The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-12-20
A POET DEAD.
Robert Browning the Famous
Poet Dies at Venice
Italy. j:

"A AAOUOA VI ~ xlxxO OOvVVOu w
the Creation of Works Not
| Generally Appreciated.
VENICE, Specsal-Robert Browning, the
poet, died tonight His death was pei n
less. During the day he expressed himscl
as satisfied with the success of his new
volume Of poems.
| Robert Browning was one Of the most
famous and at the same time one Of the
least known literary men in all Great
Britain. While Browning's admirers rank
him as the greatest poet OF the time, says a
recent biographer, he might, in respect of
the multitude, as well be bartender as a
bard. Even of those familiar with him
comparatively few accept him unreservedly,
and these are his worshipers, who can per
think his hardest measures and most mystic
insignifcance replete with melody and
beauty. Browning was as little
known personally as POLITICALLY
He might walk through the strand
or Pail Mall any pleasant afternoon and
though he lived in London for many years,
ever since his wife's death, indeed, he spent
so much time on the continent, particu-
larly in Italy, that he seemed much like a
foreigner. In fact his mind, temperam ent
and character were not of the national
type and his training, in consequence OF
the dissenting theology of his ancestors and
of an exceptional kind. His father, man
of independent means and character, made
no attempt to interfere with his indi-
vidual taste and tendencies, and he
grew up therefore with distinct
Personality; At twenty ne ean went to to
there in ap dige g Stay Of the the an its peo
pie and institutions. Italian history, Gus
toms, and traits had strange allurement
for him. He went to the small places, to
the walled villages perched on the spurs of
the Apprentices, to the out of-the-way re-
gions that foreigners seldom penetrate, and
ties. Browning spoke not only the pure
language of the Countrywide Tuscan-fu-
emily and correctly, but the principal dia-
lects of the provinces. He used to be called
the n-Englishman, and the English
Italian, and with great justice, for he was,
as his writings show saturated with the
lore the traditions, and the spirit of that
counted for his eccentric style, his opacity
and unintelligibleness, SO unpleasantly
characteristic Of his later poems, by his
living so much abroad, by his virtual dena-
honalization.
Although he had written verses from boy
hood, he published nothing until he was
twenty-three, when "Paracelsus," poem
in dramatic form, appeared: 1t won the
praise of few, but attracted no general at
tention. 1t is an idealization of the noted
Swiss alchemist and charlatan who made
so much noise in the sixteenth century by
his pretended healings and his fierce as
saults on the medical faculty. Strong,
original, full of insight, and remarkable for
subtle analysis, it yet abounds in faults. A
characteristic work, it is sort of prelude
to everything that he produced atterward.
Two years later a tragedy written by him
and entitled Stafford" was produced on
the local slage with Macready as the hero,
who bestowed all possible attention upon
it. AS the piece was taken from one OF the
most interesting periods of English history
it ought to have succeeded, and would, no
doubt, had it possessed any genuine roman
tic merit. But it had not, despite fine
passages and some admirable delineations
of character. After number of representa-
tons it was withdrawn, and has never been
revived. Not long after came "Sardello,"
of which many have heard, but which
hardly any one has ever read, sc. deliber-
ately obscure does it seem to be. Two
other dramas, GA Blot on the Scutcheon"
and the duchess of Cleves," were written
and acted, though they would not draw.
Indeed, they would never have been ac-
cepted by any manager but for the reputa-
ton of the author. The former is tender,
beautiful, veritable poem of passion and
suffering; but not at all adapted to the
theater Browning's poems are generally
dramatic, though his stage effects are not
actable, and could not be made so. His
poems published in the last twenty or
| fOcfc of1
and exasperations to the understanding.
While they contain fresh ideas, fine senti-
ments poetic suggestions, they are barren
of interest, connection or lucldity. Some
forty years ago he published christmas
Eve and Easter Day." which was the au-
thors idea Of some of the theological ques-
psfent OF sRs @ Of of0 his ss0 own an
figious views. The work was strong,
ingenious, intellectual, but not at all poet
ical in a complete sense, and to the major
ity of persons exceedingly dull. The only
coll ection of his poems that has an entire
interest is 'Men and Women" first printed
crude, and affectedly mystical; but others
are beautiful and untorgetable. They, with
a few poems in "Bells and Pomegranates
are nearly all the things that deserve pres
ervation and that another generation will
be likely to read. His enthusiastic admir-
ers put no limit to their admiration. They
place him next to Shakespeare; but the mass
of unprejudiced minds consider him, as a
whole, positively unreliable, and this will
unquestionably be thejudgmen ofposterity.
Browning, thought painter and a mu-
sician, Of late years cultivated rugged
ness, mysticism and incomprehensibility.
There was no rational doubt about it, and
the cause was probably due to the circle of
fulsome adulators by whom he was often
| LODI Tharo RrOwn1nO societies
both in America and England whose chief
object appears to be to laud to the skies
every line that he printed.
Personally, the poet was regarded very
much as he was literarily. A few of his ac-
quaintances, who were, of course, his pane
gyrists, though him the most delightful OF
men. But most of his acquaintance con-
satisfactory. His talk was 1ike his poetry,