The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-26
BARON TENNYSON.
Personal characteristics of the Laureate
POetical but Not Polite.

Personal characteristics of the Laureate
POetical but Not Polite.
Letter in Philadelphia Press.
Tennyson passes most of his days at Far
ringford, surrounded by the lovely and ro-
mantle scenery for which the Isle of Wight
is noted. He spends, on an average six to
eight hours day in his library engaged in
literary work. Orders are always given that
he shall not be interrupted except for most
momentous reasons, and he never is for the
members of his family and his servants think
his making of a line OF quite much i'm
portance as the creation of a new world-an
opinion which, it is needless to say, he fully
shares. Perhaps if his wife-she was Emily
Sellwood-were dying, she might venture to
haye him informed of the fact during his
hours OF work. She would not be willing
that hiG sanctuary should be pro-
famed for any less cause, because she re-
ligiously believes that William Shakespeare
is scarcely the equal of Alfred Tenny
son. If she were capable of forming or
cherishing any other opinion, it is doubtful
if he would live with her. She probably
preserves her connubial place by the most
rapturous worship and the most absolute
self-effacement
There have been awful instances of the in
vasion of Tennyson's library while he was in
the throes of composition, owing to the re-
Taxed vigilance of his domestic dragons. The
scenes that followed can hardly be described.
The poet, in his wrath, ragged like mad,
threatening to destroy the intruder, and lit
orally tearing the little hair he has left The
very idea of interrupting Alfred Tennyson
in his hours of divine inspiration seemed to
him monstrous beyond belief, a hideous
crime eternally objectionable. He has never,
believe, made any physical assault upon an
unfortunate intruder, though it would have
been supposed from his furious demonstra-
tons, that he could be appeased with nothing
snort of homicide.
The poets manners have always been very
bad especially since he has won renown
Up to his thirtieth year, when he lived here
mostly, and had not yet gained recognition,
his behavior was comparatively decent But
his suceess-his first-achleved by English
Idyls and Other Poems" in 1912 turned his
head and made him churl." He may
think that genius should be superior to all
social laws; he certainly acts as he thought
so. His nerves he allows to tyranfize over
him: he is peevish, irritable, often brutal.
He stalks about Farringford with O scowl
upon his brow, and a supereilious mien,
which keep his rustic neighbors at Fresh
water in awe of so self-important person.
age. To those who wish to catch a glimpse
of him from admiring curiosity, he is
particularly inimical, and ne has been
known on divers occasions to treat senti-
mental young ladies with extreme rudeness.
He would be chagrined if he should not ex-
cite curiosity and admiration; but having
u,
and complains of them as a dreadful bore
Numberless instances might be cited OF
his rudeness, SO notorious over here, that
persons who know him are not likely to
place themselves in the way of it. His
vanity, egotism and self-absorption are so
great as to leave no room for manners. He
puts all his poetry into his writing, and
leaves none for his private life. Men inca
pabe of forming verse have far more poetry
in their nature than Tennyson has in his. II
is his trade to make stanzas, but he has, APP
parently, no concern for his behavior.
Society, as such, has no attraction for him.
If it had, he would have no attraction for
general society, with his lack of tact, of
breadth OF feeling and consideration for
others. aa G5-. Ia .
1t would be unjust to say that Tennyson
has no friends. He has a goodly number;
but they are nearly all his humble worship
ers, who devote themselves to his praise, and
whom he entertains for the most part, in
talking of himself and repeating, for their
DEDICATION, his own poems He is fond of
asserting that he must have either congenial
companionship or solitude. Congenial COM
panionship means, to his mind. incessant
and unmeasured fattery If the dearest of
his friends should criticise his work. or
mention his faults, their relation would be
sure to undergo sudden change.