The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-05

after Lord Derby's elevation to the Premier
sbip. Greyi,le showed his disapproval BY
| not appearing in his place rs clerk Some
busybody asked Lord Derby whether he
| had noticed Grevillo's absence. and Lord
| Derby replied with n face OF benevolent aplogy:
"No. real,y? You know. am the m ost inatten-
| tive fellow In tho world about these things i
nerer notice when I ring the bell whether
| John or Thomas answers It." More generally
| known is the nnecdote told by Lord Derby IN
| the House OF Lords for the benefit OF youth
| full peer OF great promise who had haoit OF
| naCpinr at the Tory leader-the nnecdote OF
the Lancashire collier. whose wife used to
beat him. and who. being demonstrated with
for allowing the practice. pleaded rs an excuse
for his forbearance that 1t amused her and
didn't hurt him. According TO another story.
when Lord Derby had made furious attack
on some OF his rivals. friend came up
to him us ho sat down amid shouts OF
applause and said. You know that that was
horribly untnir2' Yes" replied Lord Derby.
but didn't you see how effective 1t was = III
was rather Rabelasian retort which he made
to n certain lady who rallied him upon the
composition OF his first Ministry. Lady -
asked in regard to respectable and hardwork-
ing politician. who was afterward transferred
from the head OF the bnronets to the tail OF
tne peeTs, ID bO-unu-So Teui maui
don't know" said Lord Derby: at any rate he
has had three wives" 1t is acknowledged by
Mr.. Saintsbury that Lord Derby's tests were
sometimes rather trying to the objects ofthem.
but he flpds 1t less intelligiblethatthey should
have scandalized the public. as they seem to
have done. He undoubtedly reserved his su-
perciliousness for those who were either actu-
ally his own equals or moved in the same So
ciety with himself. An aristocrat rs lie was
accused OF being. he was more liked by
his interiors in station than most democrats
Although Lancashire was not then the home
OF Toryism. which it has since become. Lord
Derby did much to make 1t so. and was extra
ordinarily popular with his neighbors and
tenants. He was indeed a delightfully."- human
person: as human as Lord Palmorston. with
far moro scholarship and higher eloauence;
as good scholar. indeed. as Mr.. Gladstone.
with more humor and more humanity:
as sharp with his tongue rs Disraeli
himself. with the advantage Of better breed
ing and q more English tone: q thorough
sportsman. the absence Of which quality Is
urged by some Tories as tho only spot in Lord
Salisburys sun: Of. far heavier calibre than
Lord Melbourne who rivalied Derby and
PalmerstoYI III 'tlfe easy wearing OF honors;
and. finally. man Of original genius. which
distinguished him from the Aberdeens and
Greys. He was absolutely free from tho
priggishness which marred the high spirit.
true patriotism. and unnagging industry OF
Lord John Russell. BY dint. moreover. OF that
very lack OF seriousness with which he has
been reproached. he escaped the charge OF be-
ing too much OF the counting house order Of
Ministors-a charge levelled at Sir Robert Peel.
In word. Lord Derby is pronounced tho most
perfect example ever seen in England Of the
aristocratc type OF Ministers OF q constitution
ally governed country. He could be nobly
serious when the occasion required serious
ness. and he was quite free from the excessive
which Lord Palmerston affect
ed. But he could always see tho humor Of life.
and this rescued him from gush and cant. the
two Desetting vices Of the politician 1t pro-
tected him almost entirely from the risk Of be-
ing worn out by nervous exhaustion. and it
shielded him from the approaches of syco:-
plants. II his sense OF humor carried with it
the danger Of seeing things too small. it freed
him from the greater danger of seeing them
too large. This quality. combined as it was |
with high and generous sentiment. with wide |
and active intelligence. with a thorough |
knowledge Of literature and an ardent atfec- |
ton for his country. provided type of states
man not fit for all emergencies or free from all |
reproach. but Of singular interest and charm.
NJ. W. II.