, 1881-06-01

or soma t0k n OF .se would nud
It's way to those who were so happy as to
share his friendship.
Lord Beacous6eid is sometimes Thoughts
to have been silent. But be expressed in
one sentence what most men would
scarcely have explained in many. A late,
Speaker observed that the House of Com.
mons would be more agreeable it people
wcnld only speak when they had something
to say. On this principle Lord BeacOns-
field always acted. But he delighted in
CONVEX s%,tion, properly so called. Nor did
he desp Sc those thousand airy nothings
which sparkle on the surface of the stream
of social talk. It mus, however, be
8llowed, he was a most excellent Listeners
Occasionally it occurred at a small party
that some unfortunate person., probably
nervouNly anxious to appear at his best. So
liIoquiZed most OF the evening. Ii the hor-
ror stricken hostess murnured forth an
excuse, he would reply, a have been
reilly amused aud it gave me repose.' or
would smile. But when Lord Beaconsfield
did talk, how graphic his sketches, how
subtitle his satire, how marvellous the
expression OF the voice and eye!
It has been said that in one OF Lord
Beaconsfeld's later works he dwelt much on
scenes OF 'plen1our. 1t must be recollsct-
ed that many of those who most appre-
ciatsd him, whose friendship he warmly
reciprocated, are surrounded in daily lite
bv q certain amount Of state and even
magniicence. They could not forego
these accessories without condemning to
idleuess and penury many OF those DEEPEN
dent on them. The halls of Mentnore,
the sweet shades OF Cliveden, the Libraries
Of Knowsley, the galleries OF Blenhelm;
Bretby, with all its associations OF wit;
Hatfield, combining the charms OF past
and present Weston, with Its glorious
oaks; Knole, with it's so staircases; and
Trentham, among other places, were all OF
different times homes where he was eager
ly welcomed. Many of LordBeaconsheld's
brightest days durioS tho Lost yaars vera
spent at Hatfield, Lord and Lady Sallsbu-
nv, with kindest consideratl On, making
him feel as if he were in his own home.
Some of his time he passed in the tapes
tried chambers set apart for him +; but
when he came into the gallery his enjoy
ment of the happy blending of grave and
gay he always found there was great
indeed. 1t was natural that he should
think of these beautiful scenes. 1t has also
been observed that some of the ladies he
has described are too fair aud too fortunate.
But can we not all recall to mind some
great families where the daughters,
brought up simply aod r~eligiously. have
grown up loving and lovabie, and each
married young men, destined to become
the heads Of houses, worthy of their de-
voted helpmates, ard of their great posi-
ton in the country 2 Though society
boasts only one Fairy Queen,p yet
among Lord Beaconsfsld's friends he
counted many whose lives may be describ-
ed as "blessing and blest." He thought
with pleasure Of the fair and good inhabi-
tants of these homes, centres OF useful
ness aud u~nobtrusive benevolence. ~
He wrote much at Hughsnden, where
the portraits given to him at different
tlmesoy ftivuds aud exeoiiesgues oalied UP
interesting memories. The pictures of
Lady Blessingtcn, Lord %stantope, or Lord
Derby generally evoked some interest
iug words when he showed them to
friends, aud his kindness in explaining
them to those he felt required to be helped
to understand can never be forgotten.
Lord Beacons6eld was always very
much interested in young men beginning
n.l;t;cal life. even. II Onlv in the earliest