Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-06-23
TENNYsoN OVER FORTY YEARS AGO.
Personal Memoirs of visit Made by the
Poet in 184S.

Personal Memoirs of Visit Made by the
Poet in 1S4S.
Mr.. Henry Sewell Stokes, the clerk to
the Cornwell county council, knew Lord
Tennyson some years before he became
laureate. How he came to be guest of
Mr.. Stokes in 1S4s, while the latter was
still resident at Truro, is a curious tale.
Tennyson was very friendly with the
Rev. Isaac Hawker of Morwenstow, as
was Mr. Stokes. One day Tennyson came
to Mr.. Stokes office, but refused to go up
stairs to the room. He, not knowing his
host, had come bearing the name of Mr.
Hawker as introduction. Mr.. Stokes was
not overeasy in his mind on the matter,
and told the poet that his wife and chill
dren were away. This fact evidently did
not strike the poet as an obstacle to his
visit, and he told his host that he would
dine at o'clock that afternoon.
At a somewhat later date Tennyson
staid for awhile with the Cornish poet,
and much can Mr.. Stokes relate of the
laureate as he appeared in his prime of
manhood, quiet and unassuming in man.
ner and little known to the great world OF
letters. He was shortsighted even then,
though this affiiction would not appear
to have seriously increased with advancing
years. Even then he could see nothing
without glasses. His fine black eyes were
then brilliant, as ever they were.
TennysOn was never one for Sevoting
much time and attention to dress. As an
old man of eighty-three he wears the most
negligee of sun dyed cloaks, with big
10 10 hot I1n1ar 1t,hioh bic hino1-
eyes still sparkle with subdued brilliancy.
He is now splendid man for his yelrs, as
he was in 1S4S. But his dress never rose
above the slovenly. Now that he has
grown old in years he has still the love for
walking that he had when he visited Corn
wall, and his pipe-a black dudeen-is his
great friend-ever faithful and true, and
seldom parted from his lips for any very
long period. Once in Cornwall he lost his
pipe, but the lady who found it so treasured
her prize that she would not restore it.
His habits were of the simplest, though
strange. He would be down to dinner
punctually at 3 o'clock of an afternoon,
and he was visible from that time until he
went to bed early or late the next morn
ing. Meanwhile he would be discussing
all subjects that appealed to his active and
imaginative braii. When he bade fare
well for the night ne entered his room and
was not seen again until dinner next day.
So his stay in Cornwall was passed. He
drank sherry and he smoked continuously.
He was never without the black dudeen,
which his friends have come to recognize
as part and parcel of the man.
While thus quietly, lazily lying on the
stream of life, being gently carried for
ward, he was engaged in writing that
grand eulogy to his dead friend, Arthur
Hallam, the son of the historian. He had
Just written some of his earlier published
poems, among them 1.-THE Princess" and
in 1850 was published "In Memoriam," of
which he must have written some part in
Mr.. Stokes house at Truro. Meanwhile,
though engaged on this masterpiece he
was the best of company. He was always
ready for discussion.
Curiously enough, he was some time in
doubt as to Robert Browning's claims as a
great poet, or, if he had made up mis- mind,
his opinion was not favorable. On one oc-
casion he asked Mr. Stokes, What do you
| think of Browning?" To which he got
answer, 81 would rather suspend judg-
ment. What do you think?" II would
rather not say" answered the future lau-
reate. He was great admirer of Burns
and Gray. He once said the latter's "Elegy
in Churchyard" he would rather have
written than any poem in the language
Leeds England Mercury.