BEACONSFIELD'S OLD AGE. Interesting Reminiscences.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 407, 2 October 1889, Page 4

BEACONSFIELD'S OLD AGE. Interesting Reminiscences.

Dr. Kidd, who attended Lord Beacon&field in his last illness, gives some very interesting reminiscences of his noble patient in the ' Nineteenth Century ' for July. We here give come exlracts from the article :—: —

His Couutesy to Ladies. The character of Lord Boaconsiield was most singular.' - To those without, his manner was that of reserve and coldness, with a proud expression of power and lofty aim. Bub to the charmed inner circle of his -friends there was a bright genial glow of kindness shown, which made all feel at ease. At first a manner apparently cold and distant, but directly you struck the chord ot sympathy most cordial and responsive, in the company of ladies his face becamo most animated. All the activity of his mind became freshened into new life, and he spared neither timo nor trouble to interest them. An old lady, Mrs De Burgh, hearing of his asthma, sent him a pot of Stockholm tar, vrith a note advising him to expose it in his bedroom at night. It proved helpful. An ordinary Prime Minister in full work might have written an autographic note ot thanks. Lord Beaconsfiold found time to visit her in Eccleston Square to thank her for her kind present, 1 much to her delight.

Beaconsfikld and Bismarck. As the time of the Berlin Conference drew near, Lord Rowoon, his dearest and beat friend, urged thai I should accompany him to Berlin. Lord Beaconsfieldwas unwilling, satisfied with my promise to bo in readiness to start at once for Berlin if telegraphed for. At Berlin his health was suddenly disturbed by a severe chill. An urerent telegram Bummoned me there. I found him suffering from a fresh attack of congestion of the kidneys and liver, but was enabled to afford prompt relief, and he recovered his usual vigour of mind and body, and got through the work of the Congress with ease. I remained with him till the Treaty of Berlin was completed and returned with him as far as Calais. Three or four days before the treaty was signed, I was sitting with him in his private room, when Prince Bismaick was announced. He walked into the room, giving his hat to the servant. After being introduced to the prince, I retired, and found the serrantu outoide the door trying on Prince Bismarck's hat. • Why,' said one of them, 'the hat is almost big enough to take our two heads into it.' The day after Lord Beaconsfield said to me : 'I can bell you today the object of Bismarck's visit yesterday, as it is no longer a secret. The Congress was on the point of coming to an untimely end that morning, as I absolutely refused one of the Russian Plenipotentiary's conditions, and I left the Congress room saying I should have to return to London at once to concert other measures. Bismarck heard ot this and rushed off to the Russian Ambassador, persuaded him to withdraw the point, and then called to stop my return to London.'

Death fou a Dinner Pakty. In the spring of 1881 he felt the cold most keenly, and seldom went out for a walk, his only exercise. Yet he could not deny himself the pleasure of going into society in the evening. He thought that with fur coats and shut carriage he might risk it. But on one of the worsb nights in March he went out to dinner, and returning home was caught for a minuto by the deadly blast of the north-east wind laden with sleet. Bronchitis developed the next j morning with distressing asthma, loss of appetite, fever, and congestion of the kidneys. Asthma is a most peculiar disease. b tomes on often in the most healthy pjaceo, and vanishes in the crowded, close streets of the town. In the low-lying Downing street near the Thames he had much less asthma than in Curzcn-street, where his bedroom was a small, stuffy one, with fluffy paper and old-fashioned curtains. From the first, asthma followed him in Cnrzon-street.

Callkks at Curzon-street. During one of our eleven o'clock settling 6 of the bulletin His Royal Highness th Prince of Wales and His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, fresh home from the funeral of the murdered Czar, came in upon us, asking anxiously as to the progress of our illustrious patient. Among the many distinguished callers Mr Gladstone walked in and inquired most feelingly after his old opponent. We, the doctors, had a hard time in reading the many hundreds of letters, telegrams, and postcards with suggestions for infallible cure. One card to Lord Beaconsfield delighted him much ; it was — Don't die yet; we can't do without you. (Signed) A Biutisii Workman.

The Bkst Books for Dinnkr Reading. Dr. Kidd was visiting hig patient at Hughenden, when Lord Beaconsfield one evening took out a rare old copy of Virgil, and opened up its treasures till I began to share his enthusiasm. • Dining here often alone,' he said to me, • 1 have an understanding with my cook that there is to be ten minutes' interval between one course and the noxt. That ten minutesj invariably devote to reading one of the great authors of antiquity ; and [ can say that for many years I have listened bo many of the greatest wits and orators of the age, but I have derived more pleasure from Homer, Virgil, and Horace than from all the living celebrities I havo met in my life.' it would be interesting to know (says the ' Pall Mall Gazette ') how many other distinguished men follow Lord Beaconfield's recipe, and what authors they thus invite to their dinner table. It is said, indeed, that reading at meals is a bad thing, as interfering with digestion. But is this really so ? At any rate it prevents you bolting your food. Indeed, for all we know, it may have been the company of Homer, "Virgil, and Dante that taught Mr Gladstone his great secret of thirty-six (or was it forty ?) bite 3 as the sovereign rule of health ?

His Favourite Colleague. Lord Beaconfield's love and regard for Earl Cairns were unbounded. One day during his illness Lord Beaconsfield said fco me, 'I want specially to see Lord Cairns. He is admirable in council ; I want to explain my views to him.' After spending upwards of an hour with Lord Beaconsfield, Lord Cairns came out and said to me, ' With so near a prospect of deabh, can you not get Canon Fleming to visit him ? He is specially the one Lord Beaconsfield would listen to on matters concerning the soul and eternity.' Obstacles were put in the way, and the opportunity was lost. To myself, sitting on his bed at night, he spoke twice on spiritual subjects, in a manner indicating his appreciation of this work of Christ and of the Redemption. At Hughenden he was a diligent attendant at the Communion service, and when in London at Whitehall Chapel.

The End. During the last illness there was no pain nor acute suffering, but at times much distress, and weariness, all of which he bore with tho most exemplary patience and endurance. To all those around him he showed the greatest kindness and consideration. At midnight there was a visible change for the worse, and the heaviness gradually paseed into the palm sleep oi

death. Lord Rowton remaine,d;uj> all night with Dr. 'Mitchell Bruce and myself, /it one o'clock we summoned Dr. Q.uain, Lord Barrington, and Sir Philip Rose to witness the end. Lord Barrihgton was the first to arrive, and at once joined Lord Rowton in a loving clasping of Lord Beaconsfield's right hand ; hisieft hand was laid in mine. Soon afterwards Dr. Quain arrived. Ifc touched us all deeply to see the dying statesman rise up in the bed and lean forward in the way he used to do when rising to reply in debate ; his lips moved, but no sound came. He fell back on the pillows, and in about ten minutes, without suffering or distress, his spirit passed away.