Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-01-22
TENNYSON AT HOME
Drinking, Smoking and Reading Has
own Poetry.


A private letter to the Citizen says
eve crossed to Coves, and took fly to
Farringford, distant twelve miles; glorious
drive across the Isle of Wight, between ivied
hedges aud past gardens of laurel and lau-
rustines. found Farriugford wonderfully
improved. The little park is gem Of gar
dening art. The magnificent Roman iIexes
in front of the house are finer than any l
saw in Italy. We arrived about o'clock,
and we're ushered into the drawing room.
The house has been refurnished, and great
many pictures and statues added since was
there. In minute in came Tcnnyson, cor
dial as an old friend, followed by his wife,
as sweet as ever, but feebler and older look
ing. In TennysOn himself could see 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 above the sea. He showed me
his newly acquired territory-among the rest
a great stretch of wheat fields bought for
him by Enoch Arden. We dined at six, in
quaint room hung with pictures, and then
went into the drawing room for dessert.
''Tennyson and I retired to his study at
the top Of the house, lit pipes, and talked
Of poetry. He asked me if | could read his
"Beadicea" l thought l could. Read it
and let me see. said he. ] would rather
hear you read it, / answered Thereupon
he did so, chanting the numbering lines with
great JUNCTION. spokeo the idyl Of 'Gui-
nivere as being perhaps his finest poem,
1 and said that | could not read it aloud with
out my voice failing me at certain passages.
| Why, / can read it and keep my voice, he
exclaimed, triumphantly. This / doubted,
and he agreed to try, after We went down.
But the first thing he did was TO produce a
mapnum of wonderful sherry, thirty years
old, which had been sent him by poetic
wine dealer. Such wine | never tasted. 1t
was meant to be drank by Cleopatra or
/ Catharine of Russia, said Tennyson. We
had two glasses apiece, when be said, To
night you shall help me drink one Of the
few bottles of my Waterloo-I8l5. We
will make night Of it. The bottle was
brought, and after another glass all round
Tennyson took up the 'Idyl of the King.
''His reading is strange monotonous
chant, with unexpected falling infections,
which cannot describe, but can initiate ex-
aetly. 1t is very impressive; in spite of my
! SELF became very much excited as he went
on. Finally, when Arthur forgives the
Queen. Tennyson's voice fairly broke.
found tears on my cheeks. and-and Mrs.
Tennyson were crying on either side of me,
He made an effort, and went or to the end,
closing grandly How can you say, ask,
ed treferring to previons conversationl,
that you have no surety Of permanent fame!
| This poam will only die With the language
in which it is written Mrs Tenuysor
started up from her couch. 1t is true,
sheexelaimed, L have told Alfred the SAINT
thing!' After that we had more Eherry-iI
fact, finished the Waterloo bottle; then wen
up to the garret to smoke and talk. Ten
nyson read the 'Hylas' of Theocritus, il
Greek; bis own Northern Farmer anC
Andrew MarveIrs Coy Mistress. w
parted at two o'clock.