Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1892-07-08
rrNNvs6N Oven FORTY YEARS Aeo



Personal sfemoirs Of Visit Made BY the
Poet In 1913.
( Mr. Henry sewel Stokes. the clerk 70
the Cornweil county council. knew Lord
tennyson some years before he became
laureate. How he came to be a guest Of
Mr.. Stokes ia lSis. while the latter was
still resident at Truro is curious tale
Tennys0n was very friendly with the
Rev Isaac Hawker OF Morwenstow, as
was Mr. Stokes One day Iennyson came
70 Mr.. Stokes Office, but refused TO 20 up
stairs to the ROOM He, not knowing his
host, had come bearing the name Of Mr.
bawker as introduction. Mr.. Stokes was
not overeasy in his lGind 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 somewhat later date Tennyson
staid for awhile with the Cornish poet
and much can MIR. Stokes relate of the
laureate as he appeared in his prime OF
manhood, quiet and unassuming in man
ner aud little known to the great world OF
letters. He was shortsighted even then
though this affection would not appear
TO have seriously increased with advancing
years Even then he could see nothing
without glasses. His fine blnck eyes were
then brilliant, as ever they were.
Tennyson was never one for devoting
much time and attention to dress. As an
old man of eighty-three he wears the most |
negligee of sun dyed cloaks, with a big |
wiieawake hat under which his black /
eyes still sparkle with subdued brilliar"y |
He is now a splendid man for his years, as
he was ia 1913 But his dress never rose
above the slovenly. Now that he has
grewn old in years he has still the love for
NyAlking that he had when he visited Corn
van, end his pipe-a black dudeen-is his
great frien5zeyer 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 H.
His habits were Of the simplest, though +
strange. He would be down to dinner
punctuallysat 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 brain. When he babe fare
well for the night lie entered his room and
was not seen again until dinner next day
So his stay in Cornwall was passed. He
drank Snerfy ana ne 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 1880 was published "In Memoriam," of ]
which he must have written some part In
Mr. Stokes house at Truro. Meanwhile, I
though engaged on this masterpiece, he {
was the best of company He was always I
ready for discussion. l
CuriOusly enough, he was some time in 7
doubt as to Robert Browning's claims as a
great poet, or, If he had made up his mind
his opinion was not favorable. On one oc-
casion he asked Mr. Stokes, what do you
think Of BrowningP" To which he got 4
answer. II would rather suspend judg- !
nent. What do you think@ II would =
'ather not say" answered the future lau- .
cate. He was great admirer Of Burns h
md Gray. He once said the latter's "Elegy >
a a Churcbyard" he would rather have n
written than any poem in the language +,
leeds Q'ngland) Mercury. b