Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-05-12


| heswicE, and within hearing OF the chimes
Of old CrO-stAws.itc church. The land was
| a gift TO him fr m sir GEORGE Beaumont.
! Of COlertOn. and still remains the property
! OF his descendants. But on his permanent
/ rc-lrn 10 the lake region Le male the an
! clent village OF Grasnere bis home. This
hamlet Il on the main coach road, travers-
| ing from north 70 south the central and
most beautiful portions Of the lake district
and Is but three miles from Rydal and lve
/ from Ambleside, which lie 70 the south.
Here he resided for thirteen years-frst
at Dove Cottage, afterward occupied BY
DeQuincey, and now forming a portion Of
the outbuildings of a busy Inn: next in a
roomier but less comfortable house at Allan
Bank, and again in the parsonage Of the
ancient Grasmere church. In 1913 the
Wordsworths removed 70 Rydal Mount
where the poet remained until his death In
1850, having uninterruptedly lived within
three miles radius Of where he now lies
in Grasmere churchyard for upward Of
fifty years.
III you were wandering north on the
main coach road from Windermere to Kes-
wick, a steep, wide roadway turning to the
right and east would attract YOUR atten-
ton. From the Enclosures on either side
huge beech trees and sycamores push ire
mendous arms across the walls and COM
pletely cover the way. IL is As shadowy as
twilight here. You will not have passed q
score Of rods up this high arched natures
aisle until the sounds from the highway
the rumbling Of the stages, the laughter Of
gay tourists, and even the notes Of the
coach horns-are stilled. In summer the
place is thronged with birds Even these
rreverent choristers seem as IL subdued
and ruminatiye here. In autumn your feet
sink in feathery masses Of pale golden
leaves II seems long time that you have
been traversing these few rods; all is so
hushed and still. Ascending a little far
ther there is a break in the foliage TO YOUR
right Some huge gates are seen. A lodge !
stands just beyond, and suddenly the splen- |
did facades Of Rydal Hall, the seat Of the |
lie Flemings, appear above the luxuriant |
shrubbery Of its splendid park. Higher |
still you climb, and where the dark road |
way seems TO make final circle over the |
brow Of the hill to the left you pause TO /
listen. Something like low and hesitant /
organ notes seems murmuring in minor
chords, while gay and joyous treble plays /
in exultant tones above. All! you remem-
Der. These are the voices Of the two cas-
cades Of Rydal. Their songs were sung to
one poet for forty happy years.
A step farther, and the bright sunshine 4
seems 70 leap along and through the tree
tops, impatient to food its effulgence upon
one little spot. On that spot stands an
ivy covered old house, two stories in
height, with all manner Of angles and
patches; with huge chimneys and wondrous
gables; with windows cut here and there
at random. or pushed outward in bows
and bays; with doors entering as though
made for convenience and not appearance.
and the whole with a general air of having
been done at different periods by various
masters, each of whom labored leisurely in
fond and whimsical mood In front Is the
tiniest Of grass mounds, and wide steps Of
rough hewn stone lead this way and that
as II TO invisible entrances; but as you see
all-grass mound, steps. half disclosed ter
races, and the mansion itself facing the
south squarely-there was never a more
picture set in framing of laurel,
yew, beech and fir; and never will you see
another home where the very spirit of
peace seems 50 embodied in outward ma
terial things, giving rapt and radiant wei.
come to the endless threnodies Of waters
and throbbings Of a loving sun
This is Rydal Mount, the former home Of
Wordsworth. Rydal Water, to the north,
and the long, dreamful reach Of winder-
mere can be seen from the grass mound in
the little inelOsure. From every upper
window, mountain, valley and lake smile
back from glorious perspective upon the
beholder. With the poets long, happy and
fruitful life at Rydal every reader Of En-
glish literature is familiar. But it seems
10 me precious thing for the wanderer
here 20 identify and become acquainted
with Wordsworth's best loved haunts. Two
lines Of road, with innumerable pony and
Iootpath de1ections into all manner Of sub
lime or witching scenes, knew him best,
iust as around the two villages and lakes ,
Df Rydal and Grasmere the memories Of |
The poet are most thiokly strewn One Of
these roads is the great central highway Of |
The lake region, and winds all the way ,
from Bowness through the villages OF !
Rydal and Grasmere, over
weird Dunmal Raise, past huge Helvellyn |
over into keswick, where COleridge and
Shelley were. The other is the grand old |
road from Ambleside northeasterly. past
he roar Of Stock Ghyll Force. through |
Nirkstone Pass 10 Patterdale Grisdale.
and all the glorious fells and ,
ylens that lie along somber Ullswater be-
.ween the heart Of the lake region and the
ineient town of Penrith. Probably the
PERSONAL enjoyment Of the poet was greater
along the former way, although the terri
.ory beyond Kirkstone, particularly around
L..
greater number Of poetic allusions-
The vale Of st, John, at the foot Of Hell I
rellyn, was a never ending feast TO him. :
He fingered times without number around
Nythburn church. Thirlmere, TO which
he city Of Manchester has tunneled for
What viii prove the finest water supply in
he world, and against the consummation
II which Mr.. Ruskin, with more regard for !
elfish enjoyment Of the lake region than {
he needs Of hosts Of human beings, fought 4
ong and bitterly, was an almost constant
launt. Here Wordsworth, in company
With his wife and his sister Dorothy, almost !
laily came in summer. In the earlier days ]
would come over from Keswick 4
md meet the three friends from Grasmere.
The ladies brought their sewing aud lunch.
md the two poets furnished the soul am
lrosia Commemorative Of these golden !
lOurs the poets had their names cut
lpon the Rock of Names at Thirlmere, and
! - =, The ra.rt fl..a ]