Arizona weekly citizen., 1885-01-24
4 VISIT TO THE TOMB.
or the Author or the "Eiegy in .
 Country Churchyard.-
IMsry H. Clarke in Inter Ocean-l

Mary H. Clarke in Inter OceanI
 We had long mediiated a pilgrimage to
 the tomb of Gray. and 1t was an admir-
 ble day when our intention entered the
 province of execution At Slough we
 slighted and traverScd leisurely the dusty.
 sparSely- -shadOwed road that leads to the
 scattered hamlet tat once Obscured and
 celebnted) of Stoke Pogis It was some
 little time before we sighted the white
 church spire which an obliSing rustic,
 whose good intentions exceeded his sue
 cessful performance. had indicated to us.
 After this our route lay through pleasant
 meadows up a slight ascent until, passing through an iron barred gate. We stood at last within the country church. yard and gazed upon the historic ivy mantled tower
 The Sarc0phagus of Gray stands just in- side the gate, and is surrounded by an iron railing. It rests upon a square granite pedestal with inscriptions on each side two quotations from the -Elegy, one from the -Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College. and the remaining inscriD- tion dedicates the monument to the memory of Gray. From the sarcophaglls a winding path leads to the picturesque cL urch, with its wooden spire and it's towers garlanded with wrcaths of ivy. whence ~The moping owl doth to the moon complain.
 The church iS said io have been buiss by Sir John MOlines in 134O. but the usual conflict of archaeological testimony arises on this point The brasSes of Sir William and Lady Margaret MOlines the former of whom perished at the siege of Orleans de- serve moments notice. but the tomb of Gray near the southwest window is the center of interest He lies in the same "ault with his aunt and mother. the latter of whom he has com memOated in terms of pathetic elOqucncc as The tender. careful mother of many children. one of whom alone had the misfortune to survive her "
 Other spots have been suggested as the scene of the ~Eegy.' as. for example. and Shaningt0n. but no evi dence of any weight has been afiduced in support of their claims. Gray was sccus- toned tO spend his Eton holidays with his aunt. Mrs. Rogers. at stoke and here his mother came tO live subsequently. In | June. l142. Cray k said tO have visited his | aunt, Mrs. Rogers. IL was an eventful | year in bis life. and may be said 10 have l been the beginning of h.s poetic career In | -hN-A AA0N AAN HAUat AAAt fNAl NAA d bANAAuk Prospect of EtOn College. and in Dc | tOber he tesan his celebrated Elegy For years this poem remained unfinished | aud then again under the pressure of dO- | nestle sOrrOw) he competed it, as | appears from letter to Horace | W alpole. at Stokes. in June, l1jO. The | ivy mantled tower. the yew trees | made. the rugged clms, the heath. 7" md -yOn wood are ali ColiirmatOry of | he claims of Stole-Pogis as the scene of he reflections in a country church-yard
 Gray Is one of the few poets of whom { can be said without reserve that they iave written too liiJie The characteriSt'N of this absolutc artist is at ributed by BOnStettcn to his never having owed. but probably the truer explanation s that offered by Sainte Beuvc. who. com 'aring Gray with Inland. suggests that his sadness Of temper arose from ~the 'terilty Of d p1etical talent. so distin- 'uished. sO rare. but SO stintcd