Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-07
CARLYLE AND TENNYSON.
Some Interesting Personal Facts
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Some Interesting Personal Facts
About the Philosopher and Poet
London Correspondence OF the Boston Post.
Carlyle goes on the even and rather mo-
rose tenor Of his way in the very common
place and unpictureSque suburb Of Chelsea.
He has lived for many years in very
plain house, on a small side street, called
Cheyne Walk, the interior Of his home be
ING plain to almost dreaIinesS. Since his
wffs's death his accomplished niece, Mrs.
Mary Carlyle Aiken, has looked after the
grim old philosophers creature comforts
which are few, for he lives with Putnam
like, not to say Spartan simplicity. have
often seen him takiLg his regular Alter
noon walk through the Chelsea streets,
sometimes with a friend like Eroude,
Ruskin, or our own cOuntryman, MOncure
Conway, but usually alone, with a very
old felt hat askew on his thick, stubby gray
head; and a more gloomy, UnsOcial, cyni-
cal ii man Is seldom to be seen. No one
could pass him without taking note Of him;
his face would attract the attention Of a
street urchin, so singularly expressive Of d
wholly unusual character is il. He is very
sallow and hollOw-cheeked; his eyes, dull
and CLASSY, are deep sunk in their
sockets; he wears a rough, short, tangled
beard and mOustache, white, all but here
and there a stray streak Of brown, his form
is bent, and he stalks on in the glOOmiest
apparent Indifference 20 the world about
him. At hOmd heOccUpies haTumscarum
study at the top of the house most Of the
day; Of this, sometimes, when clOseted
with a friend, he makes 4 beer garden,
with his hurried pacing Of the floor and his
bitter and voluble hOmilies about the lit
tleness Of mankind. Carlyle was right to
decline to be gaZetted as a Grand Com
mander Of the Bath; it would be a very
incOngruOus ornament for such as lie, des-
pising society as he does, and knowing
well that he needs no superficial gliding to
his golden fame.
The poet laureate is By no means so in
different to the comforts and elegancies of
this life as the hermit Of Cheyne Walk.
He lives in greatt luxury, in a POLITICALLY
picturesque country mansion, rich in its
architecture, and lavish and tasteful in its
adornments and knick-knacks. There are
about it terraces and fountains, greener-
les and flower paTterres, avenues and
lawns: il is the mansion Of rich man Of
high taste and culture. Here for the most
part, both summer and winter, the most
eminent Of England's poets passes hisfime.
1t is rarely that he appears in the London
streets, and more rarely that his presence
is obtained in the hospitable houses Of the
West End. But l have caught occasional
glimpses Of him in the "city" and the
book store quarter of PaternOster Row.
He is tall, gauDt, shaggy-haired, with a
ragsed-loOking beard and long, struggling
locks, Of light brown, very much tinged
with gray. He wore a big SLOUGH hat and
cloak when last saw him, and were it not
for a pair Of deep, large, dreamy eyes, there
would be nothing in the least poetic in his
appearance. Indeed, he is almost habby to
the outward eve; his manner shy, and his
apparent endeavOr is to pass hither and
thither quite unnOticed. l hear that he is
greatly bored by people, in large, degree
Americans, l am sorTy to say, who 60
down to the country house and insist on
seeing him, much as they would Tom
Thumb or the crown jewels. He gets
bushels Of letters begging for autographs,
which he never by any chance answers;
and is said to have remarked that enough
stamps were enclosed in these to give him
a practical ranking privilege. Those who,
few in number, are received at the poets
Preside as his friends,speak in glowing terms
of his kindly and genial hospitality, and
his sometimes almost Childlike playful
ness. He is full of anecdOte, and likes to
talk of his own literary experiences. His
library is said to be a model Of cOziness
and elegant taste, and his gardens, which
he loves are described as beautiful and well
kept.