New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-10-23
A FINE OLD ENGLISHMAN.
MIR. DISRAELI AS TuRtMaN-Loi'D
GEORGE BENTINCK-lIIS MA"Nlifl-
CENCE-IIIS MELANCHOLY END.


When that still budding statesman broke WIN
Sir Robert Peel and declared himself on the side
Of the gentlemen Of England who lct land anu
want 70 sell their corn at high prices, Disraeli
fcund in the third son of the fourth Duke oil
Portland the very instrument for his design, ana
used him with a skill and success not eXceeded
even in later days, when he managed % YOKE
Lord Salisbury to his trumphal car. D'Sraei
has told the world all about Lord George Den
timex, in a book perhaps better known abou' anu
lese read than any that came from his pen. D"'
there were two chapters in the life 4 l0rd "eorse
Benfinck one relating to the brief period uurlhs
which Disracli succeeded in pluckng him rom
the turf the other dealing with the longer anu
for Lord George the more enjoyable period wheh
he still bred horses. entered them for races anu
plunged heavily in the betting ring Inc seco"u
chapter has Just been issued from the press vi
Mcssrs Blackwood. Under the ediorship OF Nir,
Frank I,awley. wcll-known ana accoihphshc"
writer on sporting matters. the notes OF rcin'"''
cence are written by Mr. John Kent. who, III
succession 70 his father, long served Loru ueorsc
in the capacity of private trainer. The epoch
dealt with lies between the years 1880 and 1sAo,
and supplies a vivid picture Of certain phases VI
social life not otherwise accessible
The figure of Disracli ficiers through the OH
trainers pages and it is pretty TO see how John
Kent Is disraught between respect for an l'i'i-
mate friend of his old master, ana dstrus1 Oh V"e
man lie discloses the interesting ana hlther'o
unknown fact that Disrneli once Owned an interest,"
In q r.cchorsc This was exactly half century
ago, at which time Disracl was beginning 10
fasten his hold on his aristocratic friend. LoTu
George had a FLY called Kitten. daughter OF
Bay Middleton winner OF the Derby ana Vi
Pusscy. winner Of the Oaks. Great things were
eNpectcd from Kitten, and Lord George. III MS
princely manner, insisted upon Dlsraell taxing
half-sharc in the horse As that involved MN ~
no charges Disraeli accepted the proposal, the
more readily since, as sturdy JOhn Menu P"'
It. the coproprietorship afforded him opportunity
70 call more frequently on Lord George, although
I do not believe the former ever took any genuine
interest in horses or in races Nevertheless, MI
DisraeI listened with greatest semblance OF atteh-
ton to all | had to say about Lord Georges
horses and would often accompany Lord Ucorse
70 the stables behind Iarcourt House IN order 10
INSPECT them charming picture these simple
words suggest-Dizzy in the prime OF MS young
manhood oiled and curled like an Assyflah onl''
with bis satin waistcoat chain girdled, looklnS
knowingly at the horses in their stalls 'pfooaoN
with bit Of straw in his mouth, while inc u'-
suspccting Lord George held forth on his beloved
tonic and the trainer looked on in quiet DIS
trust I'm fact" John Kent notes. from what
I saw of Mr. Dsracli between 1912 and lS4S
l should never have thought it possible ne was
possessed Of tho remarkable sagacty ana apiliN
he subsequently displayed He seemed 10 me 10
be greatly inferior to Lord George Behtihck III
tact, ability and address In spite oil thls III
feriortv patent TO the eyes of the honest servtor
Dizzy managed to wrap the stubborn arstocrat
round his finger. while withdrawing him from his
no al
politics and the House of Commons. there TO
more as thu .Geurehead and purse provider of the
protectionisr party whose creation led the heavily
handicappcd Jew up TO the winning post.
There ia something pathetic in the devotion OF
,he trainer 70 the old master from whom no parted
tor,vfour wears ago. The later ard more Impair
tial student of his career will probably not DC
Able 10 ioin in the full measure Of adulation Lord
George is interesting as the type OF the hh' Oh
English gentleman whose existence grows more
and more impossible the years pass ana Tree
aom and education among the masses spread Born
In Dukery Lord George was from infancy tlugnt
to regard himself and his order as being far apart
from the average run Of humanity LORD George
Bentinck- writes the ecstatic stab!em1n, "was
the beau ideal Of an English nobleman. lie STOOD
over six feet in height. His figure was beyond
that Of any other man of my acquaintance stately
some and refined His hands and feet small and
beautifully shaped and his whole appearance most
commanding lie was invariably dressed in
long black froc,I coat. black or very dark-blne
louhle-breasted velvet wastcoat and dark trOuSers
having in the fashion Of the day, straps attached
which passed under his boots. Over his waist
coat he wore a fine long gold chain which went
round his neck and was clasped together on his
breast by gold loop in which was set a large tur-
puoise. Round his neck he wore costly cream
colored satin scarf of great length knotted under
his chin. or gold pin containing either big
ruby or q pearl On his head he invariably wore
4 tall bew beaver hat.
Lord George was, the offended cabman de-
scribed the late John Forster, a harbitery gent"
He employed much of the ragtag and bobtail Of
the turf rough men accustomed to all sorts Of
horseplay. But when they were admitted into this
glorious presence they instantly transformed
into the meekest of mankind. In speaking Will
any whom he employed commissioners Lord
George, Kent tells listening postcrity. never
laughed and his look was somewhat stern. He
never sat down or permitted them 10 sir down in
his presence but would stand before the fireplace
whilst talking 10 them with the palms OF
his hands planted just behind his hips He had
o cheerful habit Of dining AT any hour in tho
dead of night when II occurred to him that he
would like neal When in the House Of Com
mons he dined when the House was up, at any
time between midnight and and in the MORN
ing. Whites Club was the place he honored by
taking this meal. and at one time that ancient
institution was perturbed by threat Of the cook
to resign post which involved the occasional
preparation of dinner at o'clock in the morning.
Kent. without any indication that he felt the afro
oious aelfshness and want Of consideration In his
master, describes how. in obedience to his orders
and being kept in close attendance upon him, he
had nothing to cat through day which hal com
menced with railway journey at ) o'clock In
the morning till 0 o'clock at night. After swa-
lowing mutton chop the helpless trainer was
kept up talking till o'clock the next morning,
had some breakfast at 6, went off to Willcsden TO