The Portland daily press., 1880-07-26
Gossip
About Men and Women.

London Truth tells the following: SWIM
burne has something of the cynicism of Byron,
and his effusion on the subject of the contem-
plated cenotaph in the Abbey reminds one for
cibly OF passage in Landor's Imaginary Con-
versatlons," in which Byron is covertly alluded
to. Alcibiades was not thought much of by
his fellow citizens, we are told, till one day he
went into the market place and bawled out,
"There is no God" People then began to
whisper that there was something in the lad
"Thero are things in him." quoth one, "as
strong as hell and as original as SIM" Then
Alcibiades insulted venerable phiosopher.
who had long filled post of trust to the gener-
al satisfaction, and at length his reputation
was assured. Swinburne is warm admirer
OF Browning; Browning qualified admirer of
Swi nburne The elder poet once met the
younger at railway station and shook his UNI
brella at him, exclaiming: "Ah, you foolish
boy, why Will you SO degrade such splendid
talent?" III the truth must be told. this is but
modified version of Brownings actual words
which were rather too strong for print One
day Swinburne called on Browning, who re-
ceived him courteously and bade him be seated
much marvelling the while why he carried
with him small footstool The mystery was
soon cleared up, for Swinburne laid the foot
stool at Browning's feet and sat himself there
upon. He could not arrOgate equality with a
muster of the divine art His sole ambition
was TO sit at his feet. Browning was pro-
foundly bored, and in mortal fear that some
body would call and become spectator of the
interview. He knew his visitor we'll enough
to understand that the latter would not bulge
for any intruder. 1t speaks volumes for
BroWnlngs urbanity that he conversed pa
tiently and composedly with the erratic one for
the space OF an hour; then-for humanity is
frail, and some men will not take hint-his
nerves gave way. "And now," said the host,
tGx-NrN frre s. r l.
ment and must 60" Swinburne took up his
stool and preceded him down stairs In the
hall he observed that he had special favor to
ask. Browning assured him he would do any,
thing in his power to be of service to him.
Swinburne replied: "It is that YOU would
allow me to sit at your feet for yet another five
minutes" The tone was one of imperturbabe
gravity. Browning assented, and the pair
walked up stairs again. Swinburne carefully
replaced his foot stool and sat out the full FIVE
minutes; but, to do him Justice, no longer.
Browings face, when his guest had finally de-
parted, must have been study.
OF the English son-in-law of Mr.. Leonard
w. Jerome Vanity Fair thus speaks in its
number for July 10, which also contains live
ly caricature of him: "The rising generation
of the Marlborough family is presented by
Lord Randolph Churchill. He was born one
and-thirty years ago, revolted against the
proctor and took honors at Oxford, and at
twenty-five he was, to keep him out of mis-
chief returned for the family borough of Wood
stock, for which his father, ere he was yet
Duke, had sat before him. Also, he married
very handsome American young lady, and
was thus started in life advantageously as a
younger son: He Immediately began to splash
about in an improving manner He is so bold
and so independent as to have once taken sides
in quarrel with the Prince of Wales other
wise than for the Prince; and withal he is so
clever that, by making bold and independent
speeches in the House of Commons he has
won for himself the interest as well as the at
tention of that middle-aged assembly for which
he is well-informed enough to entertain the
smallest amount of respect consistent with its
privileges. He is stanch Conservative, as
becomes his birth, yet he is neither proud nor
narrow minded; and he is so bright and cheer
full a companion and so brilliant and witty
speaker that he is justly looked upon as one of
the hopes OF the party. Withal he is stanch
friend and q faithful brother" To all of
which it may be added that he has Just ex-
torted from Mr.. Gladstone the compliment of
an elaborate reply to speech made by him on
the Irish question.
A writer OF Australian life iu the Boston
Commercial Bulletin tells how sick man was
found by his mate at the diggings murdered
and his gold gone. The culprit was found
but contrived that night to escape with the
money. which for safe keeping had been
placed in the house of detention. Nothing
could be heard of him, but few days later
came the following; Mr. Magistrate: Jem Bell
(the murdered mani was once mate of mine
He was good man. You will find his muir
derer at the head Of Dead Horse gully. Ihave
kept the gold for a reward. Kangaroo Bill
captain of the bushrangers " They found the
murderer's remains-a feshless skeleton, every
bone picked clean. He had been staked down
on the ground, with his back to an ant-hill
and left for the ants to eat him alive. A more
awful retribution can scarcely be conceived
General Garfield has always taken great in
terest in young men, and the impression he
makes upon them is always beneficent He
made a campaign speech in Cleveland several
years ago, and after it was over was kept busy
in shaking hands with the Iaudience. One
youth stood apart, uncertain whether or not to
venture up to the orator. He was observed by
the general, who stepped up to him with great
cordiality, and listened to the boys political
aspirations. He took his arm and walked
through the hall, talking meanwhile OF the
great possibilities in the future of every young
man, and holding up before the mind of the
listener high ideal of manhood. The young
man still cherishes fondly the recollection Of
that brief interview and the lessons it afforded.
If the word of the correspondent of the In.
ter-Ocean can be taken, the wife of VIM. Nor
ris, the poet, can largely discount Mrs. Lang
try and all other professional beauties. Mrs.
Morris is described as "a mysterious, Egyptian
looking woman, with great, strange, sad eyes,
an Oriental complexion, burning scarlet lips,
and the expression Of ineffable remoteness and
vagueness that one in imagination gives to the
sphinx. The young lady's face was Just one
of the inexpressibly melancholy ones that the
pre-Raph9lites adore-iust the type of young
woman coming down the golden stairs in
Burne Jones' picture in the Grosyenor Gallery
this year-and Morris married her,"