The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-10

: Ereatne6H heights When 1t appeared with its half yelled hits at well-known public men. its clever satires on society, its almost too flor sis of human actions 1t became at once the talk of fashionable and political Lon don.
 When the great folk found that the book had not been written by one of themselves they were amazed. When they found 1t was law in an attorneys office--the son of well-known Hebrew writer. Isaac Disraeu they took the youth up at once and made "1on" of him. This Rs the opening Ben1a- min Disraeli wanted. and he improved his opportunity. From that time on he went straight forward to his goal He died the greatest statesman in Europe. and an Eng fish earl. s-
 svivian Grey is curious book for a young man of 22 to write. It Is fasci- . hating study of the life of young man divided into three epochs. It is not exactly romance nor is it exactly tale or enpeft hn, ,t partakes of a little of both kinds of nara ton.
 which remind one of Robert Louis Steven- son. Not that Disraeli had Stevensons it- erary genius. but literary genius he certain, ly had and that of no mean order' anu had he not chosen to make politics the main work of his life. who can tell 70 wnht degree of excellence he might nave brought it3
 MT. Vivian Grey. a young gentleman of good family and considerable expec- tations as to weaAh, was one ol tne s'precocious sons of Aurora Of whom Lord Bacon wrote. Not being yet twenty-one, he scorned Oxford ana sknew it all" He moped in college halls when the great game of lire was open before him to play, and ne Iet his genius burning within him. He knew positively his ability to grapple with ali great problems. He read Plato. the platonists and the neopla- tonfsts; and then sat down to think iust what path he should choose to wealth and greatness. He had put 70 choose-and he decided on Politics.
 As he approached his majority ne want to work. There was a certain noble marquis--the Most Noble Sydney, Maruuis of Carabas, an old gentleman who had held office and been turned out of it for utter incompetence Tn spite of his interests" The Marquis was vain and weak, still imagined him. self a great man and .1onged with great longing to play part once more on the stage of the world. Vivian met him at his fathers table and decided to s'use him." What he needed at first, he said, was the name of some great noble, and that nobleman's interests-'
 His keen, confident i'll trained mind soon made itself master of the weak intellect of the Marquis and he received an invitation to the nobleman's seat. Chateau Desir, where large company was assembled ana where the Marquis daily consulted with ''my young friend, MT Grey--one of the most remarkable young men [ have ever met"
 T consider it remarkably fortunate that we have met" his fordship would add, '.especiaHy just at this time when so many important political changes are impending. Really his advice IS of the utmost importance" Thus did the Marquis vapor while some of his guests--poiiticai soreheads like himself, collected at the suggestion of Vivian wondered; and Mrs. Felix Lorraine. his lordship's sister-in-law. looked keenly at the young man and saw through him like book.
 Mrs. Lorraine's husband was on mission to Patagonia UT some wnero else. He was the black sheep of the family. The lady was under the es- pecial protection of the Marquis, over whom she exercised a sway as power ful as she chose to make it.
 Vivian bewiIdered and fascinated the; company assembled at the castle. He flattered openly and shamelessly and talked brilliantly, inventing quotations from the classics and from political speeches, and manufacturing historical precedents in a reckless manner.
 MT. Grey" said Mrss Lorraine. T # congratulate you on your reception here You see we make you quite one of the family. Come, 1t is fine even ing, let us enjoy the moonlight from the terrace. Do you know" she con- tinued as they walked along, T am glad you came down here. I feel that we shall be great friends! Have you friend, MT. Grey?" Vivian tried to keep pace with the willy woman in sentiment and fine phrases, but soon was floun- dering quite bewildered in the tangle of her apparent sentimentality, frank ness and changing moods. In ten min- utes she had brought the boy to the verge of declaration Then she checked him and, turning serious. said: "Do you know, think your plan ex- celIent."
 "My plan, madamr'
 ''Yes. The Marquis has told me all. have no head for politics. but if cannot assist you in managing the nation perhaps I can assist you in managing the family. My services are at your command. There, l pledge my troth. Do you think it pretty -hand?' After two weeks at Chateau Desir it was all arranged. The lords and gem tlemen out of office were tog form a third party. In solemn conclave they pledged themselves to each other And who is to be the leader?" asked one. The Marquis threw out his chest. Each other noble lord at the table did the same. It was a crisis.
 ''Frederick Cleveland" said Vivian, decidedly.
 The silence of a great astonishment fell upon the company. Mr Cleveland was an ex-Minister of State who once had swayed the destinies of the nation. Soured of public life, he had retired to a sinecure in Wales and refused ro even visit the capital Almost his last public act had been to score the Mar quis of Caracas and his fellow incom- petents-especially the Marquis, most mereilessly in the House.
 Now I have done it." thought Vi- vian after the conference had broken up. But I suppose this, Cleveland is but a man after all. And he posted away for the statesmans Welsh re- treat.
 Vivian succeeded The mature and experienced statesman fell a prey to the wiles of the daring and brilliant boy. Power once tasted, the taste is never entirely out of the mouth. Cleve- land came back with Vivian to Cha teau Desir.
 It was reconciliation all around. Cleveland gave up his Welsh sinecure and one of the noble lords of the ca- hal pledged himself that member owned by him should resign and the ex-statesmap go to his place in par lament.
 Busy weeks passed in planning and plotting Mrs. Felix Lorraine joyful ly played the cat-and-ipouse game with Vivian and remarked that MT. Cleve- land had such handsome eyes" One night Vivian retired to mediate In