Morning journal and courier., 1893-01-07

Observation-TneL Late Lord 'Eenny-
son and HIS Rare Port Wine-a
Good aud n Bad British Custom
Wrniths of the OIde n Roman Roads
Edinburgh.
LONDON, Dec. 81.
To the Editor OF the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
An eminent German author and myself
vieited Farringford House, Isle of Wight,
the home of the late Lord Tennyson, a
few months before the poets death. In
his later years, the laureate, forgivably
enough, received this sort of tribute rath-
er charity, as he had somehow become pos
sessed of the odd suspicion that literary
pilgrims sought his cellar, famous for the
oldest and choicest port wine in England,
rather than for opportunity for worship
ping at the shrine Of mis- personality.
We found him among the shrubbery
which luxuriously hides the ouaint old
place, wandering in tie verdure and bios
SONS like an unreasonable 81. Nicholas
masquorading beneath a frowsy slouch
hat. He received us kindly enough, but
with brusque familiarity; as though We
had been importunant tenants coming to
insist upon rent reductions, and led Us d.
rectly to mis- study. The one man servant
of the place instantly appeared, with the
air of a country inn servitor awaiting a
dubious order from questionable guests.
The great poet simply said, ''Twol" with
q deprecating gesture; motioned Us TO a
seat upon an ancient lesther-covered set
tie; tossed his slouch hat into a corner of
the study and sank wearily into his capa-
cious easy chair at the study table, as If
about to undergo an unpleasant ordeal
Tennyson eyed my German friend with
evident mistrust until the man servant re-
turned with two bottles of port wine,
glasses for his visitors and a huge dock
glass, holding at least pint, for himself.
Then the great man deliberately put an
end to conversation by abruptly declaring
that he felt unable to discuss German phi
losophy or American politics; pushed one
bottle and the glasses toward Us; and held
| the other bottle by the neck as If fearful
| 1t might somehow disappear. 1mpa.iently
| motioning us to psrtske, he at once helped
/ himself TO a good half pint of wine, to
| which was added half as much cold water.
This was repeated, until in a half hours
| time his own bottle had been entirely
emptied. We said some pleasant things
and came away. Ny German friend wss
| furious; more furious over the quality ot
| the wine that had been served to Us than
the poets apparent sntipsthy to the phi
losophies of his countrymen. The came
evening in London, while We were still in
company together with q few literary
friends at q Covent Gardent resort, the
German author Indignantly related the In
cident. The entire party laughed merrily
at our discontinue, and one, q well known
actor, finally said:
"Henry Irving is the only person who
ever really got the best of Lord Tennysor
regarding his famous port wine. he WA
visiting him about two years since. WhsI
the dessert came on the poet left the tabl,
and retired to his study with Irving. Her,
bottle of his fsvorite port, g glass fo
Irving, and the same huge dock glass, viii
pitcher of water, WAS set before him. II
few moments Lord Tennyson fell asleep
Irving gently disengaged his hand from
the neck of the bottle, took it to his owl
side of the study table, and leisurely drsnl
its entire contents before the poet awoke
The remainder of Irving's visit was dis
tinguished by extreme hilarity on his part
and q well-defined GOODNESS on the part o
the laureate; but Irving has always beel
! ecstatic over his achievement, and pct
, sesses the extraordinary distinction of be
ing the only man living, aside from th
. laureate himself, who ever really drank q