The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-12-21 00:00:00

116,

THE sTO URBRIDGE OBSERVE U.

--
five years ago, that the coming history of English poe
l life would take a direction from the unaeltish
don of a woman, and a woman not MB: kod by any
unusual capacities? Society would have bees as little
likely to single out the widow of Mr. Wynillian, Leezip
as Aestined to play an important part in life as tie
politicians f the day would have been inclined to bee
in Mr. Disraeli the future leader of the Tory party. Yet
the marriaze which sprang from that affe 'lion war an his-
torical event. No one, indeed, would presume to way
that Mr. Disraeli would not have been successful with-
out it, for he has never been the man to be made or
marred by circumstance'. But ii point of fact it sup-
plied a basis for his career. lie wan then a young man
of extraordinary powers, without the means of doing
them justice. It was not merely that he might have
been unable to maintain the position of an active
politician ; he needed more than many men the
opportunity of brine an independent politician.
Vigorous and original as were hie powers, they
were powers which needed training, patience, and
maturity. He was both ton able and too original
a man to strnagle into the ranks of sucessaful politicians
by mere activity awl selbasivirtion. Ile needed time
both to develop in him the higher qualities of a states-
man and to convince the world that he possessed them.
That he had this opportunity was due not merely to
the fortune which his wife brought him, but still more
to the generous confidence with which it wag acoom-
panieel. The most valuable gift may be a burden if
it be beatowed with any xecondary motives or
clogged with any reberve. Did Mrs. Disraeli gave
her own self to her husband, and he could no
more be embarrassed by her generoeity than by her
affection. Her viitues were those of the heart, and to
dwell on any other quaiificatii in than one would be to
miss the excellence of her character. She loved her
husband with all her soul, ant was absoluiely devoted
to him. It was always around him that her thoughts
revolved. Her prudence was never at fault in anything
that concerned him, and if she sometimes missed the
t iu the confused gossip of the hour, there was a
permanent aim to which her thoughts were instinctively
true. She believed in her husband above all men, she
&hired his success above all other things in life, elle
s right no other happiness thou in lie welfare, awl she
trusted herself absolutely to him. Such a wonian, in
spite of many apparent ttiticienciee„ WAS able to give to
a nature at once powerful and generous the very aid it
needed. Love, tut especially live combined with trust,
is a preeent for a mighty King." Nothing in a life
which has been in BO many respects distinguished re'
fleets more honour on Mr. Disraeli than the chivalry
with which he returned this devotion lie has been as
proud of his wife's affection, and as a jealous to extort
due respect for her, as if he had been a knight of old
days. In every society his regard for her has been
conspianous, and when he asked a Peerage for her
Ire but did before the public what lie hail been doing
habitually in titivate during the whole of kin married
life. Personal, intellectual, awl social gifts could not
have been a greater in name-lit to her than that constant
homage. Possibly the world was unjust to her capa-
cities ; but, at all events, he always made it let that
she was a woman to whom he was attached alike by
gratitude and by affection, and whom others must
honour if he would consent to accept honour from
them.
Amid the melancholy reflection which will now
weigh upon him, Mr. Diaraeli may at least comfort
himself with the reflection that he did not disappoint
the devotion thus bestowed on him. It in rarely that
affection and confidence are more amply rewarded.
Lady Beaconsfield lived to see her husband win by his
own merits the highest place among English citizens.
If he could not long retain it, that was not his fault,
but the misfortune of the wilitical party with whose
iiesiiny he had identified himself. She saw him
honoured in his rise and respected in his fall, and
in an adverse House of Commons asserting the in-
fluence which can only be won there by a com-
bination of rare ability, long experience, and high
character. The drama of her life, and of the
domeatic life a her huaband, though ended, is com-
plete ; and amid the disappointments and confusions of
polities it is rare that such a satisfaction is vouchsafed
to an nneelfish enthusiasm. Mr. Disraeli could not
have expected to keep his wife much longer with him,
and he should find a real consolation in the thought
that she had been spared to witness her loftieet am-
bition gratified by her husband" political triumphs.
The history of Mr. Disraeli's public career has been
matter of keen controversy, and may continue to be
no; hot its
.private history will be remembered as a
beautiful episode in political life.

