The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-28
ALFRED TENNYSON.
His Vanity and Egotism-Interviews witt
Sumner. and t. Buchanan Read

His Vanity and Egotisnl-Interviews with
sumner and T. Buchanan Read.
London Letter. -.tas a7bo"H
Charles Sumner being abroad in 1857. met
Tennyson, and the Senator, never rernarka Bile
for modesty, talked to the poet Of American
politics and his own position toward the
South slavery. He soon perceived that
the EngIishman was very impatient under
his DISCOURSE and recognizing the familiar
truth that man is bore who talks about
himself when you want to talk about your
self, he dropped the subject in order to let
his companion play bore.
Tennyson seized the opportunity at once
As they were in the library he took down a
volume and asked: Have you ever read
the 'PrincessY"
Sumner replied that it was one of his IA
vorite poems.
"Read it, then" demanded the bard push
ing the book toward him. Although fully
conscious of the extreme delicacy of reading
verses before their author, he opened to the
page and began. He had not finished twenty
lines before the Briton almost snatched the
volume from his hand, saying: This is the
way it should be read"
Then, in his high pompous, chanting
tones he recited the greater part of the poem,
atfording his compulsory listener no chance
for word. Sumner endured it all without
protest; but he never, 1t is said, called on
Tennyson again-never, never, never. No
human creature would have the hardihood
to repeat such an experience. 7-H.5 aht
I. Buchanan Read the dead poet native
of Chester county, Pennsylvania, was in Lon
don in the summer of 1861, and was invited
to meet Tennyson at the house of common
friend. He went with eagerneSs and enthu-
siasln to see the ilustrious singer, who fig
ured in his mind the strikingly handsome,
noble-looking creature whose, portrait, taken
in his younger days, is SO familiar. An in
,1nI
thin-faced, fussy man, with scant hair, blue
glasses, and round shoulders-the reverse Of
his ideal -,.
Immediately the Briton broke out with:
II wish to say, Mr.. Read, that | have in the
past had liking for your country; but, as
it is now plainly going to the dogs, feel
bound to tell you that you must not look
for sym pathy or aid from us Englishmen."
Very properly nettled at such unpardona-
BILE rudeness Read replied with heat, DO
not disturb yourself, Mr.. Tennyson, about
our country. We don't care a either for
you, or your aid or sympathy. 1t is not
worth having under any circumstances. We
propose to fight this thing out ourselves, re-
CARELESS of Europe. John Bull and his noble
family can go to - for all us We Ameri-
cans are not going that way, just at present"
This insolent response, as Read himself
said, instead of offending the elder poet,
seemed to have a modifying effect after
that" to use his own words, "Tennyson
treated me quite decently, and spoke very
kindly of America and Americans. If l al
lowed his effrontery to pass in silence, he
would have had no respect for me. The only
way to get on with Englishmen who bully
you is to bully them in turn"
Hardly any author of the day is so entirely
and exclusively literary as Tennyson. He is
so2deeply dyed in ink that the native hue OF
the man has been lost. He is a writer of
verses and nothing more. His individuality
has been erased by his ceaseless, lifelong
striving after apt words and cunning phrases
He will enjoy his baronage, but III his
seYenty-ffth year he cannot enjoy it long.