Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-10-12
MILLAIS' TENNYSON.
Some EsunsSs OF the fosr and the Pictu'
in MexI0S1nt-

Some Esunsss OF the ioss and the Picture
The London times says:
No memorial of writer whose name
stands 30 high and bright before the world
as that of Alfred Tennyson can fail to
arouse interest. Whatever may be the
place he is destined to hold In the hierarchy
Of poets-and criticism has lot yet said its
last word upon the point-it is undeniable
that he has given new charm to life, has
kept alive the sacred lamp OF song in a
rather prosaic and utilitarian age, and has
even justified the existence of an Office
formerly held by Nahum Tates and Pyes.
His early efforts, if not free from unfortu.
nate conceits, were dignified by rare beauty
of thought and expression, and the pro-
mise they held forth was more than re-
deemed blythe fruits Of his genius ct his
maturity. Half century has elapsed
since he made his first appearance in the
arena of letters, but the pen has not yet
dropped from his hand. 1t was once
maintained that the gift Of poetry
is possessed only by the young. Mon
s;eur," said the Due de Montausier, the
presumed original of Aloeste in the "Mi-
santbrope," to the great Corneille. whose
creative power declined after his thirty
fourth year. I" Monsieur, quand j'etais
jeune je fa,sais de jolis vers," soon to be
forgotten "a present que je suis vieux
mon genie est eteiut /: croyez-moi. iaissoHs
fair des vers /. jaunnesse.' Mr.. Ten
nyson supplies one of few remarkable
instances to tho contrary. 1t is true that
wo can no longer expect him to renew his
best achievements, but his later produc.
tions, "The Cup" in especial, have much
of the far-reaching imagination and force
OF word painting which assure to his
"Arthurian and other p0ems a lasting
place in English literature. In the brief
est glance at his work, too, it should be
remembered that bis influence has inva-
riably been for good-.refreshing, purify
ing, ennObling. OF him, indeed. we may
say, ~ OF another poet enaeacd to us by
golden memories, " no never wrote q line
which, dying, he would wish 60 blot"
1t was only in the fitness of things that
such a man as tho author of La Mort
d'Arthnr and L0cksley Hall should have a
place on the canvas OF the Reynolds of his
time and within the last few years, rs
everybody knows. this desideratum has
been supplied. How well Mr.. Millias
has executed his task We need hardly say.
Dispensing with accessories, he represents
Mr. Tennyson standing in his quantity cut
cloak against a background Of shadow,
directly facing the beholder. and with tho
ample ): felt hat in his hand. Slightly
idealized, tie portrait may yet be accepted
As strikingly true, particularly in the pene
trat;ng aud half inquiring expression of
the eyes. Generally, perhaps, the face has
a somewhat sad and pensive appearance,
rs though the spirit in which In Memorians
was written had returned to him during
the sittings. Mr.. Oldham Barlow has just
executed faithful aud finished reproduc-
ton in mezzotint Of this picture. and the
public may lie congratulated on having
within their reach 4 finely artistic record
in his old age of man to whom many OF
them owe 90 large debt of gratitude.