The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-03-10
MONDAY MORNING. MARCH 10.

he is by birth and training something OF an
aristocrat, with pedigree such as lew mem
bsrs of the House of Lords could rival. The
Tennysons are, perhaps, the Oldest family in
Lincolnshire, which IS saying gooo deal.
Besides being Liberal, Mr.. TenDyson has a
good deal in common with the lingo, or rather
he understands and sympsthizes with the best
features Of imperialism. He was one of the
promoters or the Crimes n war, and readers OF
Maud will re ne mber the passionate outbursts
Of exultation with which he welcomed the COM
mencement of hostilites. Again, when the
Times was cody proposing, apropos OF nothing
In particular, that we should cut on Canaoa
from the empire, it was the laureate VINO ut,
tered the most eloquent protest against 80 fatal
q policy 10 religion he may be described as
Bfoad Churchm an-very broad-but with the
keenest sense of the beauty of what our German
cousins would call the Christian Mythus
Among the dearest of his personal friends was
Frederick Maurice, who stood godfather to one
of his boys. ADropos of friends, remember
to have heard an uncomfortable person declare
that Arthur Hsllsm was but very slightly
known to young Tenuyson. The allegation is
really too monstrous to believe, for though 1t is
easy to overrate In Memoriam, thet poem GER
tainly contains some of the finest passages IN
the language and one would be Beenly dissp-
pointed 10 learn that it was founded on unsuo-
stsDtial fiction In lteratue Mr.. Tennyson's
famous poets. He sincerely loves the
great masters, Shakespeare, Milton, Scott.
Among Greek poets, one gathers that
Homer is his favorite; among Roman,
Lucretios. For his poem on the latter in
Macmillan he received, believe, guinea
line, or some three hundred in all-DOt bit
too much. Albei,, Dry den was paid bat $3.50
for 10000 lines. OF course, he has his literary
averslons. Perhaps of living writers the less
said the better but it was certainly unfortu-
nate that Bu,wer Lytton should have talked OF
Mr.. Teupysoh's being pensioned, and th't Mr.
Tennyson should have retorIed by calling the
author of "Pelham" band-box. 10 those
days men were foolish enough to say what they
meant. The Laure4 tes irritability, however,
is generally of the right kind "a noble rage, be-
cause the right thing is not being done or said.
He is no respecter of persous. A lady of very
high rank indeed (slmost the highesO was once
reading "Locksley Half' aloud in the presence
of the author, who suddenly jumped up impa.
tiently and snatched the book out of her hand,
saying, !" That's not the way to read it," He
then acclaimed the verses himself. II call
that shouting H." was the lady's comment. In
Other ways the lauriate asserts his indepen-
dence of social restraints, and no one dsres
gaiDsay him.
The curious may be interested to learn that
the laureate is something of bon vivant, as
indeed a bard should be. Perhaps 1t would be
more correct to say that he (ike Macanlay is
an excellent caterer for others, though now
comparatively Indifferent to these things him.
self. The reader who shall taste the laureate's
wine will be fortunate indeed. 1 am not refer.
ring to The official sack" so much as to some
marvellous Amontilado, the price of which
am really afraid to state to an unbelieving gen.
GRAFTON. Probably no such gift was ever made
since Lord Nelson received I'm 1900 dozen
bottles of the vintage of 1926.
Mr.. TenDys0n is, OF course, power 10 Soci.
ETY., not the less so because the man, so dis
tinguIshed from the poet, is SO little heard Of
Having nothing to ask for, and having declined
all fAvors that the Crown could brstow, 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.. renpyson and Mr. Carlyle spoke mos
earnestly to the late chief of the Opposition
and urged him to pause before definitely com
hitting the Eoglish nation to the democratl,
platform But. as was finely observed, Poetry
end Philosophy pleaded in vain at the feet O
Ambition. Alfred Tennyson is SO great
name IN English Literature that one may bt
permitted to observe in all good humor thai
the poet is not niece ssarily always a prophet
For one thing, Mrs. Locksley is alive az the
present day aud is mated With no clown, bu,
with most honest, honorable AID cultured
country gentlemen. Mrs. Locksley DOS no
weep during the SIN all hours of the nigh AS
far as one Can Judge from fresh and rosy looks
IN The Daytime.
Possibly Mr. Tennyson would do we'll tt
study more seriously some of the great French
masters. French critics conte On ptnou.ly speaE
OF the works OF most modern Eoglish poets al
raw meat" and undoubtedly they would oftei
be better for a little careful dressing. The lau
reste has, unfortunately, q prejudice agains
French literature. Every one remembers th,
poisonous honey stolen from Frauce'', as an
Piled to Mr.. Swinburne's verses; thous b, D,
the way, Mr. Swbborne's rejoinder about tn
homemade treacle" is not SO we'll known a
It deserves to be. The one French writer Mr.
Tennyson loves Is Victor Hugo; Lamatine b,
thinks feeble, and Balzac positively nuts hin
ont Of temper London Truth.