The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-07
Conscious to the Last, and So Peaceful Was the
End that Those About Him Scarcely Knew
His Spirit Had Taken Its Flight
His Last Words Spoken to His Wife in
Whispers an Hour Before Death Came,
And When He Fell Asleep 1t Was with Copy
of Shakspeares "Cymbeline" jim His Hand,
His Fingers Marking the Dirge Passage.
ENGLAND'S DEAD BARD.

LONDON, Oct. 6.-Ihe home or the len
nysons at Aldworth is shrouded in sorrow
to-day. aud there is sadness in all En- gland.
for the poet laureate of the kingdom has
passed away. AS announced early this
morning Lord Alfred Tennyson died at
1:S5 O'clock. Soon after midnight the dy-
ing bard motioned to his devoted wife.
Lady Tenpys0n bent over her husband and
be whispered q few words to her. 1t was
the last time he spoke. He betrayed no
sign of suffering, and his features as the
spirit took it's flight, bore look of abso-
lutte peace. Lady Tennyson. his son Hal
lam and his wife. Sir Andrew Clark, DR..
Dabbs, the nurses and others who had
been with him for twenty-five hours. were
at his bedside when death came. He was
tranquil, conscious and painless to the end.
Yesterday morning Lord Tenny yson was
turned, at his request, to face the light
After looking at the window for several
minutes he spoke of the brilliancy of the
sunshine and the clearness of the air.
Early in the afternoon he slept lightly. He
awoke in full consciousness. He asked for
his favorite copy of Shakespeare. turned the
leaves until he found the dirge in "Cymbe-
minutes, moving his lips as if reading to
himself The watchers waited in silence
for him to speak. but he finally laid down
the volume, without having uttered o
word, and with his finger still between the
leaves he fell sleep. The book was not re-
moved. When Tennyson awoke early in
tns ssnn he sbSoRsd soRid SPEAK DebS, oh IN and
Sir Andrew Clark for their watchful at
AaA nh rf 4 h.
ants for their care during his ILLNESS. AS
the evening advanced. the moon rose in un-
usual splendor and flooded the room with
light. Tennys0n watched Ii through the
resting between the pages of Cym beline."
At 1920 o'clock he was sinking fast. Hal
lam TennysOn gave him q few spOOnfuls OF
brandy and milk he swallowed with diff
ishment. A little past midnight he whis-
pered very feebly his last words TO his
wife. His fingers still marked the passages
of"Cymbeline' which he had last read,
and thus he died.
se.s THE DEATH SCENE.
Sir Andrew Clark said that Lord Tenny-
sons death was the most glorious he had
ever seen. There was no artificial light in
the room and the chamber was almost in
darkness. save where broad flood of
moonlight poured in through western
window. The moons rays tell across the
bed upon which the dying man lay, bath
ing him in their pure, pellucld light and
forming q Rembrsndt-like background to
the scene. All was silent save the sough-
ing of the autumn wind as it gently
played through the trees surrounding the
house-a fitting requiem for the gentle
poet, who sang of love and the beauties of
nature. Moti0nless, Lord TennysO son lay
upon his couch. tue tide of his
1. a.
ocean of tho infinite. No rocks of pain OF
sorrow checked its course or caused rip
pie upon the out going tide. AS peacefully and
as gently as he had lived so he died, look
ing until the end into the eyes OF those dear
to him. All the members of his family wore
by his bedside. and SIR Andrew Clarke re-
named by his side from the moment of his
arrival yesterday until he breathed his last
So gentle and painless was his passing g
away that the family did not know he had
gone until DR.. Clarke broke the news to
Lady Tennyson, who bore the closing
scenes of her great trial we'll in spite of her
extremely delicate health.
Hallam Tennyson, the poets son. says
that his fathers death was eminently
peaceful. He did not show a single trace
of suffering TO distress his sorrowIng rela-
tives and friends. Once or twice during
the night he lifted his eyes to the face of
the watchers by his bedside, and beauti-
ful smile played over his features No
doubt as to the future wasOn his wan face.
and. as the end came, he appeared TO fall
asleep. So restful was he and so calmly did
he respond to the beckoning hand of the
angel of death that those who stood beside
him scarcely knew that he had passed
away. Hallam further says that
Lady Tonnyson bears MP with fortltude
under the sorrow that has come to her.
She was with Lord Tehnyson throughout
all his sickness and ministered to all his
wants SO far as 1t was in her power. All
hope was abandoned early in the after
noon. He could take no nourishment and
continued TO grow weaker and weaker un-
til the. end.
DR.. Clark saw Lord Tennyson in London
three months ago. He then told Hallam
Tennyson he thought his father was break
ing up. Sir Andrew said to-day that death
was partially the result of suppressed
gent, complicated with influenza, but 1T
was chiefly due to natural decay. He
added: His end Lord Tennyson might
well have pictured and earnestly desired
as his lot"
LAUREL AT HIS HEAD AND FEET.
The poet lies on the bed where he died.
His beard, usually unkemUt, has been
trimmed and brushed. His hands are
folded on his breast, wreaths of laurel are
at his head and feet and Virginia creepers
and autumn leaves are scattered around
him. The room is lighted dimly with
candles. Although the surroundings OF
the death-bed are solemnly impressive
pains have been taken. in Difference to the
dead poets feelings, often expressed to his
family, to avoid rything suggestive OF
funereal forms. His remains will be placed
in Westminster Abbey. The space re.
served for the body Is just TO the left OF
Robert Browning's tomb. No memorial
service will be held in Haslemere on sun
day but il Is understood the Bishop OF
Winchester will refer in his sermon at the
parish church to the poets death. The
funeral Will be a public one.
The few privileged vieitors entering Aid
worth House are interested in many things
| lying about the entrance hall on chairs
and on the floor. On an umbrella stand is
| a large collection of soft. broad. trimmed
| half brigand-Iike hats black and white
which are so familiar in the public p0r-
| traits OF the dead poet.
IL may be mentioned as q coincidence
that year ago to-day q man died who was
as pre-eminent in his field of labor as was
Stewart Parnell, the great Irish leader
passed away.
DIR. Dabbs writes to the Ximes as follows
Nothing could be more striking than the
closing scene. On the bed lay figure
of breathing marble flooded and bathed
in the light of the full moon. which
streamed through an. orel window
his hand clasping a copy of Shakespeare ht
had asked for recently, and which he KEEP
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