New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-05-04
1.vs CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN AND TEN
NYSON

Hans Christian Anderson, the novelist, has
rritten an account OF recent interview he had with
the Poet Laureate. lie says;
"That was a melancholy meeting between me and the
great English poet in mis- quiet, unpretendng home on
the Isle of Wight. Fifteen years before had visited
him in company with Charles Dickens Then we were IN
the best OF humor, Dckens's sparkling VIC carrying
away with il not only poor me- who have always had
weakness for huuor but even the grave IennysOn VINO
looks If cost him labor to smile AT that time
TenuysOn fine looking man, WIN Dlaek mar ana
beard. and his face was scarcely IurrOwed thought
rad greatly changed in those fifteen years, but he had
evidently grown old much faster As we shook hands
looked each others eyes, and ms hed Win tedr5
Why don't know exactly SUPPOSE II was tfion Ie
words he uttered were:
And this time you come alone. Mr.. Andersen. Do
you remember the theatrical performance ht Galslif
''Why should notl The play was London AssnI-
anes and the en is Poa and "s AMONG the audience
were Charles Reade Delane, and others whose names
have since become famous
"sWhat a time we had 2 exclaimed Tennyson
""Yes,' replied; aud do YOU remember getting us
out bed at four in the morning 30 That We might 10
with YOU to the Isle OF WightP -.
'Of course he did. aud he made me walk with him
through the garden he had done 10 years before.
g There was the tablet TO the memory of young Hal
lam. IL looked somewhat DINNER tidn IN lsoS out IL
had been surrounded in the most tslAeuc manner WIN
the finest growth OF IVY. .,.,,.,,, n
TO tell the truth, Il IT, he replied. Ivy needs no
nursing 1t neither cold nor heat IL Il tic plant
=" But what about Iaurelr rcloned
"'Laurel wreath', he said playiny, look wen
CHI
This was golden saying. How many writers nave
seen wreathed III laurel aud how soon II became dry
I'VE returned TO Tennyson's library Tie showed me
the manuscript Of first volume OF poems. opened
tho first page, where Caribel low yeth To me there
this quiet lttle poem sometung lnucscIipaoiy
charming The small country graveyard Is described IN
a Few lines with such cOnsumnate aOHty that you
actually believe yourself TO DC mere ana ~hle you IL
hale the fragrant breeze famed by the branches oil the
you seem to hear as coming tfGm lar away
the ancient melody which VIII be sure TO NOfate III
your when yOu read Clari0el provided you nave
poctical vein in your bosom .
"'Tell about dear Scandinavia said Tennyson to
".when left the Sound replied laughing, 1T was
Now he rejoned that Kattegat of yours Is hOrrl-
bly, destructive OF shipping craft Dut take II TO DC the
most interesting sea III Europe. Old Knnneguy the
ma-eating giant hurried III II night of the shores
of Jutaud. kattegat, the young hero, 0yerpowered
him but when he himself died OF broken heart on &C,
cOupt fair Segrids fathessness he sWOre ne WOuld
never be at rest until the whole Of Jutland buried
III the blue waters OF the sea- ana so ms spirit storms
and raves almost necessarily, giving the seapaners
sublime subjects travellers the selsickuess' and marine
insurers the headache
"Ihe transition from the weird and sublime to the
laughable Sudden and unexpected that we b0th
burst into hearty merIlment BuI TINS Is the PECULIARLY
of TennysOns gensihat he will suddenly contrast The
grandest flights OF his imagination with something drOil
and Iudcrous which will starte you at first, but ulti-
mateIv MI you with all the more admiration for HIM
He asked me about NY last "ltIngs' poinleu 10
my eyes, ana exclaimed:
How can be expected 10 dc mueh when my lights
threaten every moment TO 90 outP
TeunysOn suggested an amanuensis.
"'No, no., replied; Il cannot dictate original mat
| q loss Ia account Tor the faculty OF some
writer's TO do NJ Theirs told the other day that
he dictated whole Of his History OF the Consulate
and the Empire" 1 amazed at tins. |, for one
must be alone when write The presence of secretary
would disturb mo- Did you ever dictate any OF your
WOrRsl'
''No, no. he replied eagerly; Il think like Won.
Original composition through another person seems to
me Impossible. An thc copy ever 5tnI " 'nc printer
was written win lDJ c" ~" ".'4'
When l left him he said 10 me:
NV old friend. both OF Us are past the meridian or
ne but believe there Is st great deal OF work IN
us You have eclpsed the splendid Imagery OF the
ARABIAN Nights
81 interrupted with dcprecatug gesture, saying:
And you nave verified what Macaulay wrote about
your splendid langdagc-ihat EIglish, IN the rlght
hands can sound melUdlJus the tongues OF Italy
Or SPAIN D., ,,
1--WE part, then, with compliments; SAID Iennyson
1t IL good that bO;h OF us axe sincere
am sure was"