New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-08

tleness and mildness OF manner, had nevertheesn
strong opinions of his own on certain matters ana
acked the courage OCCASIONS to speak MS m'u
Here Is an amusing reference TO Chauncey Hare Town
send an unorodox parson Of tho day, whose literary
remains, by the way, were aftrrward gnthere1 10
gethcr edited by Charles Dickens. The reverend
gentleman has somehow other fnllcn under the Dan
of his displeasur In part we gather on account OF
some comment criticism on WUuswofus cohposr
tion not too politely expressed.
"The Rev. Chauncey Hare Townsend he wrlfes'
is as pretty n rascal as ever put on snrpce. lie
IL one OF southcy's most intimate friends. and has
been for about dozen or fourteen years. curing
a good part OF which period have occasionally seen
linn on very friendly terms. both Mt Cambridge
where I have dlned With him. and at my own
was cordially received twice. while this attack upon
| my person and writing IN process.
"The thing as an intellectual production Is snfe
in It's own vileness Who that ever felt n line OF my
| poetry would trouble himself TO crush miserable
| maggott crawlcd ont Of the dead oarcnss of inc
Edinburgh Review But too much Of this
| lie also INDUCES not infrcduently In cansc re-
marks women who write, toward whom ne hi",ss
| retained n rooted objection IT Is snid that "I'er
Miss Martineau took mp her residence In his neigh
| borhood this adherence to authoresscs sometimes
took such active expression that the deaf lady was
frequently obliged to what she could not near
| and perforce to recognize TINT her presence was
unwelcome at Rydnl Mornt. She herself, however
| makes no mention OF anything Of the kind. when al
ludIne TO the rdsworths and her intercourse with
| them.
on one OCCASION. nfter unsparingly c0ndemn'nc
work by Miss scdgwick. he concludes his criticism
thus: "such productions add to my dislike OF
| literary ladies--indced make me almost detest 'he
name, And further on again find the rather sweep
| ing announcement that "blue stocknlsm Is sao'y
| at enmiy with true refinement OF MIND MS
! in rafo epccf IA COpr1dge. whom ne
| rather pettishy accuses VI monopolkng Mr.. o"i'-
Imam, attention on one ocrnson during the time OF
| the lattcrs engagement 10 his daughter Dora. Fer
hans rs the rcmurk IL made III letter to Ouilllnnn
himself something In the nature OF tacr rcproo'
| may hc included In It for him also.
| That Wordsworth entertained high ideal OF woman'
hood in the abstract IS undoubtcd and Is evident III
most Of his poetry: but II Is equally trne that he
coud III support contradiction Interference from the
| ladies Of his family from whom. by The way ~
was likely 10 meet with very little Of either lie
was lord paramount IN his home; the central figure
Of a group Of devoted and faithful admirers who
cou,d soc no Jaw in ANYTHING he said or did. His
sister and his .iscrin-laN resided constantly win
them. joining wife and daughter in one hvarablc
chnnt of praise his gr-a, gifts, and yeneraion Tor
! his gcninS..
| Under such circumstances who could wonder nj tho
growing weakness for universal appreciation which
IS said to have bcsct In his latter days The erahd
cid Lake poet
Doubtless also the II, quiicns British tourist. who
stll stalks the earth dealing out ccsolaon wherever
| he pcnetrates has much 10 answer for from MS
pernIcious custom Of hunting down celebrities Win
| unceasing incursons their privacy.
| When reviewing the lives Of most men OF marx
We are generally able 10 observe that one particular
neriod I'm their career will stand ont In brilliant r."
l.cf 10 the rest can. rule, point Enthusiastically
70 the rise the climax. and the srbsd"nce OF power
in th rather rare Instances OF longevity In conn"co"
with genius.
| In Worisworth's case the zenith 81 his 1""ucal
insprso was concentrated into remarkably shor'
spacc OF time aud he was doubtless painfully awnre
I'm the closing years OF his long life. OF his III
| ability 10 reach his own earlier STANDARD. In some
Of these very letters there IL abundant evidence Thai
such was the case. Non sum quslis cram j. the
pathetic burden Of several OF them. II may be that
n natural anxiety to max, the most of high rcpuih
| lion he had ~ Justly won. and of !hc waning o
| which he NAV have been nnlnrpIly conscious. 70
| suited in his old age IN Tenacious craving FOL
outward and visible signs OF that sort Of popularity
which In former days. ne had probably regarded VIII
Indifference.
However this may he. fitting conclusion To Ties
| suggestions may be fvnnd In one n'orr quotation o
his own words arising from the consideration OF u'
praises bestowed upon great and good men
"Thr noiIest Of mankind" he Observes, q have beer
found when Intimately known. TO be Of character
80 imperfect that eulcgist car md subject "hi'l
will venture upon with the Animation necessary Il
crentc sympathy. unless he confines ,h'ihseil I"
particular nrt or he takes something ~ onc-sid''
view OF tho person he is disposed to celebrate
"This- he add !. ais a melancholy truth