New-York tribune., 1880-02-20

il, as pigs bones become red Dy 1eeu'nR HI" ""
madder And the longer live and the more iearh'
the more am | convinced that Stoiclsm, properly
understood, is the best and noblest of systems.
The acquaintance of Southey with Colerdge'
which was destined to exert so great an influence
on his life was made in the Summer OF l|o4.
visitor from Cambridge was one day introduced to
Souihey he seemed to be of an age near his own
his hair. parted in the middle, fell wayy upon his
neck; his face. when the brooding cloud was not
upon him. was bright with an abundant promise
a promise vaguely told in lines of the sweet hps IN
the luminous eyes, and the forehead that was IKE
gods This meeting of Southey and COerdge was
an event which decided much IN the careers OF Doth'
In the Summer days and in youth the meetlng-tlme
of spirits they were drawn close to one another
Both had confessions to make, with many points in
common /; both were poets; both were Democrats;
both had hoped largely from France, and the hopes
of both had been darkened; both were uncertain
what part to take In life" The result was warm
admiration on both sides, and the speedy formation
of close and confiding friendship. Coleridgc Lost
no time in imparting to the Oxford student the
radiant day dreams which haunted bis imagination
The vision of "pantisocracy was then uppermost
in his sight. This magical word denoted scheme
for the regeneration of society by the establishment
of an Arcadian colony in the American wilderness.
"Was it not possible for number OF men Ike
themselves whose way of thinking was liberal,
whose characters were tried and incOrruptlble, to
ion together and leave this old world of falling
thrones and rival anarchies for the woods ard
wilds of the young republic One could WELD an
axe, another could guide plough. Their wants
would be simple and natural their toll need not be
such as the slaves of luxury endure; where posses
sions were held in common, each would work for
all in their cottages the best books would find
a scion hat fhp1
iuvigorating stream of life and nature, could not
but rise reanimated and purified. Each young man
should take to himself mild and lovely woman for
his wife it would be her part to prepare their in
nocent food 'and tend their hardy and beautiful
race. So they would bring back the patriarchal
age, and in the sober evening Of life they
would behold colonies of independence IN
the undivided dale of industry" Southey
gave his hearty nsseut to the project
With certain vague forebOding. his thoughts had
already been pointing TO America. The uupub-
hshed epic would serve to buy spade, plough,
few acres of land. He was engaged TO a young and
lovely woman, who would share his fortune III the
romantic enterprise. He had persuaded his mother,
who was now widow, of the feasibility OF the plan,
and she had even consented to accompany her son
to the new Eden in the West. "1his pantisOcratic
scheme" writes Southcy, "has given me new life,
mind are diated." DR.. Prestley. it was sanguincly
hoped. would join III the experiment. An American
land-agent, who had been consulted on the subject,
recommended the valley Of the Susquehanuah from
IFS remarkable beauty and its security from hostile
Indians The very name sounded as If it were the
sweetest of gently flowing rivers. But the rainbow
hopes which shone the Susquehannah gradu-
ally faded. Money. that "huge evil" as Southey
called it, soon began to "sneer its codnegatons"
The chiefs consulted, and Southey proposed that
a house and farm should be taken in Wales, until
better times should cradle them to start upon their
voyage. He. at least, could be happy with Edith,
the lady of his heart, on brown bread, ard wild
Welsh raspberTies But Coleridge demurred,
with more than his usual common sense; the
surroundings would be unfavorable; and worse
than all there was no money TO be had.
The vision of pantsocracy faded in the distance,
and southey betook himself to study. travel and
a secret marriage with Edith. An uncle, who had
deeply interested himself in the welfare of his
Young relative had just returned from Lisbon, and
advised Robert to 60 abroad, TO Spain and Portu-
gal learn foreign languages read foreign poetry and
history rummage among the Libraries, and return
TO the study of law. SOuthey gave his consent to
the plan. but insisted on first marrying his sweet
heart He had not even money 10 pay for the we'd
ding ring he had often walked the streets without
penny in his pocket, or bread and cheese for his
dinner: but the good Amos COttle lent him the
wherewithal for the ring and the license. and the
marriage with Edith Fricker took place IN the
month Of November. 1873, the handsome BRIDE sun
retaining her maiden name
In spite of the separation from his wife, Southey
seems to have made himself very much at home III
SPAIN pursuing with ardcr the study of the Spanish
language and of tho great national writer's His
@I,o nfar ma de imDTCg-IOu
his mind. and first drew his attention TO the egcn-
darv and monastic history n the Roman Catholic
Church. Soon after his return from Spain he pub
Ished his Joan of Arc" which is described rs " a
piece of romantic narrative, belonging to the new
age of poetry in sentiment revolutionary ana re-
publican in costume and style, OF the eighteenth
century" The ncighborhOOd Of BrstoFwas now
Southeys home for the present. " The quickenlng
of his blood by the beauty the air and sun OF South
ern Europe, the sense of power impaired by ms
achievement in poetry, the JOY of reunion with his
young wife, the JOY also of solitude among rocks
and woods, combined to throw him into vivid
and creative mood"
In s03 Southey took up his residence In Kes-
wick, from which time his life, as described by his
bioerapber. flowed TRANQUILITY on foF many years
presenting q delightful picture of literary activity
domestic happiness. and personal worth. There
was 10 splendor of circumstance, or variety of
events to give excitement to the scene. His man
uer of life was constant uniform and, perhaps too
evenly distributed. He wrought in his place day
after day season after season. He recognized the
efficacy OF the great law of use and want. Always
he grew stronger camer, with larger stores OF
knowledge with richer treasures Of the heart
Time laid its hand upon him gently ana unfal-
teringy; the bounding step became less light and
swift; the ringing voice relapsed into sadder fits OF
silence; the raven hair changed to a snowy whites
only still the indefatigable eye down the long
folio columns, and the indefatigable hand still held
the pen--until all true life had ceased" Every
thing about SOuthcy says his biographeT is plain,
stra ghtfOrward substantial. Had he been a worse
ninl,tl lunlr for ,int