New-York tribune., 1891-05-17
{" READING A POEM"
ALOsT TALE BY THACKERAy.

| READING A POEM.
ALOST TALE BY TIACKERAY.
From The London Athenacum.
Thanks TO the remarkable memory ana bne
kindness of friend, who prefers not 10 De naheu
| have been able to rescue from oDnVio1 a. o"ar OF
acteristic sketch by this great master oi nun Io nj
| of fiction This sketch 4 propose 10 i Goiiiiiu .
| cate TO the Settle of Odd Volumes" at tnelr heAO
meeting the lst Of May, and 70 Issue aS on'
their privately printed sSstsnce SPss for fifty years
and of its ultimate resusctation seeems well-nlgh
incredible "Reading Poem began It's APPEAR
ance in the pages OF the britannia go 0n r1 upder the
title of Loose Sketches, which was prODapi{
intended to apply to series Of similar tales "A
copy of the is to De ioghe the tent tn .s is
taken. The Britannia" was weekly paper, aho ha
has long since ceased to appear IL may wen DE ne
that other copy is now IN existence ~ boe, 10 re
tain not only that this sketch has never Deeh re-
printed but that its original appearance mas never
| been recorded, though it was speclhcaMy stateu
to be By Mr. Michael Angelo I1tnarsh, h"VinS an9
regard to this, to the characteristic style ana ana
subject, with the familiar references 10 @ SI
Edward and Dickens, and the reappeaTance OF the
ever-welcome YellowPush and TO LnncKepSy; I pay;s
rising popularity at that time, when The Paris
| Sketch Book" and Comic Tales and Sketcheo
| had both appeared in volume form, IL seems III
! explicable that the sketch should have been SO
completely lost sight Of. So 1t is, however, anu
it is the belief that all lovers and students OF
Thackeray's work will be interested IN thls brou-
vae that now induces me TO make 1t known
| The dramatis personae are described follows:
Lord Daudey, the Earl Of Bagwig's eldest son.
| worshpper OF the Muses.; in q dressing gown, with
his shirt collars turned down; .,,.n..,,
Mr. Boyle, the celebrated publisher, in a puDnshers
Mr. Blndyer' English gentleman Of the press ssj
| velvet walstcoat, dirty blue satin cravat, dirty
| trousers, dirty boots
| Mr. Dishwash. an English gentleman OF the press.
Editor of The Castalian Magazine; very neat in
black, and a diamond pin.
Mr. Yelowplush, my lords body servant In an elegant
This actor should smell very much of stale smoke,
and need not shave for two or three days before per-
forming the part
The sketch takes the form of slit upon tn, the
then fashionable Keepsake" and Friendships
Offering style of ANNUAL and the craze for the
literary productions of titled nonentites, with
side hits at the tufthunting propensltles OF GER
tain classes Of professional writers; tho diIot,snte
peerling" Lord Daudley and the publisher, MI
Boyle, at which arrangements are MADE 1or the
purchase of a volume OF poems, under the utle ,
of Passon-F Flowers" at the price Of Fl 1000 ~,
a start is made at the first poem with the assist
ance of the two journalists. These gentlemen
dictate every word of the Poem" which, when
| complete, reads follows texigencies of space
compel the omission of most of the dlaloguej -
THE SONG OF THE FLowER-roT.
THE "Flowerpot' was presented to the writer By the
| Lady Blanche Bluen0se)
| Ny lltte Humble fowerp0t,
| Upon my turret Haunting free
Thou art more loved by me, l wot
| Than all the sweets OF Araby.
Not all the sweets OF Eastern bower
| Are half so dearly priced by me-
| AS is the little gentle flower 49,
| The mignonettee that blooms In tneei
My little dcwy mossgrown vase
| Forth from It's turret looks ana sees,
| Wide stretched around the park and chase,
| The dapplcd deer beneath the trees.
| Beside the river bask tie kine,
The sheep go browsing DER tne sWarut
| And kline, and sheep and deer are mine,
| And all the park calls Laudley lord.
Safe sheltered in thy turret nook,
NV gentle 1OwerpOt, tits thine
| Upon this peaceful scene to look,
| The lordshlp OF My ancient llnel
Rich my lands and wide they range,
| And yet do esteem them not,
And lightly would my l0rdships change
Against my little howerpot
Dshwash-Whewl
Dudley-Come, come, Bludyer; that's too much
Bluyder-Not whit, as you shall see
BY wide estates I set no store
No store sparkling corOnet;
The poets heart can value more
This fragrant plant OF mgnonettc.
| And as he fondly thinks Of her,
Who once the little treasure owned,
The lover may the Gft prefer
To mEes Of gold and diamond
Isn't that now, perfectly satisfactory? You are
lover, and y0r'r mistrcsSs gift is more precious
TO YOU than Potosi: a poet land that you know
YOU arc), and little flower provolSes in yos--
Dishwash-Hopes, feelings passionate aspira-
tions thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears
HOLY memories of bygone times, pure as the limo
cent dew that twinkles in the cup of the flower
fragrant, mysterious, stealing on the senses as
Daudev-Exactly so. You are perfectly right
egad: though | never thought that had those
Dis6wash@Oh. it's astonishing how the merest
trte serves to arouse the vastest thoughts and in
such way, my hint might aid your lordship. Sup
pose we continue
! Ny mild and wlnsome fower-pot
Bludyer (aside)-Mid and winsome there's affec
tatonl but> let the epithets pass, they're good
: enough for n lOrd'
Dishwash tcontinuing)
My mild and wlnsome fowerpot
As-let me see-as on thy dewy buds gaze,
tnE It6 how how .flos derGR' IN dncegt Is %y St 9svs
| Where softly droops my bonny flower,
My free and feathery mgnonette,
, Upon it, lofty, ancient tower,
The banner Of my race was set
Where peaceful roam the kline and sheep,
, Were men alarms with bow and bill:
Where blooms my flower upon the keep,
a wsrder blew his clarion shrL
And now for the moral:
Dark memories Of blood and crime
I Away M the II poet oes,I loves you yySI, not
| Had never seen flower pot
Ijaudley-Bravo, bravissimo! Six starzas, by IN,
immortal gods Upon my word, you were right
n couple OF pages, and we may get the Passion
: Flowers out in month. Come and see me often
my lads. hay? And. egad yes, I'll read yor
|, | some more poems
This will give fair idea OF the character o.
the sketch. and think it will be generally ac
lSnowedgcd that the signature of Michael An
geo Titmarsh" was not necessary to identity th
as Thackcrays work.
A poem very much Of this Sort from which tn
writer confcsses he has borrowed the idea and all tn
principal epithets, such free snd fcathery,' mill
and w.nsOmc' etc.. Is TO be found In the Keepsake
Is 1t by any the ditty In the collection
THE IDEAL WIFE" DESCRIBED.