New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-29
COOPER AND WORDSWORTH
AN INTERVIEW AT RYDAL MOUNT.


Thomas Cooper. the veteran Chartist who. as re:
ported saturday, has Just received ed s Grant o.
600 from the Ty nl' on Sne az Ryd
Mount. Cooper had boon nj tarhsle anu stdr'el ~
walk through The Lake contrs ana an aeSou u Iom'
nal in 1880 and was arcrSard Incorporated IN ths
Autobiography ,, ,,,,., ,h,,
Cooptr arrived NJ Rydal Lake IL was very anxious
I, see Wordsworth and have a talk win nun. Dut,
not knowing the poet and having no tloh, Ws
might be- But. summoning all the COURAGE at hs
command he boldly strobe up 10 the poets door ana
knocked In reply 10 inquiry he was tod tat
Wordsworth was nj home; SO lie wIo,e on sup y
papcr Thomas Cooper. author OF The Pureai9ry On
ticdps' desires TO pay his dcvout regards TO Words
worth" In very few minutes he was in the prAs,nte
Of the majestic old man. and was bowins vita deep
and heart iclt homage when Wordsworth seized his
hand and welcomed him with such hearty 'll.y
DO You do D , am ySy IN aPy e 10 So r yS cy m
Nothing strlck Cooper 80 mnch in Wo,cwortht con-
ver-aiion his remark concerning Shartsln t,e
subject Of CoOperS be- n,ouched yp0n
= on were right Wordsworth said have always
said the people were right In what they ass a:
bat yS T9 S S1 n may crt sc is he %
lsh attempt physical force fot which many Of .ou
have been blamabie Byand-by the conversauon
dlif,ed t. other subjects.
There was but one occasion (Says Cooper on which
/ mentioned byron. IL there were tim, he SUI
Il could show you how Lord Byron was lot so gTeat
a poet IA Won think him 10 he-but never mind tla
now had just been chasing his own sonnets ana
"Childe Harold together the nobeSt poetry since
Paradise Lost" but did not rcasS,rt Wnm shu:
Il am pleased TO find h. said, while talking
about Byron, that you preserve your mise chasts
and free fIom rank and corrupt passion. Lord byron
degraded poetry in that respect Mems hels are Dea
enough Poetry sh uld refine and purify tier natures
not make them worse -
Wordworths opinion on renDyson Is interesting.
Cooper asked the poet what his opinion was OF l@
poetry Of the day
There is little that can be called high poetry.
Wordsworth said Mr.. Tennyson aifordi the richest
promise. He will do great things yet and ought "
have done great things By this time ...
Ills sense OF music ! observed seems Iio'o
"Yes,' Wordsworth replied the PERCEPTION 0.
harmony lies In the very essence OF the pets nature
and Mr.. Tennyson gives magnificent proofs that he "
endowed with It,"
Wordsworth spoke of southey In the highest terms;
and again reverted TO politics. "There Mn be great
charevs on the Continent he said. when tIe prs
ent King OF the French dies. But net while
constitutions to their people for knowledge IS sprna,
lug. and constitutional liberty is 20 follow.
Wordsworth also alluded to the spread OF freedom
In England. and descanted with admission on tnS
growth OF mechanics and similar insutit.ons .
THE people are sure TO have the fnncmse, -, S
said with emphasis, knowledge Increases om
you VIII not get all you seek at once-sd you mus
turning to me with smile II will OILY make y0o
longer about It,"
Much Of the conversation between Cooper ana
Wordsworth took pncG Will they wers walklns w
being drawn about the courtyard on vheied chair
and he introduced Cooper % her as poet, ana
hung over her infrmity with the kindsst afe ton
When Cooper left, Wordsworth walked with him 70
peatedly smiling upon me so bencgoenty a,% any
usefulness that almost felt unable . thank him him
left him. adds Cooper. "wth more intense teo1 :
great Intelligence than l had ever felt III ~!
moments OF my life.'