The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-09-03
4 Visit to Robert Browning.
(Fron the Boston Commonwealth

(FrOn the Boston Commonwealth
There was no man in England that | desired
to see so much as Robert Browning. Others |
know set on "A higher pedestal the noble woman
80 lately taken from his side others are more
enchanted by the prince OF Artists. Iennyson. in
whom all the old minneslngers seem u ave re-
a:peIred. But the author OF Paracelsus' |
hold To be the most powerful, the author of
.Columbe's Birthday the most tender, the
author Of - Pippa Passes'' the most dramatic, Of
all ppets since Shakespeare.
Entering Il handsome but transformations resi-
dence on Warwick Crescent, in the envlrons of
London, | was shown into u very pleasant room.
Over the mantle piece was a large and very old
Italian picture, such as might have been taken
from some old church altar, which seemed to- he
a representation of the Father, SON and Holy
Ghost. 4 quaint piece Of ancient tapestry
adorned one side of the room, and y picture of
Christ from one Of the old masters was ON another
wall. | could not help noticing upon the table,
cards of invitation from the Russells, Palmer
strns, and many Others of the nobility, indicating
that there has been a change with the British
aristocracy in regard 10 the Literati. Formerly
literary distinction was not sufficient to assure
the highest social position In this country. There
is no doubt that the aristpcracy will gain much
by the change, but whether the literature of the
country will Is more doubtful.
Presently in came the poet his face shining
with a welcome in my person To those friends of
his in America who had given me letters 10 him.
1t was a rather gloomy day without, but his
cOuntcfance DUre with II all the llgnt ana warmth
Of Il sun. There have been few persons whose
writings | have loved, whom | have found per-
sDnally equal 10 item and | am always ready
for "a disappointment in this direction. But there
was none here. Never saw | so fine Il brow.
When | saw it 1 seemed to hear Pippa singing
over again
In the morning Of the world,
when the earth ~ss higher h aven than now;
And he Kings hicks curIrd
DispaTing DER a forehead fun
OF some sacdacisl bull
Only cain as q babe newborn"
This was that royal forehead If DR.. Carlyle's
millennium should came now, when real kings
shall be crowned, | should see all those crown
jewels which CLEAN in the tower oil London shin
ing ON this brow.-if they did not lose their
lusrer in this magnificent ex lanse.
Scarcely were the greetings over when Mr..
Browning introduced the subject of our " WAR
with Slavery, for he appreciates il us such.
Ali. how | wish that the Round Table kn gfts of
Freedom in America could have been present to
see the feryUr and hear the eluquence with which
ne uttered his sympathy with our cause, and the
almost passionate vehemence with which he de-
nnunced the ) ,uthern sympathizers in England
He holds our cause to be sacred beyond every
other now undergoing its ordeal and | have IL
(nnt very definite, to DC surr) hope that he will
soon utter his sympathy from his OVID throne of
Poetry.
lie spoke with much feeling of the many tokens
of friendship and interest in his poetry which he
had received from America, and still more earn
estly of that which had greeted his wife's poem.
Whilst | sat there in came his son the boy
whose face surrounded by golden curls. almost
like a girls, had been familiar to me through
some photographs | had seen in America. The
curls are all cut off now. and the boy has grown
to be quite large for his age fourteen years. lie
WAS quite manly and is fortunate enough to in
herit his fathers grand forehead and brow.
=. This gentleman sail his father pointing to
me, . is from America, and is on the Northern
side" That's my side cried out the hoy,
extending his hand. Whereupon the elder
Browning looked around with some pride.
Browning goes very little in L ,ndon snciety,
and stays ut home a great deal. He il fond of
visiting Lewes, author OF the &. Lise of Goethe
and his wife the author of Adam Bsde,-who on
account of their irregular marriage are not in
Society," But Browning is eagerly sought for
In circles, and is by all regarded az brilliant in
presence and conversation. His manners are
direct and simple, his voice strong and flexible.
AMI there Is from him each moment IL current of
health and magnetism. | felt satisfied by my
visit as if l had just had my thirst assuaged ut Il
and ,rv.fal E,uptain