Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-30
Two Statesmen's Wives.
Cassell's Family Magazine for November.
PRINCE BIsNAncv

When speaking Of his wife. not long ago. is
reported 70 have said: ''she il is who has made
me what ! am" There have been English
statesmen who could say quite as much. Burke
was sustained amid the anxiety and agitation
of public life by domestic felicity. EVERY
care vanishes," he said. ssthe moment enter
my own roof!' His description of his wife is
too long to quote, but we must give an epitome
OF 1t. OF her beauty he said Il did not arise
from features, from complexion, or from shape;
by these that she touches the heart; it is all
that sweetness Of temper, benevolence, inno-
cence and sensibility which face can express
that forms her beauty. Her eyes have q mild
light but they awe you when she pleases;
they command, like good man out OF Office,
not ny authority, but by virtue. Her stature
Is not tall, she is not made to be the
admiration of everybody, but the happiness
OF one. She has all the firmness that does
not exclude delicacy; she has all the soft
ness ness that does not imply. weakness
Her voice is low, soft music, not formed to
rule in public assemblies, but to charm those
who can distinguish a company from a crowd;
1t has this advantage, you must come close to
her to hear it. To describe her body describes
her mind; one is the transcript of the other.
she discovers the right and wrong of things,
not by reasoning, but by sagacity. No person
OF so few years can know the world better, no
person was ever less corrupted by that kn0wl-
edge. She has true generosity of temper, the
most extravagant cannot be more unbOunded
in their liberality, the most covetous not more
cautious in their distribution Her politeness
seems to flow rather from natural disposition
10 obhge than from any rules on the subject.
1t Is long before she chooses. but then it is
liked forever, and the first hours of romantic
friendship are not warmer than hers after the
lapse of years. As she never disgraces her
good nature by severe reflections on anybody,
80 she never degrades her judgment by immod-
crate or ill-placed praises, for everything vio-
lent is contrary to her gentlenessof disposition
and the evenness of her virtue"
LORD BEACoNsFIELD
described his wife ''the severest of critics,
but perfect wife," She was the widow Of his
friend, Mr.. Wyndham Lewis, and twenty years
his elder. The great affection which Disraeli
entertained for his wife, whom he always es-
teemed as the founder Of his fortunes, iswell
known. She was in the habit of travelling
with him on almost all occasions. At dinner
party friend of the earl had no better taste
than to expostulate with him for always taking
the vlsc0untess with him. 81 cannot under
stand it, said the graceless man, ''for you
know you make yourself q perfect laughing
stock wherever your wife goes with you" Dis
raeh fixed his eyes upon him very expressively
and said: II don't suppose you can under
stand it, b, don't suppose you can un-
and widest excursions of an insane imagina-
ton suppose you to be guilty of gratitude!'
On the Sd Of April, 1872, Disrael made a
great speech in the Free Trade Hall, Manches-
ter. In box at the end of the hall, opposite
the platform, sat several ladies, conspicuous
among others being Lady Beaconsfeld. We
are told by one who was on the platform that
next in interest to the great speech of the
evening were the sympathetic face of the ora
tors wife and the way in which from time to
time the orator lifted his head as II to ask for
her approval. When all was over Mr.. Disraeli
waited in the retiring room for a short time
and was then driven rapidly to the house of his
host Mr.. Romano Calender, in Victoria Park.
There Lady Beaconsfeld was awaiting him,
and no sooner were the carriage wheels heard
upon the gravel than she hurried from the
drawing-room to the hall, rushed into the arms
of her husband, embraced him rapturously,
and exclaimed: "Oh, Dizzy! Dizzy! this is the
greatest night Of ALL This DAYS for allIn