Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-01


the most Sombre piainness. II was my fortu ne
10 see Bulwer in the House of Commons i'm 1855
and 1s65, and in the House OF Lords, to which
he had recently risen, in 1863. He then had the
appearance of being man of some fifty years.
taiiish, straight, stiff, and proudly sedate. Hi.
long, sombre face was no longer 'fair, )" but was
yellow and wrnkled; while the almost cadaver-
Gus aspect Of his features added to the really far
from ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of his long az ui-
line nose. He now wore a mustache with his
.'heavy red whiskers," which had themselves
become dull brown, plentifuily sprinkled with
gray, and upon his chin he grew an imperial
His hair was still thick, but no trace of its rich
auburn hue of youth remained; il was n heavy
gray in color. Spectacles partially concealed
the large, but now dulled and CLASSY blue eyes
and the whole appearance was far from pre-
possessing. On the former occasion referred To,
heard him address the House in an eloquent
and evidently carefull-prepared speech of half
an hour. His manner was quiet and subdued
his voice no longer "lovcr-like and sweet" but
rather harsh and grating, and his defamation
hum-drum; occasionally spark of the old ami
nation appeared, when he drew himself up [ I,
the full height. and, for the moment. seemed a
very orator in motion as in speech; but the spar =
soon vanished, and he was again Pelham grow n
old, the exhausted and melancholy beau and
wit OF the past struggling through an imposed
task. Yet, in what he said there was nothing
which betokened the least loss Of mental vig0r
or OF rhetorical resource. His sentences were as
thetical, the whole structure Of his speech s.
consnmm3te work Of the disputative art as his
earliest efforts, when he was a rising hope of the
wings, whom Grey, Russell, and Brougham led
forward 70 the grand reform assaultof 1882. HIS
dress was conspicuously plain, almost stiff and
ministerial, though there was something about
the attire of the neck which seemed suspicion
Of . relic of dandyism. Bulwcy's power as an
orator did not I'm the least diminish to the last
His famous aphorism, uttered in the debate on
the Gladstone reform bill, that ga reform is q
correction Of abuses; revolution Is a transfer
of power, J" betokened mind still keen as well
Is reflective and inventive.
There Is one "reminiscences Of Bulwer which
should not be omitted from any sketch, however
Imperfect. OF the Interesting incidents of his
career This was his relation with the beauti-
tut. gifted, unhappy Letitia Landon, best known
10 fame rs the poetess who wrote under the mi
tials "L- r. l." He seems to have been first
attracn q 20 this young genius BY her poem ..The
Fate OF Adelaide, )" which she dedicated 70 Mrs
Siddons; and, soon after making her acquai,,-
lance, being then editor Of the New Monthly
enthusiastically reviewed her first novel, 'sR0.
don had pqgtTayed himselfin one OF the chara >
ters Of the beok did not deter him from givipa
Il eloQuent praise. Bulwer met L. T.. l.. at Mis-
-Spence's and ever sfterward remained hci
Constant. sensible and sincere friend" Al
eRst, TO- the fascinating little poetess won Tie
good graces Of R0sina Wheeler, and continued
In them for while alter Rosina became Mrs
Buiwer; but the Whartons mySterlously add
that s'their friendship was after ward pafnfuily
Terminated, !" ~ II to hint that Mrs. Tor Lady)
Butwer was Jealous Of her husbands pater-
naiiy fond attentions TO L. T.. l.. The unhappy
existence of this pretty little woman sorely
needed such friend as Bulwer seems to have
been. She vas Maynard and wild, and was