The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-06-11
D'IsraeIi.

Benjamin D'Israeli, or Benjamin of Israel.
is also leader amongst the Conservatives, and
political friend of Lord Derby. To which
Of the Twelve Tribes he belongs the writer
cannot state; as he has become Christian.
the Jews consider him to be one of the lost
tribes. This is one of the most extraordinary
individuals of his time. His father, the elder
D'Israeli, made some reputation by his work,
"The Curiosities of Literature" or anecdotes
OF literary men, and had he lived to the pres
eht day, he might justly have placed his son
10 his book as the greatest curiosity to be
found in its pages, both in literature and poll
ties, and styled him "the two-fold curiosity"
Mr.. DIsraeli was bred to the law, but fndiag
tina: tedious and uncertain profession, and
having been able to get into some society, from
the moderate literary merit of his father, he
obtained the hand OF the widow of brewer,
whose handsome income enabled him to get
into Parliament. In this instance
Little Cupid took his stand
Upon Widows jointure land,
although he was probably sharp little Jewish
Cupid. With bis literary career all are ac-
quainted. He is the author Of few novels.
or works Of fiction, which. not to use SO harsh
an expression as trashy, are certainly of no
great value. Few men of any age have risen
to such position with so trifing a capital
either in talent or merit and he is an excellent
illustration of the manner in which man NAV
push himself forward when assisted by adven-
titious circumstances, an inflated opinion of
himself, and utterly destitute Of modesty.
Tolerated, nay, even applauded, by the Bit
terness and intolerance of party feeling amongst
the conservative at the repeal Of the corn laws,
Mr.. DIsraeli was enabled to sting the feelings
and lower the dignity of the late S.r Robert
Peel, who happened to be defective in those
powers Of blighting sarcasm by which Pitt or
Canning would easily have put him down. 1t
CALLED Sir Robert, that he, repeatedly Prime
Minister. and by whose name that large and
influential party, the moneyed interest, were
in the habit Of swearing, should be bearded and
insulted by one that he looked upon as a yul-
gar upstart, whose celebrity he considered to
arise from natural impudence and a want of
decency. From this period, however, DIS
raeli became useful party man; he had shown
that he could be insolenl, sarc astic, and severe
~ annoying, qualifications from which proud
and sensitive natures usually shrink. In per-
son Mr.. DIsraeli is rather above the middle
height, with very Jewish face and dark
brown complexion, which seems to intimate
that soap and water was not too frequently
used. The writer has often felt aroused al
seeing him enter the House Of Commons with
his hair carefully parted in the middle of hi
head, co2iously oiled and. deliberately crulec
10 small ringlets on each side of his head; he
recalled TO his memory the Persian proverb
"a twister Of ringiets passeth by p his appear.
ance was incompatible with superior intellect.
Mr.. D'Israeli has been Chancellor of the Ex.
chequer. He has been fairly tried and found
wanting. He can be abusive and sarcastic
and can be nothing else. That the destiny OF
Great Britain should be greatly influenced by
such man would present but miserable
and unhappy prospect. ~