Daily Kennebec journal., 1878-09-24
1aiIu Nnnsbrt sonrnal.
NILTON'S BOYH00D.

He was sent at an early age to st. Paul
school. which stood then, rs now, IN The
rear of the great cathedral, few step
distant from his fathers house; and III
these daily walks it is quite probable that
the school boy sometimes saw Shakespeare
and Ben johnson on their way to those
famous "wit combats" at the Mermaid
tavern in Bread street. AT school Milton
studied Latin, Greek and Hebrew. and
finally added Italian to the ordinary stud
les. in all OF which he excelled.
have said that the home influences OF
his childhood were of gloomy kind. but
there was one bright and cheerful element
In the solemn household in Bread street.
Milton's father loved music; he bad com
posed great DEAL for that day, and was
y skilliul performer on the organ and
bass-viol. Young Milton learned them
of his father. and the two passed many
happy hours in the "sweet harmonies uf
sound" which Milton loved all his lite.
Above the scrivener's shop was room
devoted 10 various domestic uses: there
the father and son shared their music. aud
perhaps to this tunetul side of his boy hood
he owed his first impulses to write verses.
He must have begun very young, but his
real fame came Late in life.
In 1925 he was sent to Cambridge Uni
versity, where his extreme beau Y oi ptr-
son attracted immediate attention. and The
students dubbed him ''the LADY, lie
must have been marvelously handsome at
this time. He never lost IA certain beauty
both OF feature aud expression, but in his
early years he was more ike II picture ol
beautiful, gentle youth, than its reality
He was tall and finely made, though slen'
der. with fair complexi regularity oI
feature, and light brown hair parted in The
centre aud falling off to his shoul lers, ac-
cording to the fashion OF the day. Hi-
dress was simple, OF Ulack velvet with the
load linen collar. and upturned wrist
bands of the period. He was soon known
at college by his verses. Or his shorl
pieces written at this time, Que was or
Shakespeare. with whose works, then re.
Gently published in book form. he was
very familiar. Among his other pieces
were: "At Solemn Music" 'On the
Morning of Christs Nativity etc all
showing the extreme delicacy and refine
meut OF Millions mind.
Indeed he is a striking figure when we
look at the University oi those days
Most Of the students led rollicking, law.
less, self-indulgent lives. Milton. with
his gentle, pensive countenance, his grave
demeanor, and his growing genius. seems
to stand apart; does he notp Ludlow
Castle. the residence of the Earl OF Bridge.
water. was near by, and not only was the
family of the Earl pleasant one, but
Henry Lawey, the musician, taught mu-
sic In the household, and came frequent
ly rs guest to Milrons house. On one
such occasion he told them OF an accident
which hsd happened to the young people
0fthe Esrls family while passing through
Hay wood forest on their way home, Lady
Alice and her brother were benighted, and
the young lady was for some time lost in
the wood. This incident suggested to
Milton bis masque of Comus. He wrote
the poetry. Lawes composed the music,
and the Earl had it reformed at the castle,
the young people themselves taking part.
Mrs. Lille, in October Vide AWake.