The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-01-08
TENNYSON AT HOME.
Drinking, Smoking and Read
ting his own Poetry.

Nhb AAa WV SNAys
A private letter in the New York
Citizen says
We crossed TO Cowes, and took a
hy 10 Farrlngford, distant twelve
miles a glorious drive ucroSs the
Isle Of WIGHT, between ivied hedg-
os ahd past gardens of llurel and
laurustinuS. found Fnringford
wonderfully improved. The litlo
park is a gem Of gardening art
The magnificent Roman ilextSin
front Of the house are finor than any
/ saw in italy. We arrived about
three o'clock, and were ushed iRto
the trawing-room. The hOuss has
heen refurnishcd. and n great many
pictures and statues added since
was there. In minute in came
Tenny son, cordial as an old friend,
followed by his wife, as sweet as
ever, but fccbler ard older looking.
In TCnhyson h mselt could see no
particular change. We walked
through the park and garden; anu
then he and | went upon the downs
an walked for miles along the
chalk ellis above tho sea. lie then
showed me his newly acquired ter.
( ritory-among the rest great
stretch OF wheat folds bought for
hun by Enoch Arden. We dincd ut
ak, in u quaint room hung with
pictures, and then went into tho
drawing room for dessert.
Tennyson and l retired to his
study at the top Of the house, lit
ppos, and talked OF poetry. He
asked mo if / could read his "Boa-
dicea?' ! thought ! could. Read
IL and let me soc" said ho. II
would rather hear yon read il" l
answered. 1hereupon he did so,
chanting the numbering lines with
great JUNCTION. l spoke of the idyl
Of "Guinivere" us being perhaps his
finest poem, and said that l could
not read 1t aloud without my voice
failing me ut certain passages.-
why, | can read it and keep my
voice" he exclaimed, triumphant
! ly. This l doubted, and he agreed
~ try, after he Went down. But
the first thing no did was to pro-
duce magnum Of wonderful shcr-
.ry, thirty years old, which had been
ssnt him by poetic wine dealer
Such wine never tasted ut was
mcant to be drank by CleopatIa or
Chatherino of RUSSIA said Tcnny-
SON. We had two glasses apiece,
when he said, tonight yon shall
help me to drink one Of the few
bottles OF my Wuterloo--lSl5. Wo
will make night o it." The bot
tie was brought, and after another
glass all round, Tennyson took up
the Idyls Of the King"
His reading is 4 strange m0nOtoh-
Gus chant with unexpected falling
infections, which cannot now de-
scribe, but can inl.ate exactly, 1t
is very impressive in spite OF my
self l became very much excited IA
he went on. Finally, when Arthur
lorgives the Queen, Trnnysoa' 8
voice fairly broke | found tears
on my checks, ana - and Mrs
: Tennyson We're crying ON either
, side of mo. lie made an effort, and
went to the end, closing gradually
allow can you say" | asked, refer
> ing to previous conversation, "lhat
you have no surety of permanent
( fame This poem will only die
D with the language in which it Is
. written" Mrs. Tcnnyson started
ur from her couch. 1T il true,
che exclaimed, II have told Alfred
the same thing T. After that ",
had more sherry-in fact, finished
n the Waterloo bettle Jhen went uT
to the garrett TO smoke md tAlK.-
Teunyson read the "Hylass" oI
Theocritus, IN Crock his Awn
: Northern Farmer" and AnJIew
r Narvell's Coy Mistress" We par
| ted at 2 o'clock,