The Portland daily press., 1868-04-02
Miscellany.
some New Anccdo,e. of Woodwork.

some New Anecdotes of Woodwork.
First, let me give you some idea of this
venerable and good man, who in many things
resembled Milton. There was the same au-
sterity OF Lille; the same rigid morality, nom
esy and independence; and despite his great
genius, the same narroW-mndedness. In
height he was tall, being over six feet, and
gaunt and Struggling in his person. His
clothes were always too large for him, and
seemed as though he had thrown them on
loosely. His forehead was not high, his nose
was large and slightly aquilne, and bis lip
and chin were dropping. He had struggling
whiskers, which were ali the bair he wore ON
his face. His eyes were deep set, and alb
stracted, and of brownlsh gray. Leigh Hunt
said they always reminded him OF the proph-
ct Jeremiah's, being generally fixed in a
dreamy musing, as though he was looking
within himself, rather than out at the world.
His voice was deep, and sounded as though
it came rom bis chest; this was eminentiy
characteristic OF the mans nature, which was
most emphatic and earnest. Indeed he seem
ed as though he was always talking under
oath, lad giving evidence in a court of law,
rather than joining in a conversation. He
was entirely destitute of humor, and could
not understand a joke, unless it, was logically
put, and then proved. Ii any one wished
him to appreciate one he would have to put
1t in mathematical shape. In tact, he saw
no more tun in Joe Miller than he did in
Euclid. In telling the commonest- occurrence,
he would be painfully precise as to wheCher
1t happened on Monday or Tuesday, and thus
he often destroy ed the spirit in preserving
the letter. Colerid9e once told him to his
face that he loved fact better than truth; and
Wordsworth told me, very gravely, when
speaking OF Coleridge, that he could see no
difference between them. Let us, while we
are at this point relate a short anecdote.
which will give better idea of WORDSWORTH
want OF sympathy with humor than labored
diSqulsition.
He was dining in 1910 at the table of that
hne specimen of Christian jurlst, Thomas
Noon Iailourd, equally distinguished as a
lawyer aud dramatisJ, when one OF the COM
pany, Robert Browning, the poet, made an
allusion to Moores wit. Wordsworth, who
was very chatty when in the society of those
he liked, said, "lA ell, l don't think that / am
WITTY man by any means. Indeed. do
not I1lnk that was ever witty but once in
the whole OF my Hep OF course there was
great desire to hear this solitary witticism.
mus importuned, the old bard said, "Well-
Wen, III tell you. l was standing, one even
lng at my gate at Ryda Mount, when man
came up, and said. sir, did you see my wife
pass DyT Whereupon | replied, My good
sir, did not know till this minute that you
that he had fold all he had to saw. and the
whole company laughed hearth, at this
specimen OF Wordswortl's wit. The dear
old gentleman always took the meuiment
TINS story provoked as a genuine tribute to
his righteousness
Among his prejudices was rooted aversion
10 actors and actresses. On one occasion L
was with him at party where Miss Ellen
Tree, afterwards Mrs. Charles Kean. was
present. The hostess asked me to introduce
ner 10 tne poet. Knowing his popularity in
lnls respect, went to Wordsworth and asked
permission 10 introduce the distinguished
trdsedte:ne to him. He tried to avoid t.
saying, MY dear friend, L would rather not.
why, never spoke to an actress in the whole
course OF my HE, and 1 don't think Mrs.
