Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1881-05-04
LORD BEACONSFIELD'S c.
REE IL

ing OF the lUIn ulllHlO, tue uedlH Vi
Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beacons6eld.
Tie son of Isaac D'israeli, the wei
known a1thor, he was born Dec 81,
1904 Some of his friends had him
baptized July 81, 1917, during the alb
sence of his father, and thus the way
20 career in England was op. ned u
to one wbD would otherwise have beeh
prescribed. Little is known of his
education, but it was fairly good,
though he never attended either pub
lie school or a university. When a
young man his aIIainments We're quite
remarkable for their range, but he wa-
never very accurate scholar, and was
qu t. apt to trip when he attempted
any display OF learning. After spend
iag a few years in solicitors office, hc
devoted himself to society and lItera-
ture. In 1927 he was famous as th,
author of the most popular novel Oh
the day, Vivian Grey" and as per-
haps the most consumate dandy in all
England His gorgeous waistcoats
and elaborately oiled and curled locks,
his profuse jewelry and grand airs,
we're at once the envy of the fops and
the scorn OF the sensible.
But young Disraeli's dandyism was
only skin deep. In part it was the re-
suit of his Oriental tastes-to the last
his preference for the gaudy and taw-
dry were marked-and i'll part 1t was a
mere veil for his more serious purposes,
deliberately assumed and consciously
worn. This is a clever Young fellow
who would amount TO something, if he
only less foppish, thought the world !;
but be, conscious of the possession OF
brilliant talents and chcrishing lofty
ambition, was vnly amusing himself
" hile biding his time Several other
novels followed "Vivian Grey" of
W hich "Contarini Fleming" Con
ingsby" and "Tancred" were the most
not ble But literary fame was not
his goal; be aspired to the possession of
power, and endeavored To obtain seat
in Parliament. After several unsuc-
cessful attempts, he at length was re-
turned as member for Maidstone, as a
Tory Radical" whatever that meant
A characteristic anecdote is told of
him at this time Lord Melbourne
SAID to him somewhat superciiously,
"Well, Mr.. Disraeli, what is your idea
in entering Parliament what is your
ambition ITO be Prime Minister of
England, my lord" was the reply.
There was apparently small chance of
such an ambition being realized.
The beginning of his Parliamentary
career was the reverse of auspicious.
The House of Commans is not an easy
body to speak in, being intolerant of
all display and labored flights of elo-
quence Something in Mr.. Disraeli's
manner drew out jeers and coughs be-
fore he had spoken five minutes, al
though the custom is to listen kindly
to maiden speech, however bad, and
after little the speaker was obliged to
sit down with these words: 81 am not
at all surprised, sir, at the reception |
have received CONTINUED laughter }
| have begun several things many times
-(iaughter) [ have succeeded at
last (Fresh cries of Question. } Ay,
sir. and though l sit down now, the
time will come when you will hear
me-" In no wise discumposed by his
first failure he spoke often, and after
awhile the House did hear him, until
in ten years be became the best debater
in that body, the one speaker who was
never dull, and was always listened to
with delight.
In 1889 he married the widow of his
former colleague, Mr.. Window Lewis.
She brought him handsome estate,
was devoted to his fortunes, and being
a woman of rare culture and social posi-
ton did much to promote his rapid RISE
After the death of lord George Ben
tick he became the acknowledged
leader of the Tory party in the House
Of Commons. was Chancellor of the
Exchequer uuder each of lord Derby's
three administrations, Prime Minister
in 1868, holding Office for one year,
and again from 1874 to 1880 1t is
not necessary to give his political his
,ory more in detail, for it has been
very fully written in books that are ac-
.essible to everybody.
As men usually estimate success, no
nan ever achieved more splendid
success than the obscure Jewish boy
Who rose to be Prime Mnst'r of Eng
and, member of the proudest aris-
.ocracy in the world. There was moth
NJ lacking to the outward signs of
sue, ess-honors, power and wealth
were his in as large measure as he
chose to take them. He was the fav-
,rite of his sovereign and the idol of
lis party. The glitter of all this may
we'll blind the eyes of the multitude to
he means by which it was obtained,
md conceal the radical unsoundness of
he character which was visible through
,ut Lord Beaconsfeld' life His Ca
Ger cannot be better epitomized than
n these verses of Mr.. Lowell:
iineral C. is a dreffle smart man,
He's ben on all sides tibet give places or pelf |
3ut consistency still wuz a part of his plan
He's ben true to one party, an thet is himself |
Not even his warmest admirers ever
asserted that Lord Beaconsfield had |
my settled convictions any firm pur
,ose, any keen conscientiousness. He !
nav not have been consciously dis
honest, but he worshipped success. and
was bound to have it at any price.
lie had it-at the price of sterling !
character and the las. ing esteem of
nen.
unfortunately for Lord Beaconsfeld,
1e lived in the same generation with |
Mr.. Gladstone. In showiness and
,rilliancy he outshone the latter; but /!
n solid ability, in breadth of states |
in all the higher moral quail
les of manhood, there is no COMPARE
oD to be made between them, Mr..
Gladstone has made as many political
as Lord Beaconsii-ld ever
nd; but it is the general judgement !
IL l