The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1869-01-17

Tenpyson' ! home. life Is thus SPOKEN OF -
IL ,,l....rt ~oe.;, of q privAto letter:

Tennyson's home-life 10 thus spoken OF -
The pleasant gossip Of > private letter:
iva crossed TO Cowes, and took . q! 70
F.rr;nsford. distant twelve miles, gIorious
drive across the Isle Of Wight, bstvse. ivisd
hedges and past gardens Of laurel ana iau-
raatinaa. | found Frrringford wonderfully
improved; the little park il gem OF garden.
IL. ~ Tba magnificent Roman ilexes, in
frnnt of the house, arc finer than any l saw
| in Italy. We asvivsd shout shrss o'clock,
1 and were ushered into the drawing room.
! The house had been refasnished, and great
many pictures and statues added since l
was there Ia . minute in came Teeeysoo,
cordial q m old friend, followed By his wife,
40 sweet q ever, but feebler and older look
| ing. In Tennyson himself could SEQ no
| particular change. We walked through the
park and garden, then he and went up on
the downs, and walked for miles along the
chalk cliffs shove the sea. He showed me
oil his newly acquired territory -amoDgst the
rest great stretch Of wheat Fields, bought
for him by 'Enoch Arden We dined At SIX
| in quaint Dom hung with pictures, and
then ven. into the drawing room for dessert.
Tennyson and retired to bis study, st the
ltop Of the house, lit pipes and talked Of poe.
| try. He asked me if could read his 'Boa>
diceas' thought could. Read it. and
| let me see, aaid lia. Il would rather hear
YOU read IL answered. Thereucon he did
40, chanting the numbering lines with great
| u lciion.
II spoke ofthe idyl Of Guinivere, as being
perhaps, his finest poem, and said that
could not read it aloud without ny voice
failing me At certain pAsaaess." MY, lean
read i and keep my vpiea; he exclaimed tri-
umphantIy. This doubted, and he agreed
to try, after 10 went down. But the first
thing be did was to produce . magnum OF
wonderful sherry, thirty yesfscid, which had
been sent him by poetic wine-dealer. such
wine | never tasted. 1t Was meant to be
drunk BY Cleopatra or Catherine Of Russia, ;
said Tennyson. We hAd two gtassee apiece,
whsn be mid, Tonight you shAll Aslp No
1876. We will make anight Off, The
all round, Tennyson took up the 'Idyls Of the
King His reading Is strange monotonous
chant, with unexpected falling infections
which connot describe, but can initiate ex-
sctly. II is very impressive; in spite Of my
self became very much sexoitedss - wenl
on. Finally, wbes ArtAuF forgive to Qasea
Tennyson's voice fairly broke. found tears
on my cheeks and-, and Mrs. Tennyson were
crying on either side Of me. He'made An ef-
fort, and went on to the end, closing grand
liy How can you say asked referring to
previous eonyersation) J, that you have no
surety II pefmasent lame7 This poem will
only die with the language in which it ID
written. Mrs. Iennyson started mp from her
couch. 1T is true ] abe. exclaimed:
have told Alfred The ssns thingf AFTER that
we had more sherry-in fact, finished the
Waterloo bottle; then went up to the garrett
to smoke and talk. Tennyson read the Hy-
las OF Theocritus, in Greek his own North
ern Farmer and Andrew Malvell's Coy
Mistress. We parted at 2 clock.
A CITIZEN of Washington, whom We will
call Mr.. r., once Sa.g q the door Of the
British Minister, and telling the servant that
he had important business with the Minister
was shown into an ante-room, where be Wal
soon joined BY that official, when the follow.
| ing dialogue took place MAY ask, sir
what business is that you have with me7"
Certainly, sir; it is this: 10 psssing your
house, learned that you have whist pAftt
here tonight, and, q am remarkably fond
Of the game, thought would jnss step in
and see Whist ars'trunps" Tho sublime i'm
prudence of the thing SO amused the minister
that he invited the intruder into the room
where the guests wcro >s.e..hlAxl. and intro
duced him 80 the most .impudent man il
America,