MRS DISRAELI

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 56, Issue 4043, 4 May 1938, Page 9

MRS DISRAELI

WIFE OF BRILLIANT STATESMAN. It is usually thought that Disraeli married his wife for money, but if that is so, there is still a lot of truth in what was said by Mrs Disraeli in later ylears—perhaps quite seriously—“Dissy married me for my money, but if he had the chance again he would marry me for love.” He himself had declared that he never intended marrying for love, for he felt that all his friends who had married for love oi’ for beauty were unhappy. But then men often make such statements and when the time comes act quite differently. It is certain that when the time came for to win Mis Lewis he acted very much the lover both in his letter and in his actions towards her. It was at the house of Mrs Edward Bulwer that he, first met her in 1832. She was then the wife of Wyndham Lewis, Conservative candidate for Maidstone. He became very friendly with the Wyndham Lewises, and through their influence stood as the second Conservative candidate. Mrs Lewis prophesied a great future for him, and called him her “Parliamentary protege” (on another occasion “our political pet”!) ■When her husband died in 1838 her friendship with Disraeli progressed apace. Gossip declared that he had made love to her during her husband’s lifetime, and Mrs Bulwer said he proposed even before the funeral. However, the courtship proceeded, and he wrote and constantly sent her flowers. By the end of July he was telling her that she was never far from his thoughts, and how much he loved her. Her income of £4OOO a year and a house in Gosvenor Gate may have had some influence with him after their first meeting as “a pretty little woman, a flirt, and a rake,” but by this time he described her talk as “that bright play of fancy and affection which welcomes me daily with such vivacious sweetness,” and he was able to say at this fine “my present feelings convince me of what I have ever believed that there is no hell on earth like separated love.”

At one period of the courtship there was a serious quarrel, possibly about his interest in her income, but be explained that by saying that although he had not at first been influenced by romantic feelings, he would not have proceeded in the matter had h'.s heart not been engaged. She forgave him.

But Disraeli’s letters to her expressed real affection, and of her devotion to him there can be no doubt. Even Mrs Bulwer, in later years, declared that she felt all along that Disraeli really lived for his wife; spoke of him as a really devoted husband, and asserted her conviction that had his wife lost all her possessions he would have continued equally kind to her.

After their marriage they settled in Grosvenor Gate, and there the. furniture and general arrangement of the house were bizarre, and ugly; the. mistress of the house lacked taste, both in these matters and in her own dress, which was at all times odd and quit? out of keeping- with her age and the occasion. It was strange that one with no eye for beauty should have such taste in landscape gardening—the woodland paths and the whole

aspect of the grounds at Hughenden were due to her. Disraeli expected great things from his marriage, and he was not disappointed. She had a “quick and accurate sense,” which guided him in prosperity and triumph. All his hopes were fulfilled, in spite of the differences in their characters. His wifi» had no ambition, and certainly no love of politics in themselves, but she devoted herself to her husband’s career. Although she was ignorant of a great many things, she had good judgment, quick intuition and sound practical ability. She had a happy nature and absolute faith in her husband, and these qualities endeared her to her friends, and her lack of tact and propensity for saying gauche things were forgiven. Someone once, asked Mr Disraeli if he were not often embarrassed by his wife’s “faux pas,” but he replied that he was never put out by them, for he possessed one quality in which most men were deficient gratitude. In spite of her manner she knew how to give dinner parties and how to make them brilliant and successful,* She- was popular with the electors, who admired her immensely, and she undoubtedly helped her husband to win his first election. She was created a peeress in her own right in 1868. Queen Victoria wished to confer some mark of favor on Disraeli', and offered him a peerage, but. he declined, because he felt he should remain in the House of Commons. The Queen, knowing his devotion to his wife, suggested that a peerage should be conferred on her instead. When she died Disraeli’s grief was profound. He declared there was never a better wife, and in reply to G'adstone‘s note of sympathy said, “Marriage is the greatest earthly happiness when founded on complete sympthy; that hallowed lot was mine for a moiety of existence. He used to say that in 33 years of married life she had never given him a dull moment. At another time he said of her, “She was the most cheerful and the most courageous women I ever knew.” She certainly made Disraeli s married life perfectly happy- Her oddities were really only superficial, for although she was so voluble and such an indiscreet talker, she never betrayed her husband’s confidence, p She was no social leader, and what influence she had was passive rather than active. Yet without her singleminded devotion her husband would probably -not have had such a great career, and he certainly would not have been so happy.