Year: 1869

Much remark was made in England, ,at
the time of Mr.. Disraels retirement from
the premiership, upon the honor which he
paid to his wife in creating her a peeress.
1t may not be forgotten that when Dis
raeli, while still prime minister, received
the freedom of the city of Edinburg, and
delivered one of the most brilliant of his
many eloquent orations, he touched the
hearts OF all his vast audience by an affec
tionate allusion to Mrs. Disraeli, and the
comfort and help she had given him
throughout his turbulent political career.
To her he owed it, he nobly declared, that
he had not faltered by the way, that he
had not cowed before obstacles from her
he had ever derived new courage TO fight
his cause, and had caught new vigor
and enthusiasm after defeat.


Such tribute was as graceful ms it
was rare and whatever we may think of
Disraeli rs statesman and politician, it
is certain that there is noble stuff in one
who could so touchingly attribute success





of himself reaping the reward of his long
service in Parliament--a reward which
was gratefully offered 10 him by his
sovereign-by taking his place among
the hereditary aristocracy and assuming
the title of earl, he declined it, with the
intimation that were any such reward
tho ught to be deserved, he would esteem
it a yet greater boon were it conferred or
his consort. So it was that on the very
day that her husband retired from power
Mrs. Disraeli took her place among the
noble ladies of England, by the title o
Viscountess Beacons6eld. This event Sc
the gossipers to recalling her early lif,
and that of her lord. The old story how
while still the wife of distinguished gen
eral, she was strongly attached to the a
yet unknown author of Vivian Grey
how like an honest woman, she told he
husband that she must see and know him
how the young jew was invited to he
house, and the general, indulging he
whim, received him Hospitality, trustin,
her fully, and not seeming jealous tha
his wife should have so enthusiastic al
admiration for the young novelist and NJ
p; how, after the generals death, tha
admiration ripened into an affection whic
nearly forty years have not sufficed to i'm
pair, but on the contrary have seemed I
strengthen and cement this was the ia
vorite topic in the London drawing room.
Viscountess Beaconsfeld is some ten year
older than the ex-Prime Minister; an
striking is the contrast between the tw
as you see them slowly walking down tn
street together. He, young-looking jaur
ty, fashlonably dressed, with light, Wig
orous English step-his glossy black hal
curling in ringlets, and shading his ur
wrinkled, swarthy face and falling owe
his collar-still the romantic looking nov
elst rather than the experienced and hare
worn statesman-his sixty-two years sci
ting as lightly on him as forty of them d
on most men; his manner calm, almOi
gay, as if not dissatisfied with this bell
gerent world-his features as unmistaka
bly, Hebrew as are those of our little frien
Moses who sells second handed clothin
round the corner she, tall, thin, wrinl
led, gray, venerable; seeming quite ol
enough to be his mother sickly-lookir
and frail, looking quite seventy; with


mild, gentle face, expressive of the kin,
liest home virtues, and not less OF trl
feminine courage and force of characte
AS they pass along, she leans upon h
5 arm, and seems by her manner to be bo
9 fcnd and proud of him while he liste
attentively to what she says, is as galla
a in his manner to heras ayoung beau to h
,, blushing sweetheart, and seems in his tu
4 morally to lean on her, and TO crave al
follow her counsel. A story is told


Lady Beaconsfelds devotion to her lo
and his ambition, which, il true is a touc
ing commentary on the unselfshness


womanly affection. On one occasion, VIII,
Disraeli was chancellor of the excheque
2 his wife accompanied him to tho Parl
!: ment house. 1t was Budget night
= the most momentous of all sessions to Il
chancellor Of the exchequer, for he hi
to unfold his financial plans for the ems
U ing year to a critical and not too easi
= satisfied House, Disraeli, as he took |
place in the carriage, was wholly absorb