The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-12-27
A Sketch of DfsrneIi.

The following sketch Of Disraeli, from the
New York Times London letter, will be
found interesting:
Last night, il the reader had been stand
ing with me close to the door, he would have
roticed number of gentlemen struggling
in, with healthy looking faces, high collars
with neckerchief tied around them. and
the general look of country squires. They
are for the most part the country party"
who obey the clever Mr.. Disraeli. All kinds
OF men pass by, until the thrOng diminishes
and the strangers begin to send their cards
to their acquaintances. As we begin to
think of moving away there enters a gentle
man buttoned up in frock coat with face
full OF lines and seams, and heavy, almost
SAD look IN the eyes, yellow complexion,
and thin curls just showing beneath his hat.
He walks with one hand behind his back, his
eyes bent upon the ground, a stoop in his
shoulders, and generally with the appearance
OF rather dissipated man-except for the
intensely thoughtful and intellectual look
which dignif1es the countenance. This is the
Chancellor OF the Excheluer, the great Mr..
Disraeli himself, who is now going to
defend the policy OF the government, and
who does not know how severely It
may be assaied. For see, just at his back
stands portly and burly man, with
whiskers and hair turning gray, but pleas
ant, CHEEKY look in his face. He lays his
great fat hand on friends shoulder, and
they crack jokes and "chafr' each other in
high glee. This is Mr.. John Bright, and it
may be that he has come down tonight to
punish the government, and notably to
scarlfy yonder worn and distracted gentle
man who is entering the House. Worn, did
l say? Yes; and if you recall that mans
history you will not wonder at the lines in
his face. Think OF the terrible fight that
man has waged against the world for more
than thirty years! Never, probably, in the
history of politics, has public man been as
called so universally, so bitterly, so incessant-
~ as MIR. Disraeli, who is disappearing
through that door. WHAT dauntless spirit
he carries beneath that apparently drooping
form! We may believe anything of his
principles, but his genius and his courage
his unconquerable courage, his almost heroic
resolution, we, none of us, can refuse to ad-
mire. lie looks old and even feeble flor a
private sorrow has of late bowed him down.
but touch him in vulnerable point, and the
brightest fire will leap forth; the tongue will
talk scorpions, happy phrases and epithets
will flow like water, and he will make his
most relentless detractors cheer him till they
are hoarse-the sole influence of his elo-
quehce Think OF the years that man has
walked over this spot where we are now
standing, defeated, abused, alandered, de-
famed, and to all appearance with the great
game OF human life completely lost: vet
always wearing the same impassiye, inscru-
table look which we observed Just now. al
ways patent and never for moment cowed.
He felt, it may be, that his day would come
and, behold! it has. This old Jewish-lookina
man use the words because they exactly
describe his appear ance) is now Her M al
esty's Chancellor of the Exchequer, the
leader OF the House of Comm )ns, and alto
gether am inclined to think the foremost
man in all Her Majesty's dominons.,