New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-12
NOTES FROM LONDON.
an TpIBUTES TO TENNYSON-MR. FRED
ERIC HARRISON, LORD SALISBURY,
AND Mr.. IIUXLEY-THE VERB
ITO PLACATEH
London. November >.

.nrv. where at least two persons of Distinction
~, heretofore known a. poets, have put tieif
...,imonv into versified form. The two are the
v0bt Honorable Professor Huxley" and Mr.. James
r.ovles. Editor Of The Review" Mr.. Huxley
:. man of science, biologist, whose life has been
1,voted TO the acquisition Of positive knowledge
IA ~ hard facts He is prose-writer of cNtraor-
rrary powers and he has sense of humor ana
s,ovlcdee of the world. What have led him
a,o verse? His verse has the qualities that
mioht have been expected, sense, true feeling,
.,eness Of expression and note of intellectual
S,ncton Perhaps il comes near TO poetry
pacauav came but the indeinable something,
Tthout which poetry is not poetry. is wanting.
Mr. james Knowles's lines are much more am
btous: not more successful. Either could have
cid. if he would something IN prose which would
hove been interesting. Mr.. Knowles knew Jenny
=, well His relations with the poet were, In
r,ny ways, close He gave him dinners, and his
raeazire was one of the means Iennyson some
lines chose for communicating with the public.
ue was on at least one occasion the business adj
yter Of the poet who was, nevertheless, very well
.ble 70 r. ke care of his own affairs. Mr.. Knowles
slppo ed to have had something to say about
repuvsons choice of Il publisher before he went
10 Mesrs. Macmillan, some eight years ago. Among
Ms services 10 the Laureate, that will not be
rckoned the chief, if il be true that he recon-
nended Mr. Strahan. However, Mr.. Knowles was
aver true friend, and if he chooses to give the
nbc in his own review otherwise, his remin-
.cerps Of Tennyson, they will have a value of
their own.
Mr. Theodore Watts is another Of Mr. Knowles
little band OF lapdareS; curious example Of
o parasite who patronizes his idol; the same
Mr. Watts who said the most offensive thing
about Lowell which appeared in the English
mess lie tells lis that at the funeral of Ten
ryson his eyes beheld what others saw not. and
that the music which others supposed to be
in homage 10 the poet addressed itself to Mr.
II Watts and seemed 10 chime WHO art
,hoa 20 and to tell him tina: Who loves a God
should be of godlike mold; which Mr.. Watts
IS not, it would seem. 1t is uuhappily character
istc of little verse makers like Mr. Watts and
/ Lewis Morris 70 make everything centre in them
selves. and with Tenny,on for text to tell MS
much about Mr. Watts and Mr.. Lewis Nor
MS 1t is interesting; but it is not Tcnnyson.
Mr. Frederic Harrison Is, at this moment, per
haps the happicst man in Her Maiesty'S domin-
ions. lie has had the good fortune 70 attract the
notice Of two distinguished men-Iord Salisbury
and Mr.. Huxley Both have paid him the
/ compliment of replying in print to what he had
himself printed. 1t is, perhaps. a little like the
case of the man who all his life long boasted
that he had been spoken to by George i'll, and on
interrogation, was obliged 70 admit that the
King had said 10 him: Get out of I'll" way
will Won >" What drew Lord Saisburys atcn-
ton to Mr. Frederic Harrison was an intempcr-
ate article on politics in Of the monthly
reviews Mr.. Harrison politics is always anus
ing and this time he more amusing than
usual He had discovered how 10 deal with
the House of Lords. should that body do any-
.hinr displeasng to Nj Frederic Harrison. HIS
scheme had the merit of simplicity. 1t was
merely to swamp the present House by eleNat-
ing five hundred sweeps 70 the peera9e III i
obvious that the political convictions oil IN"
sweeps would be more likely to agree with Mr.
harrison than those Of the present majority OF
Lads.
Lord Salisbury deals humorously with this astu'e
proposal hut hunor is thing of winch MI hut
rsOn hao little sense. and it is thrown away upon
hin. He always takes himself seriously ana IT,
niles seriously in Gladstonian organ to the Con-
servative leaders gool-natured chof. II Is mnch
in the tono which the great preacher OF the I"-
Hgion of Humanity am still referring & MI
Frederic IIarrison-aloped during certain agiia'-
jnr PERIODS of the Parnell Commission lie ana
NOT then like the Attorncv- General, Sir RcAar"
Webster any better than he now likes tie llou'
Of Lords. and Numbered against him in the same
Gladstonan organ, just he now rumblos ana
roars AGAINST the Hereditary Chamber. We must
lsye him down. cried Mr. Harrison. Iiut some
how the General continued TO DO his duty
to his clients and the public, according to his own
and not according TO Mr.. HarrsOn's convictions
and he was not had down, but remained Attorney
General 10 the end Of Lord Salisburys admins
tration.
Mr. Harrison is certainly right in considering
himself a benefactor to Humanity, the Religion Of
which he breaches TO the dozen or so who gather
10 hear him in Newton Chapel, or Newton Place
| Chapel. or Newton HALL forget which Is the
| proper title Of his cOnyenticie. But he Is bene
factor otherwise than lie thinks. Not all OF us
accept him as a teacher, though ms junction III
life, he tells US, is 10 be a teacher. But we are
all grateful 10 him for the amusement with which
be provides US His conception Of his personal re-
atons 10 the rest of the Universe is amusing /
might almost say 10 the other half Of the Universe
for IL is 50 often case of Harrison contra mundun,
and am sure he is neyer for a moment in doubt
that Harrison i, right and the mundu9 wrong.
| Here for example, is Mr.. Huxley. Mr.. Huxley
not long since published a large volume Of Essays
on COntloyerted Questions. incidentally, and
chiefly in a single Essay, he referred to Mr.. Fred
viz harrison, not lear, WIN all the utl'IchuV "
winch that eminent disciple Of Auguste Canie
atcas himself entitled; and we all deem him en-
titled Presently, out comes Mr.. Harrison with a
porten,ous payer in a monthly magazine oddly
named The Fortnightly" The reader of Mr..
EaFfcOns paper who hay Eeyc? seen Mr.. Huxley :
book will be sure TO think the volume mainly Oc-
eapled with Mr.. Harrison AID his conception Of
Nr. iiarri,cn's Importance will naturally be en-
hTsed if he comes 10 imagine that mind Of tie
his eTdcr ike Mr.. lINxloy's, has found that moth
ny lees than a big volume will suffice 70 demoli5h
az. Frederic Harrison Other eminent writer's
nave done II in less space. Nobody will soon for
GET Matthew Arnold's somewhat contemptuous
/ Treatment OF Mr.. Harrison, and his unrespectiul
/ picture Of him "perched on the shoulders Of Il
/ sntslu e oil French pedant" -Augu,,e Clntc, 10