wordsworth would like it, Finally. over
coming his almost religious scruples. made
tne Two acquainted; and he was so much
pleased with her that they remained in pleas
ant conversation the rest of the evening LET
me mention another proof of his intense sim
plclty. Some ears afterwards. Mr.. Mac
ready, on his way to Edinburgh, paid Words
WORM lying visit at bis We tmoleland
homestead. question If there ever lived a
more arrogant, overbearins and conceited
man, on or OH the stage, than William Charlie,
Macready. Wheel the old poet visited Lon
don, some months after, he told me that he
was very much pleased with Mr.. Macready;
Il founI him an able minded man. with a
very modest op Mon of himself; he is a bad
ACTOR, ana ne knows it. lnCeed, said Words
worm, ne as good as conf sscd that TO men
Dear Old simple-minded philosopberI To
mistake the supercillious pretepce Of seIEne-
gation, which the great actor assumes when
he receives compliment tor humility and
modesty! N
VIII mention another of his personal
sraiCs, wnlch shows how slavish reverence
1or rank permeates throughout all classes in
England. Ii Wordsworth received on Mon
day an invitation to dine with baronet. and
accepted II, ne would nslder himself perfect
~ aosplved nom Keeping the engagement, if
ne received on Tuesday another Invitation
from baron, WHICH would be overslaunhed If
on wednesday he was invited by an earl. who
III Turn would have to give way to a MARQUIS.
WHO Wouid IN his turn be put horS de combat
py duke. v hat made the whole thine
more RIDICULOUS was Wordswortl's inahilit91
to understand that he had been guilty of any
rudeness, or that the sighted party mad any
ground OF complaint.
one more anecdote, and we will sketch the
other members OF his family
One morning be called. and asked me to ac-
company hlin to an &C joining street. where
he was told a cheap tailor lived The address
he had received from his friend was So nrn-
c'Se that we found it without trouble. In we
walked. IA VIC
Is this Mr.. Jones's?" asked the poet.
a man coming forward said, +" Yes, SIR
Are you Mr.. Jones, the tailor?"
"No, SIR"
Then want to see Mr.. Jones himself-
Jones was up stairs, but he was summoned. |
WordsWortn, having made certain that he |
had now got hold of the veritable Jones then
very solemnly informed him that he was
friend OF Lord Monteagle, the Chancellor of
the EXchequer, and that he was on a visit to |
him, and that Lord Monteagles butler. who
was very reliable and decent man, had rec /
commended him to MIR. Jones as being yerv |
reilaoIe tailor who sold cheap for cash. Jones |
bowed deierentiay.
u now want you, Mr.. Jones'" continual |
the poet, Ito measure me for two snits of |
clotnes; one for Sunday, and the other for
waking about in the country, / ouobt n
nave told you, Mr. Jones, that live AFT RvdsI |
Mount, near Ambleside, Westmoreland. ana
Chat am great wanderer about the fields |
and hills there" -~'N'
Jones bowed and was about to measure /
MN when Wordsworth said:
'sStop bit; let me show Won Iorv T ,,oI1, j.,
the country. You will then see that 7 wan
the cloh hes made very loose, and the stitches
made very strong, so that may throw INV
arms about In this fashion, without splittinS
the garments" 'P-'''''7
Saying this, Wordsworth commenced to
walk up anu Down the shop, taking long !
strides, and flinging his arms about as fbouo6
ne was windmill in gale of wind. By this
time the people employed there seemed much
amused at the scene. When the old poet had
sufficiently impressed upon the tailor the ne
cesslty OF making his clothes very strong. in
order TO resist his gyrdtions, he walked M fo
tne somewhat obtuscatod Jones, and said
WIN great earnestness, You have seen how
] walk; now measure men
Jones measured him, and we departed.
Wordsworth telling the tailor to send on to
me if he wanted anything further. Next |
morning the tailor called On me and, after a
little hummlng an | having, inquired, with
much mystery and in a subdued tone of voice
if he was really to make the clothes ordered
by the old gentleman.
Certainly. Why do you ask?" was my
rejonder.
Because, sir,' said Jones, deferentially, Il
thought he was little crazy, and that you
only mad him measured to humor him."
then informed the skeptical Jones that
Ine Sentleman in question was very dstin-
S S;O w man, being no other than Mr.. viii
nam Wordsworth, the great poet.
aln sorry to add, for the reputation of all
IailoTs' that Jones was no wiser Than ba was
peiore never having heard of tbe antbor of
refer beif' till that minute ITnon nv
surance. however that the old oantIon, 10y %
no more ma than either (ones az iam was
IA a. Al Ii