New-York tribune., 1880-02-20

sonthev nresents the most conspicuous example OF
supreme devotion TO the pursuits OF literature. Is
home was in the library. surrounded Dy the lrehuS
books which he cherished with almost lovers pas
sion his favorte companion was the pen, so largely
enriched with the fruits of learned lore; ana us
most congenia recreation was the study OF the
proof sheets, they came reeking from the PRESS
after the tolls Of compositions
Southey was born in Bristol, where his father was
n linen-draper of credit aud renown," though not
of eminent success in business. HIS birth took place
on the 10Th Of August, 1774, when ho was welcomed
into the world as great red creature covered with
rolls of fatn whom his mother thought she should
never be able TO love. The ucly boy, however,
soon proved an attractive child with curly har ana
sensitive feelings, and became not only his mothers
darling but gained the good graces OF wealtny
maiden aunt, who IN freak of imperous womahIy
fancy half adopted the little youngster for her own
This aunt was n character in her way, OF an erratc
disuosition. with O violent and capricious temper,
living in world of fashion, and with some remains
of personal beauty. She took the boy with her to
Bath which she had selected as place of residence,
as its climate was favorable to the preservation
of her health and good looks and afforded distln-
cuished society for u lady of easy but not TOO
ample means. Miss Tyler-for that was the name
of the ancient maiden--was patron OF trc drama'
and Bath enjoyed the luxury of charming theatre.
Her first step was TO purchase coy OF Kousseaus
"Emiiius." at that time the new gospel OF educa-
ton. in order that Nature might have her perfect
work with boy in pethcoats. The little victim
was subjected to all the whims and follles OF MS
eccentric aunt He had no companions play;
and was carefully protected from the noise and dirt,
in which the child finds a celestial beatitude The
aunt when not prepared for company, meandered
about the house airing her faded beauty i'll the
most faded and futtering of costumes But she
was spotless in her rags making q mortal battle
with dust the main business of her life Her ac-
ouantances were divided into the clean and the
uneean and If one Of the latter and most numerous
class took seat in the best room, the infected CHAIR
was removed to the garden 10 he AIRED. 10 her
favorites she was gracious and high bred, regallng
them with her "reminiscences of great people she had
known and her views on taste, Shakespeare aud
the musical boxes" She invented clean and dainty
amusements for Robert. who was also permitted TO
beguile the hours in the garden. and make friends
with the flowers and butterflies. The little fellow
had now grown into the lean, lank greyhound of
his after-life; his long legs wanted stirring; and
young ambitious dreams had already begun to work
In his head. ii would gladly leave the most luxuri-
Gus cage for the enjoyment of freedom, and when at
six be returned to hisfatheIs house. his delight knew
no bounds He was now sent to school IN
village few miles from Bristol, much
TO the grief of his mother, who looked
upon the distance as no less cruel than
separation by the breadth of the Atlantic The soli-
tary lad found the school gloomy and forbldding~
The old mansion had once known better days, but
WAS now in ruins The master was in keeping with
the premises he too was piece of worthy old hui
manity. fallen into decay but found comfort III es-
gaping from the memory of happier days. by con-
templating the order and the motions of the stars.
in. forl,
treat. when he was again brought home, but with
little gain from his schooling in the knowledge of
book-lore. He had, however, formed love Of lit
erature after his own fashion. His first nfatuaton
was for the famous series of NewberrieS' siX-penny
books for children, resplendent with gilt paper and
wonderful pictures. But the great charm for his
boyish fancy was the actors and playwrights who
catered for the amusement OF the pieasure-seekers
of Bath His aunt was acquainted with many OF
the celebrated players and authors of the day
Robert did not fal to perceive, that honored as
were both classes. the authors held the highest
place in her esteem and his first dreams of literary
fame were thus connected with the drama. lie
even made an attempt, with the help OF young
companion to fit up theatre for puppets, such as
would have been the pride even Of Wilhelm Mester.
But fate had already decided that he was to be
poet, and not player. He dreamed of Tasso. and
mer' and Mckles +" Lusad" were soon added to
his epic cycle. He also made acquaintance with Sir
Philip Siduey's Arcadia" He had read Arabian
and mock Arabian tales, had spent the pocket
money of many weeks in the purchase OF a jose
phus and had picked up something OF Greek and
Roman history from Goldsmith. With such an out
ft OF poetry and erudtiOn, the boy at twelve years
found it quite natural thing that he should become
an epic poet " Arcadia" was the title OF his hrst
dream-poem: il was to be engraftcd upon the " Or
lando Furioso" with a new hero, and in new
scene this dated from his ninth or tenth year. and
some verses were actually composed. Next
came the epic of the Trojan Brutus and that Of King
Richard Ill which were soon laid aside, but several
folio sheets of an "Egbert" were completed. Heroic
letters translatiOns from Latin poetry, satres, de-
scriptiye and moral pieces, and poetic dialogue
on the Trojan war followed in rapid succession.
Upon looking back upon these attempts, Southey
notices their defects in plan and construction. and
remarks: 1t was long before L acquired this
nower-not fairly indeed till was about five or SIX
and thirty and it was gained by practice. IN the
course of which learned to perceive wherein was
deficient"
In the Spring Of 1873, Southey, who was now IN
his fourteenth year. and tall, gaunt boy, with
high. poised head brown curling hair, bright hazel
eyes and an expression of ardor and energy about
the Inns and chin entered Westminster School,
where he remained four years. During this period
little is known of his career; an autobiography
which he had commenced comes to an end ana
none of his letters for this time remain Butltls
certain that they years of ardor and tolL and
contributed much to form his intellect and eharac-
ter The highest scholarship he never attained in
any foreign tongue. except perhaps in Spanish and
Portuguese. He could never learn language in
regular fashion; the best grammar for him was al
WAYS the shortest his knowledge OF Greek was
slight. and the little he learned at Westminster he
mostly forgot at Oxford.
Upon entering the university OF Oxford in 1892,
southey was in a state. as SwodenbOrg calls it, of
hnart full OF nnetrX.