New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-22
TENNYSON IN CORNWALL.
PERSONAL MEMORIES OF HIS EARLIER YEARS.

| PERSONAL MEMORIES OF HIS EARLIER YEARS.
| From The Leeds Mercury.
Mr.. Henry sewen stokes. the clerk to the Corn.
VII County Council knew Lord Tcnnyson some year ns
before he became Laureate How he , came was No s
guest OF Mr.. stokes In ls4s. while me la'er was S
resident at Truro Is curious v alei the Rev. Isaac
how II came about. one day Tennyson came 20 20
Mr. stoke,'s Office, but refused TO 20 upstairs 10 5s
room He. not knowing his host. had com, teaI,ne
the name OF Mr.. Hawkcr introduction. Mr. stokes
wa; not over easy IN his mind on tns wsre away
This fact evidently did not strike the poet a an o.
,tacle TO his visit and he told his host hat T
atcr date Tcnnyson stayed for whlle VIII , ,o
Cornish poet and much can M stoke, raas ~ %
laureate he appeared in his prime 81 ,I,,, ' nuoyn
quiet and unassuming In manner, and llts M,smd
to the great world Of letters lie was short si1' ~
have seriously increased with advancing years Ef y,
Chen he could see nothing without sl" ,scS vs,
Tcnnyson never one for devons mgcn a, , hno
and attention to dress As an old man 81 e COAX
with big wideawake hat under which his bl'ch EYES
still sparkle with snbdued brillianey lie !, now nus
Ids dress never above the s,ovenly Now ,nl, no
that he had when he visited Cornwall and hS ppe az
black dudccn-Is his great frend-sver faithful ana
ns and seldom pdrteGG onw ms c ds r s pe but
the lady who found it s. Treasured her PIKE ar so
T So"s H ss Ss'ce lie would be- down dinner
ally at O'Clock Of afternoon and he was visible h
from that time until he went 10 pea VI
next morning. Meanwhile he would be discussing az
subjects that appealed % his active ana imsshauve
BRAIN When he babe farewell FOR me nisnt ne en-
tered his room and not seen again un,ll Gunner
next day. so his stay In Cornwall was passed ho
drank sherry, and he smoked continuously lie was
without the black dudeen: which his friends rave
como to recognize as part ard parcel OF the man -.
Whilst thus quietly, lazy lying on the streani u
writing that grand enlogy to his dead friend ArtnaS
some Of his earlier published poems. among them Inc
Of which he must have Written part in Mr. stokess
house at Truro Meanwhile though engaged on this
masterpiece. he was the lest OF COMPANY lie was
always ready for discussion. Cautiously enough; nc was
some time In doubt a. % Robert Br)wnirg's claims a.
a great poet; or, II he had made up MS MIND nis
opinion was not favorable on one occasion ne asksd
Mr. Stokes. "What do you think OF browning 70
which he got answer. 81 would rather slspcnd luds.
mcnt What do you think'' 81 would rather nos
SAYS answered the future Laureate lie was great
admrer OF Inrns and Gray. lie once sald the auerS
" EIcgy iu Churcyardr he would rather have written
than any poem IN the language. , A.. , ana
Tie had indeed strong Hiking for Gray. ana
cnsscd him and Burns as the Two greatest Hnc
pOets OF any age or country. lie much loved some
OF Burns's poetry. he would Inger nfectionatoly
over the recital OF We Banks and lra,s Of Bonny
Doom" and was delighted with some q the scotch
poets songs which the late Mrs. stokes used 10
sing Bnt before all. Tennyson PLACED his Biol,.;
lie had also great liking for Dante, Inferno. arg
knew II line for hne lie would boast IN his pleasant
way that II any one Rad one line he could rsc
tho next from memory. And lie invariah' 0a -