The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-03-23
A tisit to I'cnrys.lss.

/ eeefs1 Whh ave. t1tAttt ~
took me up this study .yhere he sat snlo-
king and talkhg in tho frankest manner.
Among other hings, he told me of the peoH
pie who waylafl him, the incidents being
sometimes ver,amusing. Two men for ex-
ample, having .pt into his garden separate.
m, one climbed tree at the approach of The
other. The othr, seeing hini, called out
softly, II twig Y and Immediately climbed
another tree. Asd yet he declared that nd
man was more accessible than he to any onc
who had any godl reason for wishing to
see him, or had my introduction to him,
So ], for Que, certiinly found It, the hospiI
talities of Faringhrd having been offered tu
me beyond my willingness to accept them
1t had been stormy evening, and ,henight
was of fpitcAy darlaess when | started out
against kind invitations toI remain, to go
TO the "Albion' inn neasSby. Tcnnyson
insisted on showing me a nearer way, but
amidst the darkiess got off his BEARINGS.
Bidding me walk close behind him, We
went forward through the mud, when sud-
denly 1 found myself precipitatcd some
eight or ten feet downward. Sitting In
the mud, called oA the poet to pause , hut
1t was too late; he was speedily sN.ted be.
side me. This was seeing the Laureate of
England in a new light, or, rather, hearing
him under a new darkness. Covered with
mud, cropping about in the darkness, he i'm
proved the odd occasion with such an in
cessant run of,witticisms and anecdotes that
had to cancihae that VIC md reached n
condition which hAd discovered treasure Of
fun and humor in Vim before unsuspected.
His deep bass voice 9lme through the con-
genial darkness ka)mirthful ,iiuuSer. not
all who ever sinati s...s, s..s AZ 5sass Of
around him, and to Remind him of whole
literature oil such emergencies
Vexation was ut least not among the
shadows that encompassed U.S. though for a
time we were wandering down in a muddy
field, with no object, not even the sky yisi,
bic. THAT this should have happened
after dinner ~ he exclaimed. ADO not men.
tion this to the temperance folk Tenny-
sons love of fun, bis wealth of witty stories,
were from the first surprise to me. But
indeed, he is personally very different in
every way from the man expected to see
Tall, OF dark complexion, with deep and
blunt voice ard manner. almost Quaker.likc
in his plainnss, fired OF the homeiest Saxon
words he seemed to be the last person one
would have picked out as the delicate and
superartistic idylist In conversation he |
never rose nto any thing like the heroic |
strain, eNce1t when speaking of England. |
His pride u his country amounts to passion |
He had alsD keen interest in all scientific |
subjects, Il which he had evidently read
great deal He spoke much cf the philosoph.
ical questions of the day, also, his interest
in them which has led to the formation
of the meetings for discussion between Hux-
lev, Tyrdall, DIR. Manning, James Martineau
himself and Others. Next morning 1t was
found hat Mrs. Tennyson had directed the
garde'er to make some Improvements at
that ,oint which had not been completed.
A wax was in existence there however, at
the lose Of the next day, to which was
gvn name commemorative of the catas-
tro'he, which was happily without any un-
PLEASANT results.
The next morning was brilliant, and the
pet took me on walk around the manor
q which he is lord, the advantages of the
iosltion being that he can have his sheep
craze on the common, which otherwise
belongs as much to the public as to himself.
! he house is modest and cheerful, surroun.
led by beautiful trees with, on one side, A
hicket of wild bushes and pines, very "a.
'orablc to the pursuers already mentioned.
The window of his study opens on a mag
iiiccnt sea view. The quiet home where
'ennyson dwells, surrounded by a charming
ousehold, is well portrayed in his invita-.
ion to the Rev. f. ID. Maurice:
where, far from smoke aud noise OF town,
l watch the twilight falling brown
All around careless ordered garden,
Close to the ridge OF a noble down.
"You'll have no scandal while you dine,
But honest talk and wholesome wine,
And only hear the mngpie gossip
Garrulous under a roof OF pine
For groves of pine on either hand
To break the'bast of winter, stand
Aud further on the hoary channel
Iumbles breaker on chalk aud sand''
Tic poet has some times received as well N
sent out pooticaI infi.at,.,s.. ,r-ys. ~ rIlS<
ON Walter Savage Landor;
"I cntreat you, Alfred Tennyson,
Come aud share my hauuch OF yenison.
have too, bin of clarct.
Good, but better when you share II. ,
Though Ills only small bin. ,,
There's n stock of IL within,
Aud, as sure as I'm rhymer,
Hall butt OF Rudcshelmer. 4
Come: among the sons OF men is none 7
Welcomer than Alfred Tennyson?" !
When have seen the Laureate in Lon
on he has always seemed, in dress, manner, I
nd expression, to be out of place, as a
lid wood bird might be alighting for a
lomcnt in Hyde Park, but dreaming of the
,rest whose glooms its wings was meant to
ght up lie is the natural companion of |,
ie clouds, the downs, and the breaking
hvcs, with the far of yistas from which +,
rev bear him well understood messages.
nd as | parted from him on the cliff, to ,
end my way to London again, turned to
,oked upon him as he was gazing out upon ,.
ie sea, and the cliff seemed his appropriate ',
celestial. He stands in my memory as the :
rospcro of an enchanted isle.-M. ID. Cox
AT IN Hdrper's Magazine for March. .