The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-10-19
kENRIDGE NEWS.
|lyNEsDAY, OCTOBER 10, 1892.
COOPER AND WORDSWORTH.

1OOTEn ANU WO1DOWOhl fI'
Interview with the Aged Poet n Few
Years Before His Death.
nomas Cooper, the veteran chartist,
has received n grant of e200 from the
List, had, ON one occasion, a very
POSTING interview with Wordsworth
ydal Mount. Cooper had been at
&le and started ON a walk through
ke country.
as on the third day after leaving
that Cooper arrived at Rydal
He was very anxious to see
lsworth and have a talk with him,
mot knowing the poet and having
Introduction, was rather doubtful as
THAT the nature of his reception might
But, summoning oil the courage at
command, he boldly strobe up to the
rs door and knocked.
ply to an inquiry he was told that
worth was at home; 80 he wrote
slip Of paper, Thomas Cooper,
\ of The Purgatory Of Suicides,
to pay his devout regards to
worth" In very few minutes
In the presence of the majestic
ih," and was bowling with deep
lrtfelt homage when Wordsworth
his hand and welcomed him with
hearty "How do you dop am
}fpv to see you," that Cooper says
rs Mood in his eyes for joy.
hing struck Cooper so much in
lsworth's conversation as his re-
concerning chartism--after the
ct Of Cooper's imprisonment had
touched upon. "You were right"
sworth said; 81 have always said
6ple were right In what they asked;
ON went the wrong way to get it.
is nothing unreasonable in your
er. II Is the foolish attempt at
heal force for which many of you
been blamable." By and by the
ersation drifted to other subjects.
here was but one occasion, says
Der, on which discerned the feeling
1alousy in him; it was when men,
Byron. "If there were time," he
~ could show you how Lord
Iwas not so great poet as you
him to be-but never mind that
Il had just been CHASING his own
cts and "Childe Harold" together
Che noblest poetry since Paradise
It," but did not reassert what said.
" am pleased to find" he said, while
Fling about Byron, "that you pressfVe
pr muse chaste and free from rank
corrupt passion. Lord Byron de-
5ded poetry in that respect. Mems
krts are bad enough. Poetry should
e and purify their natures, not
ke them worse"
Yordsworth's opinion on Tennyson is
resting. Cooper asked the poet what
8ppinion was of the poetry of the day:
There is little that can be called high
Fry" Wordsworth said. "Mr. Ten
pm affords the richest promise. He
do great things yet, and ought to
done great things by this time"
His sense of music" | observed,
pms more perfect than that of any of
pew race of poets.
es," Wordsworth replied; "the per-
ION of harmony lies in the very es-
of the poets nature, and Mr.. Ten
fn gives magnificent proofs that he
dowed with it.
Wordsworth spoke of Southey in the
fest terms. and again reverted to
tics. "There will be great changes
the Continent" he said, "when the
TENT king of the French dies, but
awhile he lives. The different gov
nents will have to give constitutions
heir people, for knowledge is spread
and constitutional liberty is sure to
Iow." Wordsworth also alluded to
4 spread of freedom in England, and
seanted with animation on the growth
and similar institutions.
'sThe people are sure to have the fran
Use, he said with emphasis, "as knowl-
&c increases; but you will not get all
b seek at once, and you must never
* it again by physical force" he
bed, Burning to me with smile; at
only make you longer about it,
Mall Gazette.
I'll.