Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-06
THE DYING LAUREATE.
A Sketch of Alfred Tennyson-The Quiet of
His Declining Years.

| A Sketch of Alfred Tennyson-The Quiet o
His Declining Years.
Alfred Tennyson was born on August 6,
1909. at Somerby, a village in Lincolnshire,
about half way between Spilsby and Horn
| castle q He was one of the IL children
(of whom seven were sons) of the Rev. G.
Clayton Tennyson, LII. D. rector of Somerby
and vicar of Grimsby. Alfred was taught
the ,rudimentarv subjects. partly at home
and partly at "Eadney's Village School, u
Alfred Tennyson's first verses were written
upon the model of Thomson's stSeasons. -
In 1928 he went to Trinity College, Cam
bridge, and in 1929 gained gold medal 70,
poem on Timbuctoo. He published his
| first volume of poetry about this time, and
in 1882 his second volume was published by
Mr.. Edward Moxon. The story that 'Iock.
sley Hall" was based upon personal expert
ence is said to have not the slightest founda.
tion.
In 1850 he was married to Miss Emily
Sellwood and In the same year succeeded
Wordsworth as poet laureate, and produced
on the day of the funeral of the Duke of
Wellington (November, 1857, his immortal
'Ode: The Crimean war e1erted de-
pressing effect on the sensitive genius, as
evidenced by his poem "Maud. After a
silence of several years the first series of
s1dyls of the King," embracing four stories
in blank verse, drawn from the Arthurian
legends, restored the poets waning popu-
larity, and was generally accepted as his
greatest poetical effort, a verdict confirmed
ten years later when the cycle was COM
pleted by the publication of the 'Holy
Grail and Other Poems" (1S69). In the in
terval between the publication Of the Sec
ond parts of his Idyls Tennyson had issued
'tEnoch Arden" Qs64). He has since then
published the "Window, or the Songs of the
Wrens" (1s7O) and several dramas, lyrics,
ballads, etc.
A Picturesque Old Gentleman.
A London correspondent writes in a re-
cent letter: Speaking of Tennyson's prede-
cessors and possible successor, had the
rare pleasure of seeing the old poet in Lon
grows older he seems to dislike the city
more and more, and he never visits it ex-
cept when some important business takes
him there.
It was at the Atheneum Club, q group of
men were chatting, when their attention
was drawn to two men who we're slowly
passing on the opposite side of Pail Mall.
One of these was sturdy enough man
approaching middle age, but looking young
indeed beside the man who walked arm in
arm with him, for the latter was ,veritable
patriarch in appearance. He was more
over man who would attract attention in
bent with years and covered
with wondrously ilI-ftting suit of some
gray material He wore hat like, and yet
unlike, the American SLOUGH. His boots
were wide and stout, almost coarse, his
cellar ill-itting and his cravat carelessly ar
ranged But you forgot all about his dress
when you looked at his face, SO calm and
strong; it was set off by.a great shaggy head
of white hair, and a beard such as the
patriarchs are supposed to have worn.
picturesque looking old chap that" one
of the loungers in the club window remarked
carelessly.
Another of the loungers, who had been
watching the pair closely, turned and
looked closely and curiously at the speaker.
perhaps" he said, with just trife of
sarcasm in his voice, "you don't know who
that picturesque old chap is"
"Haven't the slightest idea, the other
one drawled.
"Well, that picturesque old chap, as you
call him, is Alfred Tennyson, and that is
his son Hallam with him. Take a good
look at the laureate while you have a
chance. He doesn't come often to London
now, Sno ~ LIS sse ony VI 1ne tliPs may
easily be his last one"
Witnessed Rare Sight.
And the group did look at the old man
with all their eyes, until he slowly passed
beyond their gaze leaning on the arm of his
son.
The idlers in the window had witnessed a
sight rare indeed in London, tor it is only
at long intervals that the poet laureate
allows himself to be drawn within heariug
of the noise and din of the great overgrown
city. All his life he has loved the hills,
and long low downs, the sea and the soli-
tude of the country far more than he has
cared for towns Indeed, it is doubtful If
the old poet would give up his beautiful
home ct Haslemeres on the Isle Of Wight,