Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1893-06-13

ordinary. Any clever boy could make
as good, and IL Is ridiculous to print
them as evidences of his talent. as has
But as a great man, who has dis
seminated sweetness and light as a
splendid figure in contemporary life; it
seems graceful thing for Mr.. Glad
stone TO place the laurel-crown upon
his head before he dies. Then. too,
this will make il easier for the sue
cessors-for Gladstone's successor and
for Ruskin's.
For my own part, | think the Eng
lish laureate should be not a didactic,
descriptive or narrative poet, but
lyrist; and that Of course means the
next English laureate should be Alger-
non Charles Swinburne. IL is out of
my own personal knowledge of the
man and acquaintance with him that
| speak, when | say that certain objec-
tions which have been urged against
him-chiefy touching his character
and opinions are not valid, or at
least, are no longer valid objections.
We must bethink ourselves that his
brain is big brain and his body a
slight body. He has therefore not the
physical ballast that you or have,
and indulgences that might be quite
harmless for one of us will simply de-
prive him of self-control. He has no
measure for his enthusiasm which will
take control of him and make a very
extravaganza showing. when there has
been. as matter Of fact, only such
an experience as we are all familiar
with and pay no attention TO. You
might think he was intoxicated, when
in reality he had taken but a single
glass of wine; and you might fancy
him a slave TO another form of de-
bauchcry when he was merely in love
and telling about il. His life has been
like the lives of other men; only his
emotional nature - his excessively
emotional nature-nIales more display
of the common experiences. lie is
demonstrative; that's the amount of
IL. Moreover, Sw:nburne is no longer
SO radical as formerly, but is quite fit
to hold Office under the crown. owing
To changes in his sentiments during
the last five years, in which respect he
is unlike William Morris. who stands
committed To opposition 20 the mon
archy.
IF not Swinburne. then Austin Dob
son would be a worthy choice. In the
whole history of English poetry no poet
has written more delicately and de-
liciously than he. His hest is as good
as Sir John Stockings best. and then
his average is higher"
Mr.. Stedman spoke strongly in favor
of the continuance of the laureateship,
comparing il with the French academy.
and saying that il had never been SO
important as at the present time.
At this point Mr.. Stedman took from
the ok-shelycs a volume of his "Nic-
torian Pocts" and called attention to
what he had written regarding his
favorite-of which the following pass
ages are of especial interest At the pres
ent time:
Il wish To speak upon the one faculty
in which Swinburne eXccls any living
English poet; in which ! doubt If his
equal has existed among recent poets
of any tongue. unless Shelley be ex-
cepted. or, possibly, some lyrist of the
modern French school. This is his
miraculous gift of rhythm. his command
over the unsupported resources of
language. Before the advent Of Swim
burne we did not realize the full scope
of English verse. In his hands il is
like the violin Of Paganini. The range
Of his fantasies, roulades, arias, new
effects of measure and sound. is incom-
para BILE with anything hitherto known
He was "A born tanner of words a sub
duer Of this most stubborn, vet most
copious Of the literary tongues"
Mr.. Stedman speaks confidently in
regard To- Mr. Swiuburne's future. and
as though the full recognition of his
genius, and the highest official reward
that could be bestowed in token q
such popular recognition. were surely
coming Ia his friend in the fulluess of
time.
Don't Won suppose that PadcrewSki
plays IA" better than Mozart dido"
asked Mr.. Stcdman. And vet Mozart
was a greater musician-waS one of
the really and permanently great
makers of music"
by this he intended To Illustrate
Swinburne'S superb execution, with
the two hundred thousand words OF the
English language for "A keyboard.
\ happy illustration.