Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-09
The Great Wonder Book.

forth mouse. j. L. POOR.
The Great Wonder Book.
ENpyMIoN. By the Right Honorable Benjamin
Disrae Earl Of Beaconsfield, X. G. Perhaps one
Of the greatest mysteries of modern times is the
success which has attended the career Of Lord
Beaconsfield in literature and politics. In pol
itics we see political juggler, very charlatan.
elevated to the most exalted position which is
open to the most profound Craftsmanship. In
literature we have an arrogant egotist, winning
popular favor and appreciation from the outset in
field in which Charles Lamb and Thackeray
struggled for a lifetime for favor and fortune, and
at last only succeeded in becoming famous late in
life, and never reached position OF pecunary
independence. In short, to use the expressive
though terse language of Mr.. Toots, the cause OF
Beaconsield's success is literally one OF those
things which emo Teller ever can find out"
There have been interruptions to his literary
prosperity-notably the appearance Of Alroy"
and the "ReUolutionary Epic" These were hailed
with a storm of ridicule, which seems to us to be
equally merited by" Lothian and " Endymion."
In most of Disraeli's novels he himself and his
somewhat irregular career are the central objects
of interest. In Contarini Fleming" is pictured
sort of ideal Disraei, who actually runs riot in
of future greatness His slightest efforts
crowned with success the most fattering Nothing
is too great for him to attempt or achieve. The
ceit and intense egotism Of the book positively
disgusting The same is true OF "Viuidn Grey"
Endymion" is really a sort Of sequel to
" Viuidn Grey" The hero, Endymion Ferrars, is
represented as the son of quite successful pol
tican, the Right Honorable William Pitt Ferrars,
who bears not the slightest resemblance to that
perpetrator of platitudes, Disrae the elder. Young
Ferrars and his sister Myra are born in luxury
and for the first few years are surrounded by
everything that wealth can command or social po-
sition bestow. The scenes Of their childhood are
described with that startling minuteness o. detail
for which Lord Beaconsield is famous. Indeed the
author seems to have captured and boldly plagiar-
lied the lists Of jewellers auctions, particular
is he about the enumeration and precise value OF
twins are decorated. Throughout the book, his
descriptions Of his female characters and their APP
pearance are characterized by the same vulgarity
of detail. As a matter OF fact Lord Beaconsfield
doesn't trouble himself to represent any one who
hasn't apparently an unlimited bank account as
well as pedigree; that the gorgeous details be-
come, after time, slightly tedious and bewilder-
ing to ordinary mortals.
The sister Myra in childhood is cold, calculat-
ing, and as nearly heartless toward everyone but
her brother as can well be imagined; but she pos
sesses determination Of character as surprising
as 1t is masculine, her one idea being the eleva-
ton Of her brother. In her mature years she de-
velops into kind and affectonate wife, met
amorphosis which is not only unnatural but we'll
nigh impossible.
The novel is purely political one. The char
acters, or at least most Of them, are people Of
Importance, who figured largely in the social and
political life Of their times. To say nothing of
the very questionable taste Of thus parading the
ideas of the author concerning many eminent and
influential men with whom in political life he has
been associated, and many Of whom are still liv-
ing, Lord Beaconsfield has gravey misrepresented,
as we believe, some of the most important charac-
tiers in some particulars, while retaining enough
OF their attributes for purposes OF Identification.
Among the principal characters may be men
toned Lord Palmerston, Prince Bismarck, Car
dinal Manning, Baron Rothschild, Richard Cob
den, Gladstone, Dickens, Thackeray, Queen
Hortense and her son. Charles Louis Napoleon,
who afterward became Napoleon ILL.,, and the
Due de Morny. Many Of these are represented
In something like their real characters but 1t is at
best an almost hopeless mudde, and the ter
mination OF the story completes the confusion.
History and fact are not very smoothly blended
with fancy and fiction, so that retrospect after
reading the book resembles confusion worse con-
founded. The treatment OF Thackeray is pecu-
liary shabby.
We all know that Thackeray was something OF
a snob, and affected the old nobility and high
life generally, but we are ready to pardon almost
anything in the author of Vanity Fair and PEN
dennis, 1t is amusing that Thackeray should be
selected as the representative OF the numerous
family Of snobs, while every one is fully aware
that the great chief and mighty standard-bearer
of that respectable fraternity is VIGOROUSLY Ben
amin Disraeli
Lord Montfort, who represents Melbourne, In
speaking one day to his wife, 81 think you must
read Topsy TirDy. ! am much mistaken II you
do not hear of it. 1t is very cynical, which au-
thors who know little OF the world are apt to be,
and everything is exaggerated, which is another
of their faults when they are only trihe ac-
quainted with manners" II there was one thing
which Thackeray prided himself on more than
another, 1t was not only being in good society but
being of 1t also. We venture to say that were he
alive to-day this stab would be amply repaid,
We can but admire the sound discretion which led
Lord Beaconsfeld to publish such things as he
has Of Dickens and Thackery after rather than
before, they had "joined the majority"
Endymion himself Is II somewhat unsatisfac-
tory character. lie would never have amounted
to anything had ii not been for his sister and his
other female friends. lie seems to have regarded
women, not as sources OF inspiration to men, but
as the actual fountains OF action and success. lie
ia tmid tame and halting. Even In his love he
hesitates and dallies lie doesn't seem to be ca
pable OF entertaining passion, though he In
spires a calm and serene sort OF affection In Lady
Montfort whom he afterwards marries on the
death OF her Lord. But the kind Of love which
can do and dare endure and submit to anything
for the attainment Of Its object, and above all ex
ercse that hardest of all things, hopeful, cheer
full patience, is something entirely above and be-
You'd him lie fails utterly ~ comprehend It, lie
succeeds in political life, and finally becomes
First Lord of the Treasury or Premier.
Throughout the book the great political ques-
tons OF the times, the repeal OF the corn laws
free-trade and Lord Greys reform bill, treated
In the most superficial manner, Job Thornberry
Orchard Cobden) Ia the only character who seems
to have entertained any Intelligent or decided
views on those subjects which caused the political
downfall OF the Duke OF Wellington and agtated
Great Britain from one end TO the other All
along Is apparent the same seryiity and adula-
ton of the aristocracy which in 1876 was re-
warded by recreation OF the extinct earldom OF
Beaconsheld Not long since, some one admir-
ing Beaeonheld's ygor at such an advanced age,
imputed what he could be made Of The reply
given was that he was made OF whalebone and
old steel pens. We presume that this answer APP
piled TO his physical composition. Intellectually,
he seems TO us to consist Of one principal idea,
BeacOnsiield and his greatness with few others
ON the government OF Great Britain, and the art
Of dining out thrown In incidentally