The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-07-23
COOPER AND WORDSWORTH.
An Interview with tho Aged Poet "a rev
Years Before His Death.

An Interview with the Aged Poet rev
Years Before His Death.
Thomas Cooper, the veteran churtist,
who has received a grant Of e2O0 from the
Civil List, had, on one occasion, a very
interesting interview with Wordsworth
at Rydal Mount. Cooper had been at
Carlisle and started on n walk through
the Lake country.
1t was on the third day after leaving
Carlisle that Cooper arrived at Rydal
Lake. He was very anxious to see
Wordsworth and have talk with him,
but, not knowing the poet and having
no introduction, was rather doubtful as
to what the nature Of his reception might
be. But, summoning all the courage at
his command, he boldly strobe up to the
poets door and knocked.
In reply to an inquiry he was told that
Wordsworth was at home; so he wrote
on slip of paper, "Thomas Cooper,
author Of The Purgatory of Suicides,
desires to pay his devout regards to
Wordsworth In a very few minutes
be was in the presence of the "maicstic
old man, and was bowling with deep
and heartfelt homage when Wordsworth
seized his hand and welcomed him with
such a hearty "How do you do: ann
very happy 10 sec you, that Cooper saws
the tears stood in his eyes for ioy
/ Nothing struck Cooper so much in
/ WOrdsworth's conversation as his re-
mark concerning chartislu-after the
/ subject of Cooper's imprisonment had
/ been touched upon. "You were right. -"
Wordsworth said; Il have always said
the people We're right in what they asked;
but you went the wrong way to get it.
There is nothing unreasonable in your
charter. 1t is the foolish attempt at
/ physical force for which many of YOU
have been blamable." BY and by the
conversation drifted to other subjects.
There was but one occasion, SAYS
Cooper, ON which discerncd the feeling
of jealousy in him; it was when men
toned Byron. IF there were time" he
said, 81 could show you how Lord
Byron was not so great a poet as you
think him TO be-but never mind that
now.g had Just been chasing his own
/ sonnets and "Childe HAROLD together
as the noblest poetry since Paradise
/ Lost, but did not rcassert what said.
q am pleased to find, 81 he said, while
| talking about Byron, "that you preserve
| your muse chaste and free from rank
and corrupt passion. Lord Byron de
| graded poetry in that respect. Mems
hearts are bad enough, Poetry should
refine and purify their natures, not
make them worse
Wordsworth's opinion ON Teuuysun is
interesting. Cooper asked the poet what
his opinion was Of the poetry of the day:
''Ihere is little that can be called high
poetry, Wordsworth said Mr.. Ten
nyson affords the richest promise. He
will do great things yet, and ought to
have done great things by this time.
ellis sense Of music" 1 observed,
"seems more perfect than that Of any of
the new race Of poets"
"Yes," Wordsworth replied: 1.-THE per-
ception Of harmony lies in the very cs-
sence of the poets nature, and Mr.. Ten
nyson gives magnificent proofs that he
is endowed with it,"
Wordsworth spoke of Suuthey in the
highest terms, and again reverted to
politics. There will he great changes
on the Continent" he said, "whcu the
present king Of the French dies, but
not while he lives. The different gov
ernments will have TO give constitutions
to their people, for knowledge is spread
ing, and constitutional liberty is sure to
follow Wordsworth also alluded tC
the spread Of freedom in England, and
descmted with animation on the growth
of mechanics and similar institutions.
"The people are sure to have the fran,
chise, he said with emphasis, ''as llnowl
edge increases but you viii not get all
you seek at once, and You must never
seek IL again by physical force" he
added, turning to me with a smiles I'll
will only make you longer about it,
Pail Mall GuZettp