New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-12-18
A POET DEAD.
Robert Browning ] the Famous
Poet Dies at Venice
ITALY.
A Sketch of a Life Devoted to
the Creation of Works Not
Generally Appreciated.

Generally Appreciated.
VENICE, Specsal. -Robert Browning, the
poet died tonight. His death was pain
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
recent biographer: he might, in respect OF
the multitude as well be a bartender as a
bard. Even of those familiar with him
comp aratively few accept him unreservedly,
and these are his worshipers, who can per
ceiye no defect in his worst faults, who
insignifcance replete with melody and
beauty. Browning was as little
He might walk through the strand
or Pail Mall any pleasant afternoon, and
hardly anyone would recognize him. Al
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
foreigner. In fact, his mind, temperament
and character were not of the national
type, and his training, in consequence OF
the dissenting theology of his ancestors and
Of his education at the London university,
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 he went to
Italy, which was destined to influence his
mind and life greatly, and passed years
there in diligent study Of the land, 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
closely observed their peculiar communi-
language of the Countrywide Tuscan-au-
emily and correctly, but the principal dia-
lects ofthe provinces. He used to be called
the Italian 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
pictorial peninsula. Some critics have ac-
and unintelligibleness, so unpleasantly
characteristic Of his later poems, by his
living so much abroad, by his virtual dena-
tionalizatiOn.
Although he had written verses from boy
hood, he published nothing until he was
ttwenty-three. when "Paracelsqs, +" poem
in dramatic form, appeared. 1t won the
praise of a 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
+ r,of l,,1,, fo1,1f
characteristic work, it is a sort of prelude
to everything that he produced atterward.
Two years later tragedy written by him
and entitled stafford" was produced on
the local Stage 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
doubt, had it possessed any genuine roman
tic merit. But it had not, despite fine
passages and some admirable delineations
Of character. After a number of representa-
tons it was withdrawn, and has never been
revived. Not long after came s'Sardello,'''
hardly any one has ever read, SO deliber-
ately obscure does it seem to be. Two
other dramas, "a Blot on the Scutcheon"
and the duchess of Cleves," were written
and acted, though they would not draw.
Indeed, they would never have been &C
cepted by any manager but for the reputa-
ton of the author The former is tender,
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
twenty-five years aresevere tests of patience,
and eXasperations to the understanding.
While they contain fresh ideas, fine senti-
mo motto SJ1pCoStiOnS thew barron
of interest, connection or lucidity. Some
forty years ago he published christmas
Eve and Easter Day, which was the au-
thor's idea Of some of the theological ques-
tons of the time, and also an APP
parent expression OF his own re-
ingenious, intellectual, but not at all poet
zeal in a complete sense, and to the major
ity of persons exceedingly dull. The only
collection Of his poems that has an entire
interest is "Men and Women" first printed
in 1855. Many of these are unfinished,
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
WuU1C, pUS1IlNCly anu ILLS WILL
unquestionably be thejudgm ent Of posterity
Browning. thought painter and 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
surrounded. There are Browning 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 &C
quaintances who were, of course, his pane
gyrists, though him the most delightful OF
men. But mostof his acquaintance con-
satisfactory. His talk was like his poetry
generally unintelligible. He was fond OF
taking high themes, and, after an hours
enlargement Oh them he conveyed net the
ghost OF an idea. Browning was almost up
to his death in possession of all his tacul-
ties and in perfect health. His memory had
not failed in theleast. Ithas been suggested
that he caught the infection of loud
style of writing from his wife, the famous
Elizabeth Barrett Browning. The sugges-
ton is not good, for nearly all she wrote
was clear enough however COMMONPLACE