The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-01-19
A BRILLIANT F0P !.
The Youthful DisraeIi, Elegant
and Eloquent.
AN INTELLECTUAL EXQUISITE.

AN INTELLECTUAL EXQUISITE.
His Airs and Graces, His Frills and
Laees and His Dazzling Oratory In
His Early Political Battles-A Pen
Picture Of His Remarkable Face.
Benjamin Disraelis career in practi-
cal politics began with a series of re-
verses that might have discouraged
less persistent fighter. Five times the
youthful novelist and versatile bud
ding statesman attempted to break
into parliament before he succeeded in
winning an election, going down to de-
feat three times at Wycombe and once
at Taunton.
In William Flayvelle Monypenny's
Life of Benjamin Disraeli" the au-
thor declares that tales are still told in
Wycombe Of Disraelrs famous first
speech from the portico of the Red
Lion:
The youthful orator was now at the
height of his dandyism, and his tcurls
and ruf1es' 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 plente-
ously adorned with lace and cambria,
he must have seemed to the spectators
better fitted for his role of fashionable
novelist than for that of strenuous pol
itician. Great, then, was their sur
prise when this 'popinjay,' as hostile
newspaper called him. began to pour
forth torrent of eloquence with tre-
mendous energy Of action and in a
voice that carried far along the High
street. He had an instinct for the dra-
matte effects which hold the attention
of the mob. When the poll is declared
I shall be there he exclaimed, accord
ing to a Wycombe 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 op.
posite party the 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 1 been so
struck by a face as I was by that of
Disraeli. It was lividly pale, and from
beneath two finely arched 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 a broad, high forehead were ring
lets of coal black. glossy hair, which,
combed away from his right temple,
fell in luxuriant clusters or punches
over his left cheek and ear, which it
entirely concealed from view.
There was sort of half smile, half
sheer playing about his beautifully
formed mouth, the upper lip of which
was curved as we see it in the por-
traits of Byron. He was very SLOWLY
attired in dark bottle green frock
coat, a waistcoat 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
had ever seen.
HE commenced in a 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 all imaginable po-
sitions, not because he felt awkward
and did not know, like a BOBBY in a
drawing room. where to put them, but
apparently 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 in the armholes of his waist
coat and spread out his fingers on it's
flashing surface; then one set of digits
would be released and he would lean
affectedly Oh the table, supporting him.
self with his right hand; anon he
would push aside the curls from his
forehead.
'But as he proceeded all traces of
dandyism and affectation were lost.
With rapidity of utterance perfectly
astonishing he referred to past events
and INDUCED in anticipations of the
future. The Wings were, of course,
the objects of his unsparing satire,
and his eloquent denunciations of them
were applauded 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 to which he had attained, he so
gracefully descended that every hearer
was wrapped in admiring surprise.
His voice, at first so fnical, gradually
became full, musical and sonorous and
with every varying sentiment was
beautifully modulated. His arms no
longer appeared to be exhibited for
show, but he exemplified the eloquence
OF the hand. The dandy was trans