Fair play., 1874-04-02
The Father OF the English Premier.

Mr.. Disraeli. the new British Prime Min
ISter, although well known for many
years rs one Of the most active, restless,
and industrious political leaders of the
age, has also been equally well known as
an author whose writings rank among the
most popular productions Of the English
literati. This gifted man received. the best
education that could be given him. which.
by his constant devotion fO study and in
lustriOus habits. has becn principally the
means Of his elevation to the high position
which he now occupies. But much of the
great literary ability which hc has dis
played has been transmitted to him from
his father. Isaac pi>raeli. who during IL
long lifetime was Il most devoted lover Of
books. ard the author of number Ot
works Of great merit, which are still to be
found in all first-cllss libraries. Among
those which are best known. and show
great historical research, may bc named
'' The Life and Reign OF Charles l.. =" The
Amenities of Literature and 1.-The Curl
osities of Literature" The elder Disracli
was. when boy, sent to Amsterdam, and
placed under a apreceptOr. who, however. did
not take the trouble to teach him anything.
but turned him loose into good library.
Nothing could have suited him better and
by the time he was eighteen years of age
he had read all the best literature of his
day. and become an inveterate book-worm.
He then returned to England. hut declined
to enter into business. rs his father intend
ell he should. hut went to Paris. where he
spent most of his time In the public libra
ries, until little while before the outbreak
of the French Revolution, when he again
returned to England. He soon after COM
ri Ii
which were quite numerous. IN addition to
those already mentioned. In 1879. his lite
rary labOrs were discontinued. i'm cOISe-
guence Of a paralysis Of the optic nerve.
He died ut the age of eighty-five Years. re-
and cheerfulne>s OfdiSpOsitiOn. Benjamin.
new edition Of the CuriOsitieS Of Litera-
ture, pays the following beautiful tribute
to his fathers character: e He was a com.
plctc literary character man who really
passed his life in his library. Even mar
riage produced no change in these habits ::
he arose to enter the chamber where he
lived alone with his books. and his LAMP
was ever lit within the same walls. No
thing. indeed. was more remarkable than
the isolation of this prolonged existence !;
and it could only be accounted for by the
united influences Of three callses-his
birth. which brought him no relations or
family acquaintance the bent Of his dis
position, and the circumstance OF his in
heriting an independent fortune, which
rendered unnecessary those eXer;iOns that
would have broken up his Selfreliance.
He dis liked business. and he never reQuir-
ed relaxation lie was absorbed in his Lur-
suits. In London his only amusement
was to ramble among the booksellers: if
he entered club. it was only to get into
the library. In the country. he scarcely
ever left his room but to saunter in alb
Straction upon terrace. muse over chap
ter. or coin 4 sentence. He had not sim
Yle passion or prejudice: all his convic-
lions were the result of his own studies.
and were often opposed to the impressions
which he had early imbibed. He Eot only
never entered into the politics Of the day.
but he could never understand them. In
the consideration Of question. his mind
was quite undisturbed BY traditionary pre-
conceptions; and it was the exemption
from passion and prejudice. which. al
though his intelli igence was naturally
somewhat too ingenious and fanciful for
the conduct Of close argument. enabled
him in investigation often to show many
Of the highest attributes of the judicial
mind. and particularly to sum M evidence
with singular happiness and abiiity.''