itlc;l—lifo
sdoction

_
either to request her immediate return or to allow him
to accompany him down to Cambridge. On meeting
her again be was not content with greeting her with a
lover's salute, but he actually kissed her aged grand-
mother, who was rather taken aback by the unexpected
em race. On their return to town the course of true
hoe continued to run on as smoothly as possilde under
the circumstances, but unfortunately an interruption
to their happiness took place by the aveptance of a
lucrative engagement offered to the defendant iu Liver-
pool as teacher of music and organist. The young
lovers mutually strtyglei against their feelings when
bidding each other ' farewell" at the railway station.
Their emotions, however, became at length uncontrol-
lable, and the parting scene on this occasion even en-
listed the warmest sympathies of the friends that sue.
rounded them. At length the trying moment of sepa-
ration Caine. The defendant, whilst bidding her his
lent adieu, burst into a flood of tears and rushed into
the carriage, which POMI bore him far away from the
sole empress of his hemt. From Liverpool, however,
he continued to converge with his lady love by letters,
and for some time their correspondence breath( d the
most ardent love towards cab other. At length a cloud
began to iutercept the sunshine of their thoughts and
anticipations. From some unexplained cause he
fancied he had renion to complain of the coolnesa of
her recent letters, and ventured to reproach her in con.
sequence., She, it appears, becoming rather nettled at
the charge, replied somewhat tartly. The defendant,
apparently feeling wounded in his tenderest part. re
joined by saying th.st as it would appear that there was
a great change in hr sent imenta towards him, she had
better return hint all his letters, the plaintiff ac-
cordingly returmiel him his letters, and all further nor-
rempondence betweui them ceased.
After hearing the evidence
Baron Martin expressed the opinion that the plaintiff
had exonerated the defendant from the powise he bad
given her.
By the consent of counsel a juror was then with-
drawn, and the case was suddenly brought to a concise
also.

THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH
OF PRINCE ALBERT'.
Boat Saturday (the 11th), being the eleventh anni-
versary of the death of the lamented Prince Coriand,
her Majesty the Queen, their Royal lli4lineswee the
Prince and Princesv of Wahs, the Duke of Edinburgh,
Prince Arthur, Prince Leopold, Prince and Princess
Chrietian of Schleawig Holstein, arid Princess Beatrice
went to the Mauaoleum at half.past eleven o'clock.
Their Royal iligluaeatea the Duke of Edinburgh and
Prince Arthur arrived from London and not the Queen
and the Royal Family there.
A special servioe was performed by the Hon. and
Very Reverend Gerald Wellesley, Dean of Windsor.
Sir George Elvey, nem ice) director, and the Choir of (Rt.
George's Chapel were in attendance and sang the
following hytuns and anthem :
HYMN I.

Happy are the faithful dead,
In the l,,wd who sweetly die ;
They from all their toils are freed,
In God's keeping aedely lie;
These the Spirit hath declared
Blest, unutterably blest ;
Jesus is their great reward,
Jams is their ebdlefis refit.

Followed by their works they go
Where their Dead is gone before.
Reconciled by grace below ;
fl race has opened mercy's door ;
Fuller joys ordained to know,
Waiting for the last (treat Day,
When the Archangel's trump shall blow,
"'lle ! to judgment come away."
Alymnt (rumour loving Lord
We shall not continue long ;
Join we then with one sccogd
In the new, the joyful song ;
DiesMngs, honour, thanks, and praise,
Triune Clod, we give to Thee,
Who in Thine abnudant grace
°treat us the victory. Amen.
HYMN H.
" Wake, awake, for night is
The watchmen on the heights are crying,
Awake Jerusalem at last !
Midnight hears the welcome voices.
And at the thrilling cry rejoices ;
"Come forth ye Virgins, night is past !
The Uridegroom comes, awake,'
tour 'Mips with gladness take ;

And for Ills marriage hest prepare.
For ye n.ust go to meet Him there."
Zion hearethe wAtchinan singing,
AM all her heart with yis springing,
She wakes, she rises f, ern her gloom ;
For her Lord comes Soon all glorious
The strong loge .cc, Is truth victorious,
Her star 'ion, bar light It coine I
Ah ! come thou blessed Lord,
0 Jesus, Son ref Hod,
Hallelujah !
We follow till the halts we see
Where 1 icon bast bid on sup with Thee.
A
blessed are the dead whi,h die in the Lord even so salth
the Spirit, for they rest frost their labours, steel their works
do follow them. Bev. sly., 13.
After her Majesty's return to the Cnstle the mem-
bers ,f the -Royal lunisehold, including the servants
resident within the Castle and their fandlie3, and most
of her Majesty's tr.letnnen in the town had permiasion
to visit the Mausoleum.