The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-15
Disraeli in His Last DAVIS.

Lord Ronald Cover Who is only 3S, but
has kept a diary since he was eight, com
prses in his "Recolleetions," just published,
amid mnch chaff, some interes Ing anee-
dotes. and among th nm Of visit to tie earl
of Beaconsfleld in the autumn Of 1880
"Lord Beaconsfield," he says, ''was, as |
have ever found him, extremely pleasant,
full of quaint humor, and never seemingly
bored at being questioned on any subject
that one ventures to put to him; however
once felt that he had administered to me
well-deserved rebuke We had been look
ing at some prints, one of which represented
Whitehall, aud / asked him If he had any
doubt as to the side of the Banquetng
house on which Charles j. was executed
He answered me something to the following
effect: Some time ago tory squire had
brought his two sons TO see blm and to re-
ceive wordss of advice as to their future
conduct in political and social existence
Eagerly the sond parent waited to hear what
his leader would deliver on so important
subject. Never said Lord Beaconsfield, in
his most solemn tones, never In society ask
who wrote Junius's letters, or on any ac-
count inquire on which side of the Banquet
ing house Charles |. was beheaded, or ii you
do you will be voted a bore. and that is
well, something DREADFUL He said he had
seen the story in print, and unlike most of
the stories In print about him was perfectly
true. That evening Lord Beaconsiield was
in great talk Il am he said, the unlucki-
est of mortals; six bad harvests in success
sion than ba fhia hos
been the cause of my overthrow; like Napo
leon, have been beaten by the elements
bismarck and | were perfectly d'accord.
Had the late government lasted we would
have kept the democrats of Europe in check;
but now all is overr' Bismarck he much
admires and personally likes. 'He is one of
the few men, said Lord Beaconsfeld that
at my age have been able to feel real at
tachment for; but all that Is now over, and
were he to come to England should not
ask to sse him; there Is no such thing as
sympathy or sentiment between statesmen.
have failed, and he would not care now to
see me, nor | him. he added rather Bit
terly.'
Still more pathetic is this glimpse Of the
fallen statesman and his pleasures of men,
DRY. "We sat after luncheon before blaz-
ing fire in the library. His mind seemed to
be full of the past, and of his youth. He
spuhO VI LIS Caiiy liloiuSuip Will tlc tuTte
Sheridan sisters, all beautiful women; the
present duchess of Somerset, once Queen
of Beauty; of Lady Dufferin, and OF Mrs.
Norton. He described how delightful were
the dinners in old days at Mrs. Norlon's,
over public house near Storey's gate, more
than 40 years ago. and of the wit and humor
that then flowed, more copiously by far than
the claret. Lady Dufferin was his chief adj
miration, more beautiful than her beautiful
sisters. "Dreams! dreams dreamsp he
murmured, gazing at the fire and smoking
cigarette he had accepted. i have not
smoked, dearest, since you were last here
The next time / was at Hughenden was to
follow his coffin to the grave. But can
still fancy see him among his beloved
books, gazing at the fire, and mnrmuring in
an absent way, 'Dreamsi dreams dreamsp
and after all what is this life but one? And
how often so sad one that one would fain
wake from out of it, for to die is to 1--we.
Life Lord Beaconsfeld said to me that
last time | was with him at Hughenden,
life is an ennui, or an anxiety and he en-
larged on his text by saying that for the self
made life is full of troubles and anxeties,
for fear of losing the position or wealth they
have obtained; and for those born with posi-
ton and wealth there is nothing to strive
for, and life then becomes mere bore, an
ennui and burden. My idea, he added, of
happy future state is one of those long
midsummer days when one dimes at 8
o'clock"