The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-09
IN MEMORIAM.


The recent death of thesson Of the English
poet laureate while en- ship bound for Cal
cutta will call the attention of all Tennyson-
lovers and readers to the "In Memoriam.'
This poem has been the source of consolation
to thousands mourning the loss Of relatives
and friends, and one can readily imagine its
author going over its successive lyrics in
memory and reverie, ard in his new sorrow
deriving the same comfort from it that others
have within the thirty-six years that it has
been before the English public
'.In Memoriam" is the story of reflective
It is not poem of love. 1t is poem of
friendship, written, says Alger, Sin star-hre
and immortal tears by philosophic poet,
whose logic of love and thought have grown
to matchless temple of grief in whose chan
eel lies the embalmed form of Arthur Hallam,
a shrine for the pilgrim of the heart as long
as a single feature remains in the mighty
landscape of English literature.
This costliest offering of words ever laid at
the shrine of grief was brought out in 1850,
in the fortieth year of Tennyson's life, and
in the full maturity of intellectual vigor, 1t
was forming in the authors mind through
fifteen years. In it occur two New Years and
three spring times. 1t presents beautiful
panorama of English life and landscape,
through each season of the changing years,
and is replete with perfect minor poems on
the thoughts these changes suggest. But
Tennyson did not write it for pastoral, nor
vet to immortalize the name of Arthur Henry
Hallam, son of the historian. the coll ege
friend of Tennyson, the betrothed Of his
sister, youth of beautiful spirit and prom
Use, dead at Vienna in the first year Of his
opening manhood. He wrote it for all who
sorrow; all who doubt and question; all who
hope.to rise on stepping stones of their dead
selves to higher things or trust that 'sgood
will be the final goal of ILL.,"
AS poem its merit depends on the sincere
and worthy feeling resulting from the ever
recurring reference to the fact of Hallam's
DEATH The memory of his friend runs like
a thread of gold through the hundred lyrics
of the 'In Memoriam, binding to the heart of
him who reads much that otherwise were
addressed only to the head It is like Mignon
in the Apprenticeship, or like the mem
ory of childhood hours at mothers
knee, anchoring and restraining man
throughout life, and holding him to
the simple faith and hope Of those who have
taken fast hold on God and His promises.
Tennyson did not need this great sorrow in
early manhood merely as food for the intel
lect, or vehicle for philosophic thought.
The affection for his friend lifted him above
ignoble Weakness it conceived of its object
not as dead but living, and in another life as
having solved the problems of the present life,
and so Hallam becomes in the poem not dead
but living presence.
I'm Memoriam" is typical; it is not personal,
for no great work can be- 1t is not Tenny-
sons own growth through the stages of sor-
row, doubt and reason to faith in Gods
providence, but, like the Book of Job. or even
Faust with both Of which it has much in
common, it is the drama of the trial of man in
the life that now is. And the triumph that
ends all such struggles in all healthy and
helpful literature is here, too, in the en- Me-
moriam." For while no inspired singer be-
comes the mouthpiece of creed or system,
and is limited only by those fundamental
principles common to all religions, and to all
true poetry, they all, when at their best, rest in
God. Tennyson has, with Goethe and EN-
erson, been ranked as one of the high priests
of pantheism. But of the essential founda-
ton of religious belief to which all turn in
deepest sorrow--the belief in personal God
as the 'head and mighty paramount" Of
truth-those who seek them will find repeated
statements in this chief work of the laureate,
nor does he admit for an instant that the indi-
vidual life is swallowed up in the '.far-off di-
vine event. to which the whole creation
smoyes.~