Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1854-11-27
A Great Change.

century. Not only IN the United States,
where Total Abstinence has been so widely
inculcated and followed, but in Great Brit
ain, where Moderation has been the most
popular principle, do we see this change for
the better-though perhaps, in the latter
not to an equal extent. An anecdote from
a work recently published, respecting the
great poet Wordsworth and the great pain
ter Hayden, affords an Illustration in point.
Wordsworth, it must be remembered, was
not one Of the cupid-worshipping, rollicking
class of bards-but a grave moralist in
verse and prose; more, even than habitually
religious men. Remembering this, what
a picture of the last generation the follow
ing story affords. Says our author:
Wordsworth himself with his grave and
settled physognomy, actually told anoth-
Of bis and Haydon's old friends, in my
presence, the following story, which is SO
good that I feel an inclination to embalm
it as nearly as possible in bis own words
eve had been dining out, said he, "with
an old friend-and it being too late to find
q cab when We quilted the house, we were
compelled to walk home. He asked me
to take a bed; but Hayden had determin-
ed to walk home, and it was necessary that
! should accompany him."
"Why was it necessary" asked Hay
don.
"Why? Do you ask why it was ne
cessary p inquired Wordsworth.
"Ccrtainly do"
"Because," replied Wordsworth, shaking
his head, "you had taken a little too much
wine-only little too much"
"Well, go on" said his friend; if our
sins are to be cast up in our teeth in our
old age, by an old friend, we can but grin
and bear it."
81 had very great difficulty in keeping
him straight He was determined, it
would seem, on walking in an extremely
divergent manner; and when we at length
turned into the Edgeware Road, young
gentleman who had been observing him,
stepped up to us, and said, You seem to
have some difficulty in walking home, gen
tlemen. | am going the same way
Might | beg you to take my arm? AL
though not needing bis assistance, accep-
ted it, in the hope of inducing Hayden TO
do the same. He did so, and we began to
proceed along the pavement in much
more regular manner [ imagined that |
this young individual might be pleased at
knowing whom he was assisting to convey
home thus inebriated. Consequently, |
turned to him and observed, Young man
tmay crafty you to know whom you have
Ipon this arln'-I pressed it as I SPOKE
/ am-Wordsworth.' He answered moth
what must Hayden do but
lalt."
"Of course, was not going to be chou8-
ID out of my share Of glory" said Hayden,
"Yes!' continued Wordsworth. "He
topped short-dead, in the street, and laid
lold Of the ratings Of the area in front Of
ne Of the houses"
"'And whom do you think am, young
nan? he asked. 4 Benjamin Ro-
jcrt Hayden the historical paintorp For
1 moment the gentleman looked from one |
o the other, and then said: I do not care
Who or what you are. Bit u3y ba}ief is,
hat you are a couple Qt' drunken 1ytag old
'oga5onda.' I was SO thundemtruck that |
1t once let go his arm. lie shook Hay
Ion violently off the other. Take care,
Is a reward for your lying so internally, |
hat YOU do not have to spend the. rest Of
he night in watchhouse.' As he said
his. he vanished up the street"
Hayden, his friend, and myself, laugh |
ed mnoderately. Wordsworth did not e.
ven cbuclle. His face was as grave and
tranquil as before. Singularly enough, |
this was the only time ! ever met Words
worth, and consequently he is enshnned
in my memory in connection with a story,
which is the last should ever have dreamt
Vi his being connected with. His quiet
and reserved demeanor, especially to stran-
gers, renders it very improbable that, had
| ever met him on subsequant or previous
occasions, I should have heard him utter
which could have imprinted it so
powerfully upon my memory.
TuE EYrs.-Thcre is a popular notion,