The American patriot., 1855-04-06
Anecdote Of Wordsworth.


Isi9a'g4u s----~R~>~ 5aY
tisa,oa5, Anecdote Of Wordsworth. as-. a,
The editor Of the London Illustrated Nows
has the following story about Wordsworth,
"from the lips Of d true poe" J" whose name,
however, it is not at liberty to mention: aos
In the summer Of 1916, when on visit to
the Lake District called upon Mr. Words
worth TO convey message from his daughter,
then in London. He received me with a kind
y shake Of the hand t"I am told,"a said he,
:" that you. write poetry; but never read
line of your compositions and don't intend to-"
| suppose, must have looked surprised, for he
added before could find time to reply, .t You
must not think me rude in this, for never read
anybody poetry but my own, and haven't
done SO for five and twenty years. Doubtless
smiled
:" You may think this is vanity, but itis not.
for1 only read my own poetry to correct it's
faults, and make it as good as l can't I en-
dcavored to change the subject by some gen
eral remarks on the beauty of thea scenery,
visible from his garden in which our interview
had taken place. '.what is, the name of that
mountain ~ inquired "God bless mel" he
said, Have you not read my poems? Why,
that's Nab-Scar. There are frequent illusions
to il in my, writings Don't you remember
the lincse" and he repeated in clear, distinct
voice q well known passage from 'Thc Ex,
ciirsion."
The name of southey having been scciden.
tally mentioned, inquired, as matter Of lite
rary history, whether, ,H.ns was commonly be-
licyed, he had impaired his health and his in
tellect by too much mental exertion, and thus
brought on that comparative darkness Of mind
which c!ouded the last months Of his life, SPY
no means,' said Wordsworth; "Southcy was
a lnethodical worker. He systematizcd his
time. He wss never confused or in a hurry,
aud got through a deal of labor with an amount
Of ease and comfort which your hurry -scurry
kind Of people can neither accomplish nor un-
derstand. The truth is, at least think So
that his mind was thrown OF its balance by
the death of his first wife, and never oftcrward
recovered itself" 5a ta a
reminded him at this point tina, the late
Mr.. Laman Blanchard, ghose aal story was
then fresh in the rccollectioi Of thapb'ic Had
been reduced to d state Of Insanity b similar
bereavement. From that moment my name
seemed TO fade away Gorn Mr. Worlsworth's
recollection, and he always addressed me du
ring the remainder Of our interview MS Mr. La
man Blanchard His sister, Miss Wordsworth
v.aswheeled into Tie garden, in a little gardcr.
carriage or chair, i,npelled by Mr.. Wordsworth.
wore on my head q Giengarry travelling
cap, with sprig Of heather, and Miss Words.
worth no sooner caught sight Of me than she
exclaimed in shrill voice: "Who's thatman,
brothcr?" q "0h nobody, 10y dear he re-
piled. .lt'sonly iIr, Lamar Blanchard" l
gently hinted my right name. " It's all the
same to her, poor thing!' he rejoined. He
would possibly have said rlorc, but the upfos-
tunatc lady interrupted him by commencing 10
sing the wel-known song: so
"A Highland lad my love was born, I.t.,
N The i.owland laws he held in scorn."
She sang one verse with much correctness, and
was commencing another, when Mr.. Words
worth led me away. This is q painful scene,
Mr.. Blanchard he said; '.let US into my
my room, and will read you some, more pas
sages from my poems about Nab-scar." "a j.,
Mr.. Wordsworth's impression Of the prima.
ry cause of Mr.. .southeys insanity is now, we
believe, admitted by all who knew him init
mately. ~-zs=[--