The Mineral argus. [volume] (Maiden, Mont.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-08

English Novelist 8ade 8td1culou3 BY
fI,s Love Lsttsrs.
From the London Pail Nall Gazette
Miss Louisa Dewey is the executrix TO
the Dowager Lady Lytton. To her
Lady Lytton left by will all her papers.
including these letters, an incomplete
Autobiography, and another Ms. Of
autobiographic character, called Meme
SIS" and she was so nervously anxious
that her intention should not through
any inadvertcnce be frustrated, that she
directed that they should not by any
reason Of any pretext, however plausi-
ible and apparently -trI:hful,' be per-
mitted to pass into the hands Ct any
member Of certain families she named.
"My first intention, lays Miss Dewey.
"was to delay this publication for some
years; but am compelled to hasten
my action in consequence Of the recent
appearance Of the Biography OF Ed
ward Lord Lytton'; for, although l
might not TO have considered il incum-
bent on me to correct inaccuracies so far
a. the late Lord was concerned.
yet in tho unjust notices of Lady
Lytton feel that delay would be
prejudicial to the very object Of my trust
and tho faithful discharge Of duty 1
had unreservedly accepted. Let. then.
these letters tell their own tale. The
correspondence carries the reader with
some intervals through the years Of
courtship and early married life, and it
is remarkable that Miss Wheeler's let
ters over the same period are so care
fully suppressed. thus aifordng reason
able ground for believing that they
would hardly suppor: the general tenor
of tho Biography 1t may be a question
oftaste how far the publication of private
correspondence may be justified, where
it only supplements opinions already
formed; but there can be no doubt of
its necessity when used to redress wrong
or to correct misstatements that are
not only false in them selves, but COM
pei us to repudiate them with indigna-
ton as attempts to impose upon your
crcdulity."
The first meeting OF Miss Wheeler
with Mr.. Edward Bulwer took place at
. party at Miss Benger's in October,
1925. Thus Miss Wheeler describes
her future husband:
"He had, she says in her autobiogra.
ply, "just returned from Paris, and
was Respondent with French polish
Is far rs boots went. His cobweb cam.
brio shirt-front was . triumph of lace
and embroidery, q combination never
seen in this country till SIX or seven
years lator Except on babies frOcks).
Studs. too. except in racing stables.
were then non est but perfect galaxy
glittercl down the centre of this fairy
like lingerie. His hair, which was real
ly golden and abundant, he wore liter
ally in long ringlets that almost reached
his shoulders. He was Enthusiastically
gentleman like looking. Poor Dor
says linen gauntlets had not yet burst
upon the London world: but Mr.. Lyt-
ton Bulwer had three inches of cambria
encircling his coat cuffs. and fastened
with jewellcd sleeve links. And al
though it wanted full five years till
every man in society was caned, he al
80 dangled from: his ungloved and gilt
tering right hand o somewhat gorgeous
~ jewel headed ebony cane; and the
dangling was of the scientific kind, evil
1ently learned, marked and inwardly
digested."
shortly after this meeting begins n
series of 29S letters, which the volume
contains The cold forn,ality of the first
two or three soon changes to something
more passionate. 1T has already
been remarked" says Lady Lytton's
execltrix, shat Mr.. Bulwer's letters to
Miss Wheeler exhausted the whole vo-
cabulary OF anasory defamation; but
their want Of reticence aud dignity too
clearly bet,ays sensual abandonment
to what she called the love of
Bashaw,' not concealed by the affected
bu. ponderous philanslerine of his play
full correspondence under the ames of
Puppy and Poodle"
In the seventeenth letter begins a
Sc, les Of endearments, OF pet names, of
wonderful diminutiycs and superlatives
as extraordinary AZ any that have ever
Issen laughed at in court Of law. "aty
dearest Rose and darl;ngest Poodle"
he addresses Miss Wheeler, signing him
self 400 own Puppo." Here are few
examples from this bundle OF love let
ters:
any ADoRED PooDLE.-Many,
many thanks for o darling letter.
Me is 40 happy, me is wagging
my tnil and putting INV ears down. me is