The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-26
LORD LYTTON.
New York World.

Literary NenldlnS or fu%afu bui@cf :, Lord Ly,ton,a by his son, the Earl of I.yt- ton t' Owen Meredith '), have appeared. They have been reprinted al once in this country by the Messrs. Harper X Brothers in the Franklin Square Library" and also in a single duodecimo volume in cloth. The latter IS adorned with many portraits and other engfavings of interest. The first volume, or the first half of the single volume edition, IS occupied by an autobiography, with few chapters illus trative and supplementary added by his son. These additions consist of letters or of portions of his early literary per formanees, which supplement and ex- plain the narrative of the autobiography The editor has acted with exceeding good taste and judgment in this work.
 In the rest of the work the editor be- comes the author and continues the life of his father from the point where he left it. Ample materials for this are found ia the abundant notebooks. memoranda and letters which have fallen into the biogra- pher's hands. His father left all his papers and letters to him, with full dis cretion as 10 how they should be used in case he should undertake to prepare a biography. He lets these original doeu- ments tell the story of his father life as far as possible, filling out and completing the picture which they afford Tn simple and lucid narrative. He writes. of course. Tn spirit of illial piety. but his love and admiration do not bind him To the un- amiable ecoentrIelties and shortcomings of his father. He states them frankly, but without emphasis, so far IS they throw light upon his character and help 10 an understanding and appreciation of his literary work or his personal ard domes- tic life.
 The work Is throughout inteasiy inter esting. IL could hardly be otherwise. even if II had fallen into hands less peculiarly fitted 10 give 1t 10 the public. The life of man who showed so many and so varied talents won for himself so large a place in the literary and political history of hls times cannot fail to be of lasting interest and importance to all who ad- mire greatness and success. For great acd successful Lord iytton undoubtedly was. And, besides, there is always eager curiosity on the part of those who know men only through their books and their great achievements to tind out something more definite and precise about their private opinions and their private life We think we know great men better when we have seen them face to face and entered into their private aff urs or their homes, and perhaps surprised them in some fault or frivolity. At any rate il makes the guilt between them and us seem less impossible.
 But no doubt the most fascinating DOT tion of the work is autobiography. which tells the story of the first iwenty-iwo years of his htc. IL IS d thousand pities he never found time or inclination 10 con unue what he had evidently begun with great relish and enthusiasm. Bat the u- tense activity and many responsibilities of his later years seem to have afforded him no leisure from more immediately pressing literary labors tar recording the further history of his eventtul career
 Bulwer was very proud of his lineage lie was descended on both sides from ancient families of good repute. The name Bulwer is of Danish origin and Is apparently the same as bulwark The au- thor was the thtrd son of General William Earle Bulwer, who was an officer of dis tncilon in the English army and a man of great ambition and force of character. His mother was the only daughter of Richard Warburton Lyt,on, one of the most profound and accomplished schol- ars of his day, but a, the, same time aosurdly pedantic and as incapable as a child of understanding or managing the ordinary affairs of life. He never turned his prodigious learning to any account other than 70 write a drama. and that shades of lob-in Hebrew This precious work he burned in his disgus, that he could ind no Jews sufficiently versed m Hebrew to produce It upon the stage. This eccentric scholar. whose life was wholly Tn his books. had married early Tn life gay and pretty society gi,l of London. The only books she was ever known to read were the bible and the history ot lane Shore. IL IS not surprs- ing that short married life proved the utter incompa,ibillty of this ill-assorted couple. They separated and lived thence forth apart. their only child, Elizabeth. staying part of the time with one parent and part with the other when not at school. She grew up beautiful in person and clever of intellect. Her accomplish ments in drawing and literature were considerable, while she had inherited common sense from her worldly but practical mother. Many suitors sought her hand. which was at last given to Col onel Bulwer. The jealous and exacting disposition of her husband made her married life not very pleasant. Three sons were born within the first tive years, and when the youngest was in his fourth year the father died. This third son, Edward, had been the particular so.aoe of his mother. The eldest had been specially claimed by the father. the second had been given up to her mother. General Bulwer's affairs-he had become general after his marriage-proved to be m rather unsatisfactory condition. The widow went to live in London, and her chief care became the education of he boys and particularly the youngest.
 He was exceedingly precocious. He