Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-07
READS LIKE A POEM
Scenes i'm the Last Hours of the
Poet Laureate.
DEATH OF ALFRED TfNNYSON
Commented On BY the English Press.
Swin5urne Suggested for His Sue
cessor as Poet Laureate.


ngrses and other servants who had
been with him for twenty-five years,
were at MS bedside when death came.
He was tranquil, conscious and pain
less to the end. Yesterday morning
Tennyson WAS turned at bis request, 10
face the hight. After looking AT the
window for several minutes, he spoke
of the brilllancy OF the sunshine anG
the clearness OF the air. Early IN the
afternoon ne slept lightly. He
awoke in full consciousness. He
asked for his fayorite copy of
Shakespeare, turned the leaves
until be found "Cymbshne" and gazed
at one page for several minutes, NOV
ing his lips as if reading TO himself.
The watchers waited IN silence for him
to speak. bat he finally laid down the
volume without uttering word, and
with his finger still between the leaves
fell asleep. The book was not re-
moved. When Tennyson awoke to-
ward evening he could speak only IN
Ncdk Wnscptl. t1c tlailhtu bdbDc
and Sir Andrew Clark for their faith
full attendance and commended each
of the servants who had helped care
for him during his illness and WINS
pered word or two of gratitude to
the nurses.
Dies Ciasping Book OF Shakespeare.
AS the evening advanced the moon
rose in unusual splendor and flooded
the room with light. Tennyson watched
it through the curtainless window with
his hand still resting between the leaves
of "Cymbeline." At 80 he was sink
ing fast. Hallam Tennyson gave HIM
few spoonfuls of brandy and milk.
He swallowed with difficulty and was
unable to take further nourishment
At midnight he whispered very feebly
his last words to his wife. HIS finger
still marked the passages of "Cymbe-
line." which he had last read. and thus
he died.
"In all my experience" said Sir An
drew Clark, al never witnessed any
thing more glorious. There were no
artificial lights in the chamber. All
was darkness except for the eliver light
of the full moon, which fell upon the
bed and played upon the features Of
the dying poet like the halo IN q Rem
brandt picture. The end was beauti-
full, calm and painless"
Said Hallam Tennyson: "He passed
away as if in sleep and the watchers
could hardly distinguish the final mo-
ment."
During the last two days of his i'll
ness Tennyson was told occasionally
of the hundreds of kilograms of in
Quirv received at Aldworth, and he ex-
pressed repeatedly his gratitude that
so many persons, far and near, were
watching anxiousiy the course of his
illness. Hallam Tennyson read the
dispatches from the queen each day
until yesterday, and his father listened
with evident pleasure. Lady Tennyson
made brave effort this morning to
rally under her grief, but she is almost
prostrated by sorrow and fatigue.
Tardy Announcement of His Death.
The poets death was announced only
after prolonged deiay. Shortly before
2o'clock the sky became clouded and a
cold rain began to fail. Most of the
reporters who had waited outside the
gate left. Some time later Sir Andrew
Clark left the house TO take his car
rage for London, aud from him came
the first news Of the poets death. This
evening Tennyson lies on the bed on
which he died. He looks hardly sixty
years old. The lines and wrinkles
have vanished from his face. and his
beard. usually unkempt, 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
rooa, is lighted dimIy with candles.
Although the surroundings of the
death bed are solemnly impressive,
pains have been taken in Difference 20
the dead poets feelings often expressed
to- his family to AVOID everything sug-
gestive of funeral forms. The space
reserved in Westminster Abbey for
Tennyson's body Is just TO toe LETT OF
/ Robert Browning's tomb. No memoir
ial service will be held in Hazlemere
on Sunday, but II Is understood that
/ the bishop OF Winchester viii refer in
! his sermon at the parish church 10 the
1 poets death. Several evening news
/ papers were today n mourning tor
Tennyson. All published long leaders
! that show a proper estimate of Ten
I b1 SUI HDcleibA oAAAoAAE sht 80 'tAAisb
I poets.
Comments of the English Press
The St. James Gazette SAYS 'fThe
T poet Of our age has gone, with MS
singing robes about him, leaving a
name which vii not die. II NAV be
T that others scared higher aud touched
! deeper notes. but none spoke more
words which knock at the hearts "A
I the men Of bis time. lie embodied
/ al that IS the best in tbe Victorian age.
Since Goethe, none has had q larger
son, bat tie Englsh owe him more
Z than the tieTmsns owe Goethe. The
/ whole world IS poorer bY his death "
lne Pail Mall Gazette says. II.
naa4e viii SHINE through the ages ir
I the poeucai GALAXY. According 10 ths
judgement II the civilized world. ht
/ wa immortal long before he died "
The Gazette adcs that Swinburne vi
/ probably succeed TeuuyR0n sc pos
/ laureate snd that in view Of tie abuses
I SwInbarne has lsvished upor &r
Gladstone. the choice v0nld he chsrac
tsrstic and N Instance Of a grss
mans msgnsnim.ty.
The Post savs. "He vas the Men
deissohu Of poets. He pisyed upor
the unvaiced emotions of hearts. Poe
teflty probably Wi not reckon him a
p gh az Milton or Shakespeare. Evei
Browning had iofter notes None
however. upheld better EnEland's nann
and fame: never va there cieare
guide 90 things besntf9i. There va
rs mysticism IN hs ~ nd, 4 vss =
rlscd e. lake.
TIE giote saws. I'VE hsve Fl ~