The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-10-18
ANECDOTES OF TENNYSON.

The Poet Laureate Liked His Mutton Cut
in Chunks-Reading His Works.
Tennysoa married a daughter OF Henry
SelIwood, by whom he hal two sons,
Hallam, who has inherited some of his
fathers poetic ability, and Lionel, the
promise of whose career wa cut short by
death in 1886. For many years the ia
vorite home of the Tennysons has been at
Farringford House. Freshwater. on the
Isle of Wight. IL is a charming place,
with yined walls. uncovered in trees
overlooking the ''silver streak" of the
British Channel. A very Mecca of the
great it has been; Kingsley, Maurice.
Lonsfellow, Locker, Dean Stanley. the
Duke of AIyll, Garibaldi, Darwin and
tue Prince Consort having been among
the frequent and familiar guests. Ii IS
told that on one occasion, when reading
Maud" TO an illustrious company, and
reaching the w~ell-known lines:-
Birds in the high Hall garden.
When twilight had fallen,
Maud. Maud, Maud, Maud,
They were crying and calling"
he stopped short. anu asked a lady pres
ent-an eminent author-what birds those
We're.
Observation-Disclosures. l suppose,
sir, she falteringly replied.
''Pshaw, mol" returned he; "what a
cockney you are, to be sure. Night
inEaleS Q0nG say MAUD. ROCKS 10, UT
something like it; cav, cav, cawl Maud,
Maud, Maud. Cav. cav. cawl"
it must be admitted that the interior OF
the T~eADyson home was not in the good
taste to be expected, nor was the poet the
best of hosts, for unlike Browning, he
did not shine in conversation, though
| when he deigned to speak the thoughts
expressed were full of wisdom and sug-
gestiop, and he lacked Browning's urban
ity. Yet it was a treat never to be for
gotten 10 hear him read one of his w
| poems in a rich and most millifiuous bar
itone voice. 1t Is said that Oh one occ T.
sion at an important dinner he ate In
silence. 1t was noticed at one point that
the poet was about to speak, aud a death
like stiffness fell over the company rs
they awaited the poetic thought or words
of sage experience to be uttered. 1t may
nave been malice at seeing this expect
ancy that caused the laureate to say. as be
passed his plate:-
81 like my mutton cut in chunks"
Then he lapsed into t~acituruity again.
On another occasion the poet was at a
garden party gwen by a popular young
marchioness. She observed HIM In ii
corner surrounded by a group of young
ladies, but paying no attention to Them,
and munchiug a sandwich. The march
iouess approached aud made a 8 milling
remark ABOUT his entertainment, to which
he replied:-
Does your ladyship usually feed your
guests with sandwiches made Of old
shoest"
The poor lady was almost ready TO
weep with mortificatien, seeing which
Tennyson arose, saying
Pardon me, your ladyship; pardon me.
But yeu know TOW irritable an old man
becomes. | pray you take my arm.
There are PROBABLY many people here
whom you think l should meet"
He atoned for this brutal remark by an
exhibition of grace and %urbanity. and
read one of his own poems to the delight
of hostess and guests alike.
On another occasion. when he found
that he had hurt u young lady by an ir
ritated reply to a request to real a Verse
he changed his manner, said a few sooth'
ing words and read a long poem in mis-
best manner .-PhtlddeIphdo Press.