My conclusion is that the United Kingdom is better served by the leading citizens of her municipalities, elected by popular vote, than any other country far and away can possibly be; and that all is sound to the core in that important branch of government.  Parliament itself could readily be constituted of a delegation of members from the town councils without impairing its efficiency.  Perhaps when the sufficient payment of members is established, many of these will be found at Westminster and that to the advantage of the Kingdom.

CHAPTER XXIV

GLADSTONE AND MORLEY

Mr. Gladstone paid my “American Four-in-Hand in Britain” quite a compliment when Mrs. Carnegie and I were his guests at Hawarden in April, 1892.  He suggested one day that I should spend the morning with him in his new library, while he arranged his books (which no one except himself was ever allowed to touch), and we could converse.  In prowling about the shelves I found a unique volume and called out to my host, then on top of a library ladder far from me handling heavy volumes: 

“Mr. Gladstone, I find here a book ‘Dunfermline Worthies,’ by a friend of my father’s.  I knew some of the worthies when a child.”

“Yes,” he replied, “and if you will pass your hand three or four books to the left I think you will find another book by a Dunfermline man.”

I did so and saw my book “An American Four-in-Hand in Britain.”  Ere I had done so, however, I heard that organ voice orating in full swing from the top of the ladder: 

“What Mecca is to the Mohammedan, Benares to the Hindoo, Jerusalem to the Christian, all that Dunfermline is to me.”

My ears heard the voice some moments before my brain realized that these were my own words called forth by the first glimpse caught of Dunfermline as we approached it from the south.[66]

[Footnote 66:  The whole paragraph is as follows:  “How beautiful is Dunfermline seen from the Ferry Hills, its grand old Abbey towering over all, seeming to hallow the city, and to lend a charm and dignity to the lowliest tenement!  Nor is there in all broad Scotland, nor in many places elsewhere that I know of, a more varied and delightful view than that obtained from the Park upon a fine day.  What Benares is to the Hindoo, Mecca to the Mohammedan, Jerusalem to the Christian, all that Dunfermline is to me.” (An American Four-in-Hand in Britain, p. 282.)]

“How on earth did you come to get this book?” I asked.  “I had not the honor of knowing you when it was written and could not have sent you a copy.”

“No!” he replied, “I had not then the pleasure of your acquaintance, but some one, I think Rosebery, told me of the book and I sent for it and read it with delight.  That tribute to Dunfermline struck me as so extraordinary it lingered with me.  I could never forget it.”

This incident occurred eight years after the “American Four-in-Hand” was written, and adds another to the many proofs of Mr. Gladstone’s wonderful memory.  Perhaps as a vain author I may be pardoned for confessing my grateful appreciation of his no less wonderful judgment.