The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1889-12-19
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.

VENICE, Specsal. Robert Browning, the
poet died tonight. His death was pain
less. During the day he expressed himself
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 Brownings admirers rank
him as the greatest poet OF the time, says
recent biographer, he might, in respect of
the multitude as we'll be a bartender as
bard, Even of those familiar with him
comparatively few accept him unreservedly,
and these are his worshipers, who can per
ceive no defect in his worst faults, who
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
hardly anyone would recognize him. AL
though he lived in London for many years,
ever since his wife's death, indeed, he spent
50 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 all exceptional kind. His father a man
of independent means and character, made
no attempt to interfere with his indi-
yidual taste and tendencies, and he
grew up therefore with a 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 it's 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 Appennines, to the Out-Ot-the-way re-
gions that foreigners seldom penetrate, and
closely observed their peculiar commune
ties. Browning spoke not only the pure
language of the country-the Tuscan-fiu-
emily and correctly, but the principal dia-
lectS Of the 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-
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-
tionaliZatiOn.
Although he had written verses from boy
hood, he published nothing until he was
tWentv-three, when 'ParaCelSus," poem
in dramatic form, appeared. 1t won the
praise of few, but attracted no general at
tention. 1t is an ideaIiZation 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 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 a number of representa-
, tions 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, 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 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
| twenty-five years are severe tests of patience
and exasperations to the understanding.
While they contain fresh ideas, fine senti-
ments. poetic suggestions, they are barren
of interest, connection or lucidity. Some
FORTY wears ago he published christmas
Eve and Easter Day, which was the au-
thor's idea of some of the theological ques-
ns9s1t ions of hf t%s % 5Pd hs also own an
figious views. The work was strong,
ingenious, intellectual, but not at all poet
icaI in complete sense and to the major
itv 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 unforgetable. They, with
q 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 unpreiudiced minds consider him, as a
whole. positively unreadable and this will
unquestionably be hejudgnent 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
surrounded. There are Browning societies
both in America and England whose CHIEF
object appears to be to laud to the skies
eyery 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 o.
men. But most of his acquaintance con-
sidered him egotistic, pompous and un'
satisfactory. His talk was like his poetry
generally unintelligible. He was fond O
taking high themes, and, after an hour:
enlargement on them, he conveyed not the
ghost of an idea. Browning was almost VI
to his death in possession of all his tacul
not failed in the least. Ithas been suggested
that he caught the infection of louc
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 eommonpiace
Brownings love for his wite-she lived M
teen years after her marriage-Wasr romantl'
and devoted. She had always been an in
valid, and had not personal charm of any
kind. She not only looked, as has beer
said, unlike woman, who had eve
written poem, but unlike
woman who had ever rea(
one. He was as loyal to her memory as h
was to her life for she has beel
dead more than twenty years, ant
!. he is not known to hav
been in love with anybody since. He was
great favorite with women. many of whom
, are prone to admire what they do not un
. derstand, and he deserves to be, for in SOM
: Of his minor poems he has evinGed q nobl
, sympathy with and understanding of tn
| q -. L. Il
! into society-that is, into circles where b
was sure Of admiration. He did not writ
for money. Fortunately, he inherited al
j independence from his father. He was
] handsome man, had a good figure, snow
, white hair, and an easy carriage, His man
) ners were precise and formal, not to sa,
! stiff, and when he was all inspired hi
| speech was often ineligible and pleasant
! Still he gave one an impression Of q ma
who had spent most of his years in takin
! his own altitude and had never yet bee
i able to put it into comprehensive measure
! ment.
SlSSETONS SIGNING.