The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-08
BRIEF SKETCH OF
YOUNG POLITICIAN
The Youthful Disraeli, Elegant
and Eloquent.
AN INTELLECTUAL EXQUISITE.
His Airs and Graees, His Frills and
laces and His Dazzling Oratory In
His Early Political 6attIes-A Pen
Picture of His Remarkable Face.

benJamln DlSraellS career IN practf
cal politics began with series OF re-
verses that might have discouraged a
less persistent fighter Five times the
youthful novelist ana versatile bud
ding statesman attempted TO break
into parliament before he succeeded in
winning an election, going down to de-
feat three times ut Wycombe and once
ut Taunton.
In William Flayvelle Monypenny's
Life of Benjamin Disraeli" the au-
thor declares that tales are still told in
Wycombe of DiSraeli's famous first
speech from the porticO of the Red
| Lion:
THE youthful orator was now at the
height of his dandylsm, and his 'curls
and ruilles' played no small part in
the election. Standing on the top of
the porch beside the figure of the lion.
with his pale face set off by masses of
jet black hair and his person pente-
ously adorned with lace and cambria.
he must have seemed TO the spectators
bNN'NA hAANh lbA AiAn AOlN VI ldHlllOltlDiC
novelist than for that OF strenuous pol
itician. Great, then. was their sur
prise when this popinjay.' as a hostile
newspaper called him. began to pour
forth n torrent of eloquence with ire
mendous energy Of action and in
voice that carried far along the High
street. He had an instinct for the dra-
a.
of the mob. when the poll is declared
/ shall be there he exclaimed. accord
ing to n WycOmbc tradition. pointing
TO the head of the lion. and my oppo-
nent will be there pointing to the
tail. BY the admission even Of the OPP
posite party tie speech was com
plete success, and his popularity with
the crowd was thenceforth assured"
AS to the young orators appearance
at Taunton. Mr.. Monypenny gathers
these comments Of an eyewitness from
an almost forgotten book of that time:
Never in my life had l been so
struck 10y face rs was by that of
Disraeli. 1t was lividly pale, and from
beneath two finely archcd eyebrows
blazed out pair of intensely black
eyes. ! never have seen such orbs In
mortal sockets either before or since.
His physiognomy was strictly Jewish.
Over n broad. high forehead were ring
let's of coal black. glossy hair. which,
combed away from his right temple,
fell I'm luXuriant clusters or punches
over his left cheek and ear. which 1t
entirely concealed from view.
''There was n sort of half smile. half |
sheer playing about his beautifully
formed mouth, the upper lip of which |
was curved as we see Il I'm the pOr-
traits of Byron. He was very SLOWLY
attired i'm dark bottle green frock /
coat, n walstcoat of the most extrava-
CANT pattern. the front of which was
almost covered with glittering chains.
and In fancy pattern pantaloons. He /
wore plain black stock, but no collar
was visible. Altogether he was the
most intellectual looking exquisite I
had ever seen.
"He commenced in n lisping lacka-
daisical tone of voice. He minced his |
phrases in apparently the most affect
ed manner and while he was speaking
placed his hands in MI imaginable POI
sitions, not because he felt awkward
and did not know. like BOBBY in
room, where 10 put them, but
for the purpose of exhibit
ing to the best advantage the glitter
ing rings which decked his white and
taper fingers. Now he would place his
thumbs i'm the armholes of his waist
coat and spread out his fingers on its
flashing surface; then one set of diglts
affcctedly on the table, supporting him.
self with his right hand; anon no
would push aside the curls from his
"But as he proceeded all traces of
dandyism and affectation were lost.
With n rapidity of utterance perfectly
he referred to past events
and INDUCED in anticipations of tho
future. The Wings were, of course.
the objects OF his unsparing satire,
and his eloquent denunciations of them
were applaudcd TO the echo. In all he
said he proved himself TO be the fin
ished orator. Every period was round
ed with the utmost elegance. and In
his most daring flights, when one trem-
bled lest he should fall from the giddy
height 10 which lie had attained. he so
descended that every nearer
was wrapped in admiring surprise.
His voice. at first so finical, gradually
became full musical and sonorous and
with every varying sentiment was
modulated. His arms no
longer appeared to be exhibited for
show, but he exenipliiied the eloquence
OF the hand. The dandy was trans
formed into the man of mind, the Nv
talini looking parsonage into prec.
ticed orator and finished elocutionist."