Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-02-07
kIfred Tenny.on and His Family.

London Correspondence San Francisco Chronicle. ]
IL II ne ma hau been 1onder OF and more familiar
trimmer, heater and younger than be does now
But dare say that he Is satisfied with Alfred
1ennySon just as he is, for dissatisfaction Is
Gle OF his conspicuous traits. He is a charming
p"et, but by no means a charming man. unless
t. very small circle OF his intimates and ad-
L ircTS.
lie belongs to tuneful family. His father
was George Clayton TennySOn, Lincolnshire
clergy man, more remarkable for size and phys
1tal energy than Intellectual gifts; but several
OF his bl otkers-there were twelve children in
all-Nere clever verse makers at a very early
ace and he seems, therefore, to have come
honestly by his singing qualities. He is not as
He is OF renowned lineage, and prides himself
upon it, even If he does strike occasional demo-
cratic strains, as In ,.Locksley Hall" He claims
Gent Norman family of d Enycourt, his uncle
Charles Tennyson, having gone so far as to ask
permission to add D'Enycourt to his name,
which ne obtained, and was made snobbishly
happy thereby.
The Tennyson children seem to have had very
decided scribbling tendencies. 1t Is asserted
that the whole dozen wrote stories and RHYMES
in the parsonage at Somersly, where they were
born, SO that nothing better could be expected
IMAM That one OF them should prove to be cele-
DRAFTED poet: The three eldest sons were gradu-
ated at Cambridge. Frederick won the prize
Tor a Greek poem; Alfred, in his twentieth year
received the Chancellors medal for "Timbuc-
.oI.a poem OF some 800 blank-verse lines, and
ABOUT the same time the twain published for
private circulation small volume entitled
Poems by Two Brothers," Charles, the other
brother, assumed orders; was made Vicar of
Grasby, and on inheriting handsome estate
through his paternal grandmother, took her
FAMILY name, Turner. Ample means prevented
him from 1nky continuance but Frederic, when
be was past forty, published collection of
poems, days and Hours"
TennySon Is in his mode of composition the
very reverse OF rapid or inspired He wreaks
himself on expression, spending hours some
times on single line. AS an example, he Is
reported to have written "Come into the Gar
den, Maud" In his poem of MAUD" entirely
over fifty times, and to have occupied three
Whole days on six of the lines. No poet has
ever worked harder or more faithfully, and he
never assumes TO have done anything in fine
frenzy, which, indeed, he censures and ridicules
as pretence of mediocre minds. He holds that
genius can accomplish nothing without work:
that everything famous in literature ia the re-,
suit OF great labor. His tastes are domestic He
is fond OF home and family, though he is like
"lse iona or nature, taking many long solitary
rambles on the Isle of Wight where he has lived
ever since bis marriage. making studies of earth
and sky to be used In his poems.
he may De pronounced very professional MOI
Dody admlreS his poetry more than himself and
ne is very much addicted to talk about it, a.
Goes not sink the shop when he has any
Lody 10 listen to him whom he imagtnes to be
appreciatve.
Tennyson Is genuine type of John Bull. He
mas virtues and defects tneXtricably mixed and
one of his defects is inexcusable rudeness: an
other Is prodigfouS egotism. He is an tlIustri-
Gus poet, but he Is full to the lips Of vanity and
Is capable ON small proyocatiOn of becoming
colossal bore.