The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

The Last Days Of B0npeHt BulWeI-1aSt U tons books impress one like the conversa- tion of a brilliant fop-a flop of rare learn ing, talent even surpassing charm at times, but a flop for all that. and, as a natural consequence, good bit of a snob
 His heroes do in the world of imagi- nation what he himself did in real life He invented evening clothes and cravats Of strange form. His characters live in q realm of sprigged waistcoats and tight boots
 But they are heroes for all that, and when one begins a story by Bulwer-Lyt- ton one is unwilling to lay it aside. To know him is a part of that insensible molding of our minds that produce the intangible beauty of life and thought which we call culture. He did not plant such storm challenging oaks in the grove of literature as did his contemporaries, Thackeray and Dickens; but the grove would lack much did it lack the fan tastic growths. of species all his owni that he set in it.
 A JTHOUGH Mrs. Margery Lobkins, A more familiarity and pleasantly 4 \ known as Piggy Lob, ran a thieves den in London and was addicted to gin more than a lady should be, some embers of philanthropy still burned in her extremely fat bosom. So it happened that she took in the beautiful Judith and her little son without even asking very partie- ularly what their real name was; and when Judith died amid rawlings that spoke equally of remorse and fierce desire for vengeance Piggy Lob adopted the lad
 The estimable Piggy had no ethical scruples Her family tree was literally the gallows tree. since all her male rela- tives and ancestors had consented to use that quick method of making their exit But she was determined to bring little Paul up as a gentleman who would be in no danger of having his neck stretched.
 Comprehending dimly that an education was the needful step toward her pur- poses. she turned Paurs training over to the only scholar whom she knew, MT McGrawler, a person whose classical at tainments were fully as great as his thirst and as the latter kept him con- stantly poor, he really possessed a suffi- cient fund of learning to give Paul very thorough course in Latin and the other polite accomplishments which stamped the gentleman of merry England in that day.
 Piggy Lob's constant preaching of hon. esty, whatever the practices of herself and her guests might be, had its effect on Paul. He grew up in the ken with out becoming part of it. If he prigged a patrons handkerchief or his watch 1t was done only to display hissilili, and he always returned the abstracted article, a habit which made the recipients shake their heads in doubt even while they felt grateful.
 As Pauls learning grew Mrs. Lobkins became more and more the willing vic- tim of wondering admiring awe. Crate ful for the honor of having so wonderful a son, she dipped generous hand into the till and supplied him with enough money to make many a fine gentleman envious.
 Handsome, accomplished, undulled by the slavish necessity of working for a living, Paul needed only that his foster mother be Lady instead of Piggy to take his place among any of the polished, gambling, drinking, debt-making noble gentlemen of London. Being the son of Piggy he had to enter the gayety of social life through a more humble gate.
 The associates whom he found wore as good gold lace as any lord. They carried a heavier purse. They swaggered as in- solently and they drank harder. They de- spised tradesmen as fiercely and paid them as rarely. They did not, however de- pend quite so much as did their social su- periors on heecing their friends, but pre- ferred to collect their incomes by don- ming black silk masks at night and stop ping coaches on lonely roads.
 For all that Paul admired them i'm mensely, and, despite the fact that his favorite literature in youth had been tht adventures of Dick Turpin, he retained his respect for honesty and dislike fol fail and the gallows. So, though he rufflet it around town in velvet and lace witt them and gambled with them and listened delightedly to their stories of midnigh ridings and pIundered travellers, he fel no desire to make one of their craft.
 It was left for that sacred human in stitution, the law. to do what Paul's com pany could not do.
 One night he and a gentleman namet Pepper, but better known as Long Ned occupied box in the theatre Paul i'm medately became deeply engaged in oglini a beautiful young girl who sat in the mex box with a handsome, distinguished gen tleman whom she addressed as uncle. MT Pepper also ogled the pair; but hi admiration was centered on a fine watcl worn by the gentleman.
 When the play was done Paul and hi long friend followed the couple closely At fitting moment the watch passed int the possession of Long Ned, who disap peared on the instant Paul, who had eye only for the girl, was staring at her quite unconscious of what had happened when he was seized and arrested.
 The evidence was clear that Paul ha not stolen the watch. But the robbed per son was MT. William Brandon, mos eloouent lawyer whose services for hi party in the House of Commons and 1 other high positions had won him en viable position in public life. He wa determined on getting back his, watcl Paul refused to betray his companion The idiot who sat on the bench bowe hurnbly to the great lawyer He sentence the lad to three months Imprisonment
 Raging furiously at the Injustice mor than the punishment, Paul was ushere into the company of felons and outcast His hot heart was fertile soil for the see