Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-12-30
ANECDOTES ABOUT TENNYSON

An ImpertinenL Question to IA Lady Met Il
Staggering iepiy.
George w. Smalley furnishes the
New York Tribune some interesting
gossip about Tennyson. Lord Hough-
ton, Richard Monclton Mines, was one
of the poets most intimate friends,
and often INDUCED i'll chaff at his eX-
pense. This oddly assorted pair, on
Il certain evening now many years ago,
We're dining together at the house of Il
common friend, and Houghton betook
himself TO his favorite amusement. He
sat directly opposite Tennyson, and the
moment either of them spoke to the
other everybody else became silent.
'Tennyson,' said Houghton in his easy
way, for no Enslishman was ever light
er in hand, L have got Il number of
your earliest unpublished poems in your
own handwriting, and as soon as you
are dead l shall print them Tennyson
stared grimly at his tormentor, and,
after a pause which fixed everybody s
attention, answered.: You beast 1t
was said half hunmorously, half angri-
ly, bst it silenced Houghton as if it had
been Il blow"
The story shows that Houghton dc
served the nickname given to him by
Sydney Smith, ''The Cool of the Even
ing" but it does not bring out Tenny-
son in a very amiable light.
The laureate went into society some
times, and did not always nave his
own way there. A favorite resort was
the Bedford house in Elton square. at
was at a party there one evening that
he saw certain great lady, Of whom
he had heard. but whom he did not
know He desired to be introduced to
her, or perhaps-for his ways were
sometimes regal-desired that she might
be presented to him. In whichever
way it was the ceremony was transact
ed, and Tennyson's second rtn.ark was
this question: oh, Lady Blank, do [
know Lord Blank?' The person about
whom he thus inquired was peer
who though young, had won much dis
tinction in public life and was widely
known in private. His wife, as 1t hap
pened, was devoted to him and jealous
Of any word which sounded like dis
paragement of his position or indiffer-
ence to his renown. She looked Tenny-
son in the face and answered, with
perfect composure Of manner: I am
sure, Lord Tennyson, I can't say.
never heard him mention your name in
my life For moment the poet stag
gered by this straight hit from the
shoulder, but he had the good sense
and good temper to take it well. He
liked man, or a woman either, who
would face him in his most arrogant
moods"
Tennyson, at the request OF near
friend. consented to invite lady who
admired him greatly to visit at Aid
worth. She came and eat next the
poet at luncheon, but he never address
ed a word to her, and when the meal
was over. retired to his room. 1t was
not altogether boorishness on his part,
Mr.. Smalley says. but he had forgotten
an about the invitation and was In one
of his solitary moods.
On another occasion he became en-
crossed in talk with guest, the sub
ject being the coming production OF
his drama 1.-THE Cup" and the result
was scene that Is sometimes enacted
between clown and pantaloon in the
pantomime:
GAS he talked he drank, and, not
noticing his friends empty glass. filled
his own till the decanter was drained.
Then he said: ''That was very good
bottle Of port. don't You think? Shall
we have anothery And. the guest as
senting. the butler brought in second
decanter, which went through just the
same experience as the first, MI. Blank |