The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-07
LORD TENNYSON'S DEATH
1t Was as Peaceful and Gentle as
Was His Life.
CLAsPING A COPY OF SHAKESPEARE

The Poet Passed Away-His Body 10
Rest in Westminster Abbey-AIger-
non Swinburne May be Appointed
Poet Laureate.
LONDON, Oct. ALFRED Tennyson
died at 1885 o'clock in the morning.
Lady Tennyson, his son Hallam and his
wife, Sir Andrew Clark, DR.. Dabbs the
nurses and other servants who had been
with him for twenty-five years were at
his bedside when death came. He was
tranquil, conscious and painless to the
end.
Wednesday morning Tennyson was
turned, at his request, to face the light.
After looking at the window for several
minutes he spoke of the biilliancy 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 Shake
hpeare, turned the leaves until he found
"Cymbeline," and gazed at one page for
several 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 word, and, with his
finger still between the leaves, he fell
asleep. The book was not removed.
Died with Shakespeare in His Hand.
When Tennyson awoke toward even
ing he could speak only in a weak
whisper. He thanked DIR. Dabbs and
Sir Andrew Clark for their faithful at
TOM aa,1 4 4. e
servants who had helped care for him
during his illness and whispered a word
or two of gratitude to the nurses. 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 1880 o'clock he
was sinking 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
SIN all my experience" said Sir An
drew Clark, 81 never witnessed any
tliilB iilpIt SlOllOuS. Intre were no ar
tlticial lights in the chamber. All was
darkness except for the silver light of
the full moon, which fell upon the bed
and played upon the features of the dy-
ing poet like the halo in Rem brandt
picture"
The end was beautiful, calm and
painless" said Hallam Tennyson. "He
passed away as if in sleep, and the
watchers could hardly distinguish the
final moment"
His Possible Successor.
The Pail Mall Gazette thinks that Mr..
Gladstone will appoint Algernon Swim
burne to the post of poet laureate, made
vacant by the death of Lord Tennyson.
1t quotes from a recent article in The
Speaker, written by Mr.. Gladstone, en-
titled British Poetry in the Nineteenth
Century" After awarding Tennyson
the palm, Mr.. Gladstone wr0te "Press-
ing upon him or walking in the same
path, we have many true poets, some ex-
traordinary and many others of very con
siderable powers. Among those claim
ing the first Of these descriptions we
have mentioned Browning, and merest
justice requires that we add Swim
burne."
The Gazette adds: "In view of tho
abuse Swinburne has lavished upon Mr..
Gladstone, the choice would be charac
teristic and an instance of great mans
magnanimity."
The Tennysons have no family burial
ground, and Lord Tennyson's body will
be inferred in Westminster Abbey. The
space reserved for the dead poets body
is just to the left of Brownings tomb.
His funeral will be public.
James Whitcomb Riiey's Tribute.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind, Oct. 7.-The News
prints the following an Memorium,"
by James Whitcomb Riley, on Tennyson:
We of the New World clasp hands with the
Old.
In newer ferver and with flrmer hold
And nobler 70 lowship,
o, master singer, with the finger tip
OF Death laid thus on thy mclOdious lin;
Ali ages thou hast honored with thine art,
Aud oil ages yet unborn thou wilt be part.
OF all songs pure and true,
Thine now the universal homage due
From Old and New World--aye, and still
the New.