The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1879-05-14
WEDNESDA Y, MA Y Ia. 1879:
The Poet-His Habits. Likes and Di.likes.
How THE LAUREATE APPEARS IN SOCIETY AND
Our OF IT.


Our OF IT.
Mr.. Tennyson's orders in reference to the ad-
mission of visitors are OF the strictest kind. He
has more than Wordsworth's horror OF tourists,
and is equally inaccessible to neighbors. The
fact is, like other mortal men, he prefers to
choose his own company, though letter OF IN
PRODUCTION will always insure the most courteous
OF receptions. But Mr.. Tennyson can be much
more than courteous with sympathetic person
he can be the most charming of companions.
LouDglng 10 comfortable arm chair and smo-
king his pipe-he is great smoker-the Lau-
reate will talk on any aud every subject, and
equally well on all.
Generally speaking Mr.. Tenuyson's views are
those of cultivated Liberal OF the school of
Brooks, rather than of Birmingham Indeed, he
is by birth and training something OF az arlsto-
crat, with pedigree such as few members OF the
House of Lords could rival. The 'rennysons
are, perhaps, the Oldest family in Lincolnshire,
which is saying good deal. Besides being
Liberal, Mr.. Tennyson has good deal in CON-
mon with the lingo, or, rather, he understands
and sympathizes with the best features OF i'm
perialsm. He was one of the promoters of the
Crmean war, and readers of Maud will remem-
Der the passionate outburst of exultation with
which he welcomed the commencement of hos
posing, aprOpos of nothing in particular, that
should cut off Canada from the empire, it was
the Laureate who uttered the most eloquent pro-
test against SO fatal policy, In religion he may
be described as Broad Churchman-very broad
but with the keenest sense OF the beauty of
what onr German cousins would call the Chris
tian Mythus Among the deaf est of his personal
friends was Frederick Maurice, who stood god
father to one OF his boys. Apropos of friends,
remember TO have heard an uncomfortable person
declare that Arthur Hallam was but very slightly
known 10 young Tennyson. The allegation Is
really too monstrous to believe, for though it is
easy to overrate "In Memoriam," the poem GER
iainly contains some of the finest passages in the
language, and one would be keenly disappointed
to learn that it was founded on unsubstantial fc-
ton. In literature Mr.. Tennyson's tastes are
far more correct than those of many famous
poets. He sincerely loves the great masters,
Shakespeare, Milton, Scott Among Greek
poets, one gathers that Homer is his favorte
among Roman, Lucretius. For his poem on the
latter in Macmillan he received | believe, a
guinea line, or some 300 in all-not bit too
much. Albeit Dryden was paid but e250 for
10000 lines. Of course he has his literary aver
sions Perhaps of living writers the less SAID
the better; but it was certainly unfortunate that
Buwer Lytton should have talked of Mr.. Tenny-
should have retorted by calling the author of
Pelham" band box. 10 those days men were
foolish enough to say what they meant. The
Laureates irrtabty. however, is generally of
the right kinda noble rage, because the night
thing is not being done or SAID. He is no re-
specter Of persons. A lady of very high rank
indeed almost the highest was once reading
"Locksley Hall' aloud in the presence of the
author, who suddenly jumped up mpatiently and
snatched the book out of her hand, saying
THAT'S not the way to read it." He then de.
claimed the verses himself Il call that shouting
it, was the lady's comment. In other ways the
Laureate asserts his independence of social re-
straints, and no one dares gansay him.
The curious may be interested to learn that
the Laureate is something of bon vvant, as
indeed bard should be. Perhaps it would be
more correct to say that he like Macaulay) is
an excellent caterer for others, though now COM
paratiyely Indifferent to these things himself
The reader who shall taste the Laureate's wine
will be fortunate indeed. am not referring to
the official sack" SO much as to some marvellous
AmontiliadO, the price of which l am really
afraid to state to unbelieving generation
Probably no such gift was ever made since Lord
Nelson received lin 1900 dozen bottles of the
vintage OF 1925 .a
Mr.. Tennyson is of course power in society
from the poet) is SO little heard of. Having
nothing to ask for aud having declined all favors
that the Crown could bestow, he can with good
grace ask something for others or plead favorite
cause. His one Intervention, however, IN the
political history OF his time was unsuccessful 1t
Is understood that both Mr.. Tennyson and Mr.
Carlyle spoke most earnestly to the late chief of
the Opposition and urged him to pause before
definitely committing the English nation to the
democratic platform. But, as was finally OBJ
served, Poetry and Philosophy pleaded in vain
at the feet of Ambition. Alfred Tennyson is so
great name in English literature that one NAV
be permitted to observe in all good humor that
the poet is not necessarily always a prophet
For one thing, MRS. LocEsey" is alive at the
present day and is mated with no clown" but
with most honest, honorable aud cultured
country gentleman. Mrs. Locksley does not
weep during the small hours of the night-as far
as one can judge from fresh and rosy looks in the
day time
Possibly Mr.. Tennyson would do we'll to study
more seriously some of the great French masters
French critics contemptuously speak of the
works of the most modern English poets as raw
meat" and undoubtedly they would often be
better for little careful dressing. The Lau-
Ieate has, unfortunately, prejudice against
French literature. Every one remembers the
pOisOuOuo bOuc1 StOieu HOin rTdQce, as ap-
piled to Mr.. Swineburne's verces ; though, by
the way, MIR. Swineburne's reiolnder about
homemade treaele" is not so well known as it
deserves to be. The one French writer Mr.
Tennyson loves is Victor Hugo Lamartine he
thinks feeble. and Bazac positively puts him out
or temper.
10 connection with men and things French,
one may be allowed to recall the old story of two
distinguished Britons in the good city of Paris
The name OF one was Thackeray that of the
other Iennyson. They pot up at the same hotel
and were on terms of personal friendship One
day Thackeray went out, leavingj Tennyson in
his sitting-room. Anxious for the latter COM
fort. for it was winter, me laissez pas sortir lie
feu," quoth Thackeray in his own detestable
Erench, to the servant in attendance After
two hours stroll he returned to find the whole
hotel in conmotion, The landlord, looking De-
remptory notices to quit, informed Thaekeray
that the nadman" was growing dangerous, aud
insisted on being let out He must send to the
Commssary of Police without further delay
me lalssez pas sortir lie fou'' was the impression
bis language had conveyed to the servant !
London Truth.
Some Of our ploddng readers may like to pe-
ruse the following curious variations of the WELL
known line from Gray's "Elegy," "The plough.
man homeward plods his weary way:"
The weary ploughman homeward plods his way.
The weary ploughman plods his homeward way.
The homeward plOnghman plods his weary way.
INa hAwDA rIwNln