The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-30


one hosred on waves OF agitation; the
other desired TO make government strong
by steadying tho people and attaching
them TO institutions. Gladstone constantly
viewed the state from the standpoint OF
his particular church opinions; Dsraeli,
for his part, believed that the principles
OF the revolution OF 1888 had never been
perfected by he due development OF popu-
lar institutions. He agreed with Ppm that
the best form Of government Ia that which
do n dispose and actuate every part and
member ~ State to the common gooefS
II is not denied, Of course that Disraeli
had his foibles, though he was too proud
to be very vain. His faults OF tempera-
ment were occasionally impressed too deeply
both on his life and on his literary pro-
auctions. He tended to overstrain his
lights and shadows. His imagination
sometimes ran riot In colors, and always
tended to exaggerate the forms OF events.
though hardly ever their significance,
which he was often the first to divine.
He Is said to have cherished some super
stitions about lucky days and unlucky
tints but for these Mr.. Sichel does not
vouoh. HEDGES vouch, however, for the fact
that Disraeli was once seen by tntimateS
to wear a green velvet smoking coat, though
on one Of the few occasions on which he
troubled the newspapers he refuted the
Islander Of having, when young, ap-
peared In green trousers. In phrase as
in taste he was naturally extravagant. but
his epigraras we're never fabricated for the
sake Of a paradox, and were always sum-
maries of reflection and wisdom. They
were light, not frivolous: they were imagi-
native proverbs. There never was
wittier man, and his wit lent itself to his
ironic humor 1t was said Of him by an In
innate that one OF his sentences-in CONVEX
sation he was sparing Of them-left more
vivid impre. sion than long talk with others
Of consummlto talent. Like all celebrated
wits. he suffered both from the absorption
Of his own bon mois to others and from
having those Of others fathered upon him.
Thus the without redeeming vice, said
not about Gladstone. but about Lord Hath
erly, was his, not Westbury's; while the din
ner all cold except the ices" waS said not
by him, but by Sir David Dundas. Disraeli's
pithy sentences were simply manifestations
of his naturally laconic turn Of mind.
v.
Perhaps the most effective feature OF
this book is the precision with which the
scope and nature OF the work done by Dis
raeli In politics is defined. He was man
born with aristocratic perceptions. yet
with bent which is correctly described
as popular" rather than democratic
in the strict sense Of those terms. Democ-
racy in the concrete he considered az the
lam ~
through the undue preponderance of
single class; democracy in the abstract
he considered as merely lever for am
bilious tribunes. The welfare Of the peo"
pie. however, was ever his chief concern,
and he was Seenly alive to the fact that 1t
was continually INSTRUCTED by the side
aims of those vociferous on it's behalf.
When he appeared on the political horizon.
neither Of the great historical parties really
felt any sympathy for the people at large.
The Tories dreaded -radicalism," because
they were blind TO the possibilities of its
adoption into the order of the State. or
the Wings democratic enthusiasms were
at once the tools and the adherence. Dis
raeli determined to infuse them into those
free yet settled institutions of which the
Tories were the natural, but forgetful guar
dams. His main purpose, from the outset
was to .implalt 1.-The new ideas OF freedom
on the ancient soil Of order; to engraft
them, pr6duetIvefy without siprooting the
,nstivs 'Nuhdefkr61th' to ''harmonize' the
modern democratic idea with those English
traditions which had always harbored
its older forms. The task which he set him.
self was to accommodate federal TO feudal
principles; 20 render democracy in England
national and natural; to popularize leader
ship; to make democracy aristocratic in
the trlest sense Of the term; to unlock
the closed aristocracy of caste, and to re-
vive the open aristocracy of excellence.
wherever displayed, From this ruling
purpose flowed directly Disraeli's idea of
Great Britain's destiny and responsibility.
VI.
Disraeli's relation to English society
was unique. and his attitude toward it
was highly characteristic. His father,
Isaac Disraeli, bookwcrm, recl'ise and
dreamer, gave the boy foothold in the
literary world. Among the elder Disraeli's
intimates were shrewd solicitor, Mr.. Austin,
and his clever young wife, literary coquette
OF talent. the aunt Of the future Sir Henry
IayaTd. WIN UHe AuStlnS young DlSraell
journeyed in Italy and Germany. From
his fathers library he thus emerged on a
larger world. In the course Of his long
Eastern travels he encountered the most
opposite types, and had some curious ad-
ventures For example, in Spain he rescued
a lady from robbery. On the Egean he
armed and drilled the crew of a vessel, on
which he was passenger. against pirates
In Palestine, with difficulty and courage,
he forced his way into the Mosque Of Omar
In Egypt a I'asha asked him to draft a
constitution After his return to England
his first book made him the lion of several
seasons. He and Bulwer divided the honors
of Bath, then still fashionable. Lyndhurst
grew to depend on his assistance and even
accepted his advice. Disraeli escorted
him when, as Chancellor, he was present at
Kensington at the accession Of Queen
Victoria Lyndhurst's daughter became an
associate Of Disraelis sister; nothing gave
Disraeli more pleasure than Lyndhurst's