The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-10-17
Wit and Wisdom Of BeaOonsaeld
Tr1ts Sayings Selected from His speschOs
and Novels.

No EnGlishman Of modern times was 80
great puzzle to his contemporaries as BEN
jamin Disraei, Lord Beaconsield. He con-
fronted them for upwards of half century. In
his double capacity OF author and Member Of
Parliament and during all that time they
were somewhat in doubt as TO what he was,
ard what he intended to accomplish. To
minds Of a certain cast he was man OF bril-
liant genius; to minds of another cast he was
| consummate eharlatan; there was third
class to whom he was both. We are inclined
to think that the Judgment Of the last was the
more nearly correct, for, reading him-aow that
his work is finished We find it the most sim
gular combination OF opposite qualities, shrewd
sense and fatuous nonsense, sincerity and at
fectation, good taste Nnd bad taste, cynical
wisdom and ackadaisieal sentiment. 1t is not
easy to convince ourselves that he was in earn
est whom we read such a story as The Young
| Duke. for if another mad written it we should
have felt sure that he was satirizing the society
| that he depicts, but we are not sure In bis case,
for our feelings as far a. we can realize it, is
! that there is a great deal of admiration naked
up with his supposititious satire, or as Shelley
| putsit,
The desire of the moth for tho star.
A careful consideration of the novels of
Lord Beaconsfed from first to last, from Wv
ian Grey, QS26) to Endymion (1SS0), fully dis
closes the personality of the writeS, and the OBJ
| ject which he proposed to himself on the thres-
| hold of his young manhood 1t was simply
success All that he wrote and all that he
did, was with that object in view AS he said
of himself, in the midst of the ridicule which
greeted his maiden speech, 'fHe had begun
several times many things. aud he. had often
| succeeded at last. He would sit down now,
| but the time would come when they would
| hear him." He was right; the time did come
| when they would hear him, and for forty
| years he never lost the power OF singing them
| with his wit. Many Qualities might be denied
| him-sincerity, stability, prineiple--but wit
| was always allowed him, even by his worst
/ enemies. It was unf2iliBg, and il was over
powering. What it was at its best may be
| seen by volume lately published here-Wit
| and Wisdom of Benjamin Dsraei; Lord Beac-
| onsfeld, the compilation of one of his English
| admirers, possibly personal friend, by whom
| it was begun before his last illness and with
| his approval. 1t is drawn, we believe, from ali
| his writings, which cover period Of hfty-four
years, in prose and verse, from his speeches IN
Parliament, at public dinners and -elsew here,
from q j authentic sources; 10 Word II may
be considered therefore, a complete presenIa-
tion of the intelleotualitY Of tho man. The IT,
| tie promises more, pe-haps, than the book JUS
tities while It's wit is unguestionable, its wis
| dom is not apparent. Not that Lord BeacoDs-
| field did not occasionally say wise things, but
| Wit wins its way by happy audscity which
| they bore no proportion TO his witty ores
| prevents the world from examining it's creden-
| tials, and serves falsehoOd quite as effectively
| as truth, often more effectively, for il makes
truth ridiculous. Without examining the wis
| dom of Lord Beaconsield, OF which posterity
| will Judge more impartially than we can bope
to, let us Gull some examples Of his wit, which,
with his wisdom, is arranged alphabetically
under about 456 different heads:
1t is not calling your neighbors names that
settles question.
Advice is not a popularsthing to give.
Apologies only account for that they do not
alter.
Assassination has never changed the history
of the world.
/ think the author who speaks of his own
books almost as bad as the mother who talks
about her own child.
Brougham isa mar who would say any
thing, and of one thing you may he quito cer-
| tain, there is no subject which Lord Brough-
am knows thoroughly.
In these days a great capitalist has deeper
roots than sovereign prince, unless he IS very
legitimate.
The doctrine Of evolution affords no instance
30 striking as those of sscerdotal development.
Our statesmen never read, and are only con-
verted by parliamentary committees.
Nothing depresses mans spirits more COM
pletely than self conviction OF self-coneeit
If you are not very clever yoa should be con-
ciliatory.
Heanttered inconceivable nothings, and abe
replied to him in incomprehensible some-
| things.
Nature has given us two ears. but only one
mouth.
+ A visit tosa country house Is series OF meals
mitigated by the dresses OF the ladies.
You know who the critics are? The men
who have failed in literature aud art
Despair is the conclusion OF fools.
There is difference between blood-letting
and hemorrhage.
Great men never want experience
To be famous when you are young is the for
tune of the gods.
tits great thing to make fortune. There
is only one thing greater, and that 10 to keen 1t
when made.
He was famous for discovering the futlre
when it has taken place.
She sets up to be natural and is only rude;
mistakes insolence for innocence; says every
thing that first comes TO her lips and thinks
she is gay when only giddy.
The greatest of all evils is weak govern
ment. They cannot carry good measures;
they are forced to carry bad ones.
Il have learned again what | have often
learned before-that you should never take
anything for granted.
A grest man is one who affects his genera
ton.
Ignorance never settles question.
All men have their imprudent days.
The Jesaits are wise men-they never lose
their temper
To be- conscious that you are ignorant is
great step to knowledge. -
Youth is biunder, manhood struggle, ola
age regret. ,..,.
same day at the same hour.
What is the use of belonging to an old
family unless to have the authority OF an an
cestor ready for any prejudice, religious or
political, which your combinations may re-
quire. 81.
other woman is uninteresting if not repui-
see no use in speaking to man about love
or religion; they are both stronger than friend
Mrs. Darlington We're was most successful
| woman; lucky in everything, lucky even IN
hershusband, for he died
Amaiority is always better than than tns the oest re-
partee, ...-..l a..
men to command the world. No affections and
| "a little bFain--such is the stuff OF which they
make petty villains.
A smile for friend and sneer for the world
| ia the way to govern mankind.
| Man is mimetc; we repeat wlthou1 thOugns
| the opinions Of some third person, VINO mas
| adopted them without inquiry.
| IS The dav before marriage aud the hour before
4 death is when man LntuhS ieaSb VI las pulse
| and most of his neighbor.
| II DESTROYS ones nerves to be anlable every
idav to the same human being.
Nonsense when earnest is Impressive and
sometimes takes you in. II you are in hurry
| you occasionally mistake it for sense.
A good. offer should never be refused, unless
| you have better one at the same time.
he involuntarily reminds, you Of yonth as an
| empty orchestra does Of music.
| The originality Of a subject is in Its treat
| ment t.,,.
There is so much to lament in the world in
which we live that can spare no pang Tor the
| past. t....s,,.s.. :.
no statesman who has committed petty larceny
| on so great a scale. ...
| Finalfty is not the language OF poities.
! In politics unreasonable circumstances are
| elements of the problems to be solved.
| Every one loves power, even II they 90 not
| know what to do with it.
A profound thinker always suspects that ne
| is superficial. ,-,.
| A fear of becoming ridiculous is the best
guide in life, and will save man trom all sorts
| of scrspes.
Some people have a great knowledge OF soci-
| ETY. and little knowledge Of mankind.
Il often happens that worthless people are
merely people who are worth knowing
He who oains time gains every thing.