One hundred years ago
MR Gladstone left Hawarden for the Continent on Monday, and was re- ceived with great enthusiasm at various places on his route; but at Dover, on Tuesday, he was hooted and snow- balled by an unmannerly crowd as he left the station for the Town Hall, where he was to deliver an address. One snowball struck him on the shoulder; and even after he had got into the Town Hall, his antagonists outside set a band playing 'Oh, dear! what can the matter be?' by way of rejoinder to the lauda- tory 'For he's a jolly good fellow,' which was being shouted inside. We wonder that those who make these rude and vulgar demonstrations against a states- man of Mr Gladstone's age and services do not see that they are doing their own cause ten times as much harm as they do his. It is not easy to attach any weight at all to the political opinions of people who will take such means as these of vilifying their opponents.
The Spectator, 31 December 1887
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