THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE AND LORD BEACONSFIELD

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1683, 1 June 1904, Page 38 (Supplement)

THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE AND LORD BEACONSFIELD

“iMy early and accurate knowledge of •ill 'Gladstone’s Cabinet secrets” Lord Beaconsfield once genially declared to be due to Lord Hartington’s choice of private acquaintanceship with him. Disraeli said another thing of Lord Hartington, which was more serious and less biting. He noticed that the young man yawned in the middle of his own maiden speech in the House of Commons. “He’ll do,” said the sage observer of men, who drew the character of I9t>. Aldegonde in “Lothair,” always taken as a representation of the young Lord Hartington, with no unfriendly hand. And it was Lord Hartington who, almost alone of Liberal politicians, said a good word for Dis raeli during the storm period of the Midlothian campaign. “No one,” said he, “can justly attribute any mean or unworthy motives to Lord Beaconsfield ~ r This was bad partisanship; but it was the speaker’s notion of the honest thing to say. The yawn that Disraeli noticed has become historic, so much so that many doubts its having been yawned at all. But Mr Wilfrid Meynell, Disraeli’s latest biographer, insists upon it. The Duke, however, though less wakeful than some of his contemporaries, has a sound brain, firm convictions, and a sense of humour. Chatsworth, the finest of the Duke’s seven great houses, is probably the most magnificent and beautiful situated country seat in the world. If its picturegalleries, with their priceless treasures, and its collections of sculpture and books have rivals in private hands, its conser vatories are said to have none in Europe, and its fountains to be surpassed only by those at Versailles. And there is no more honest, more kindly, or more fearless man than the owner of Chatsworth, though there may be some more ambitious and more active. He stands a unique figure in our political life. May he stand there long.—“ The By-Stander.”