Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-08-31
LEVER, THE NOVELIST.


OF professional lokers. Lever was the
most obstinate, and obstreperous and tier
ative. Flashes OF silence were as rare
with him as they were with Macaulay
himself. Tho Jokes were always uttered,
too, with overwhelming assurance that
they could never become stale or Hat.
There was pun OF Sydney Smiths and
not very eminent one, which he seemed
mover tired Of telling. Mrs. Grote, the
wife Of the distinguished historian, ap-
peared once at a soiree with a queer sort
Of turban on her accomplished head.
"LooK at that" said Sydney, that's the
origin Of the word grotesaue,"
LEVERS sweet brogue was decided
helper OF his fun, and so was his abound
ing good fellowship. When he pleased,
he could talk continuously aud interest,"
ingly. once heard him discourse Sir
Henry Bulwer on hygienics In a style that
was worthy q professor though oeca-
slonally with sly alluslon to the weak
meas Of the hypochondriacal diplomat.
The ambassador In Glsncops Ia carica-
ture Photograph Of Sir Henry in Levers
best manner. As the novelist was origi-
nally medical man, he knew enough of
the pharmacop@ia 10 make quite show
Of powders and pills, and possessed famll-
iarity enough with ailments to exhibit
skill In diagnosis, so that his hlpped En-
yoy ls q crack character in his gallery
There we're other individuals resident In
Florence whom he took off In his novels
In unmistakable portraitures. One of
them, especially an ancient Major, more
military than martial, was very fierce in
vengeful talk against the miIth-making
artist, but dlscreetly counned himself To
Uarhnl fndtnnatIAf ratrhf fndaad
have said toihis prosecutor, as little DR..
HeWson of Philadelphia said to big law
yer Broone OF that ilk "Sir, your size
protects you"-for Harry Lorrequer
vorld have been an ugly customer in
scuffie. Hls potent physique sufficiently
explained his power Of work, which must
have been enormous, considering the time
he devoted 10 amusement.
No afternoon but he was TO be seen at
the Casclne, galloping around with his
wife and daughters, and taking all the
sport Of the place-and no night when he
was not to be found either at his own
house or some one else's with his hands
full Of cards. Great was he at whist, and
great were his gains therefrom so much
so that at times there were ugly whispers
about his play, which no one, however,
seriously believed. He commanded sue
cess because he deserved It, his skill at the
game being unique; and then, nothing
succeeds like success. Fortune don't in
general like to waste her favors on desert
less players. Why Lever should have been
90 acrimonious a. he was, In his O'Dowd-
isms particularly, against Americans s
hard to. explain.
Levers pen was the property of a great
publishing house In London, to which he
was under contract for el, 800 year To
furnish q certain amount of man
uscript. Quantity therefore, even more
than quality,was bis object, 80 everything,
pretty much, was grisl that came to his
mill. When he couldn't snow white pa-
per any longer, he showed brown with
equal coolness. Had he condensed him
self, he might have done much that would
live, instead of many things that "to-mor-
row will be dying" That contract once
saved his life. lie had taken passage on
the unfortunate Arctic TO pay Us Il visit,
but his employers forbade the trp for the
moment aud thus prevented him from go-
ing down into the sea with the ship. One
can imagine his Ernical rage Mt the pro-
hibltlon, and his Hibemlan ecstasy at the
escape. How often do we vituperatc the
sources of salvation. Our prayer ought
mostly TO be, Do not grant me what
ask Levers residence. was In the plaz-
20 Capponi on the Arno, until his ap-
pointment to the Vice-Consulate at Spez-
zlH. Afterwards he was promoted TO the
Consulate at Tiest, where he lost bis
wife. II seems but yesterday since saw
her cantering In buxom life between her
husband and her rosy daughter through
the alleys Of the Cascine, laughing at
her own or his quips.-" English
Staging Birds IL Florence" N Scri5ner's Cor
September.