as the Conservative—may be seen from the following article from so moderate a paper as the Graphio:—Every one is glad to know that Mr. Gladstone came "back to England with renewed vigour. He went away just in time to escape a spell of weather as bleak find wretched as any that the present generation has known. There can be little doubt that during the approaching Session he will all the energy his holiday may have enabled him to store tip for future use, When he started on his return journey he had not the satisfaction of feeling that his task as a statesman had become easier during his absence. On the country, he must have been aware that its difficulties had been made, if possible, rather more formidable. There is no change, of course, in the attitude of the Unionists; but there are many signs that among various groups of Mr. Gladstone's followers the question of Home Rule is causing much perplexity and irritation. He is now vying the penalty for the want of candour has displayed in his treatment of the subject. Had he -stated definitely before the General Election what he meant by Home Rule, he would have gathered around him a comparatively united party. He preferred to allow every. one to interpret. the general principle in his own way, and the natural result is that to-day it is interpreted in several wholly irreconcilable senses. As the time approaches for the production of his scheme, these differences become more and more pronounced, and it is scarcely credible that even he, with all his authority and resource, will be able to induce the entire body of his nomin: supporters to accept a common policy. Mr. Gladstone has come back to discharge the hardest: dity he has ever undertaken, and all the world waits interest.to see how far he muy rely' on the forces whose fidelity is essential to the victory of his cause, papers are naturally ivory angry with Br, Gladstone for having kept the secret of his Bill artil Patliainent met
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.