The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-07-19
NUMBER 80.

in this latest and much the best
criticism of the laureate. 1t is shown
that there was an abiding faithful
ness to beauty, and that the poet
wrote always of what was worthy of
love, and honor, and reverence. This
preserved the glow of heart which
called the friends of virtue about
him, and which kept all the unclean
passions out of his domain. He
was England's seer, watching from
the tower, and observing the trend
of her thought. 1t was his to cast it
into the poets crucible and his
genius was exerted to sift and utilize
the best. A reader of Tennyson has
before him an epitome of England's
Intellectual strife during the Vic
| torian era. The donhte and tho
hopes of men and women wrestle
and contend in the centre of the
poetic heart, now swaying this way,
now that, and ever with an upward
striving. The poems concerning the
Round Table and the "Princess" are
notable for this.
The critic expatiates upon the
personal touch, the individual sur
prise, and the unique way the master
had, and ranging throughout his
revisions, from the earliest dates
down to the latest, calls attention to
the added beauties accumulating
from year to year. In the authors
edition, above quoted, we have the
final result, and to me there has
been no greater literary delight than
to match it with the poets earlier
efforts. The change of tinge and hue
remind one of the changing of the
landscape, impressed upon by the
sunlight and the impending clouds.
The relation of the one to the other,
by the by is not more intimate than
his delineations of nature are to the
heart of man. 1t was Tennyson's
prerogative to put the one into har-
mony with the other, whether this
was to be cons ummated by the soft
oblivion described in the Lotus
Eaters, or by the rich, symbolic soul
experiences of King Arthur in the
Idylls.
Whether the beloved poet drew
from his own character, or laid his
scene in unknown hearts and lands,
there is the same great creativeness,
insight and pathetic power-the same
picturesque sensuousness and SIM
plicity. As a piece of art one can
scarcely choose between any score
of poems taken at random. In each,
one recognizes a polished sphere.
Whether the spirit pervading it be
that of sweet memorial or tender
regre tfulness, of serious, or heroic,
or grotesque tendency, there is
always most comprehensive grasp.
The souls of nature and man have
been searched and read. The range
of vision has been extended into the
eternal.
Stopford Brooke holds that Eng
lish literature owes Tenny son debt
of gratitude for clearness of utter
ance. There is never any obscurity
of language or thought. This, it is
said, "should be part of a writer's
religion,n and if it We're, many the
ologians as well as poets would be
nearer heaven than they are. Take
"In Memoriam" for sample.
Although the subject expands, pass
ing on from the particular into the
universal, sorrow and the victory
over sorrows evil burns with a
steady flame, appreciab!e and ac-
cepted by all wise hearts. The
weight and trouble of this weary
world were never lightened with a
sweeter grace than in this poets
handling. Life, with its constant
and coming woes is made to recede
before that more glorious and eter-
nal life which springs into the worlds
arena from the heart of the Christ.
AS, in a panoramic vision, one passes
on from canto to canto, drawing
great draughts of inspiration which
invigorate the soul. No matter what
our losses-a friend or brother--a
mother, wife or child--'tis still better
to have loved and lost than never to
have loved at all. All of us are
moving on to that far off, divine
event, to which the whole creation
moves.
Manhood! obedient, reverent man
hood! A regard for the different
grades of men lest the soul of dis
cord race the rising wind. No
pampering of a hastyI time. No
feeding with crude imaginings the
unlettered people. No delivering
the tasks of might to weakness.
Such was the poets teaching. He
would have his hero, pillar, stead
fast in the storm, should licensed
boldness gather force. knowledge,
he declares, is earthly of the mind,
but wisdom, heavenly of the soul,
and therefore, if knowledge be cut
loose from love and faith it will be
but some wild Pallas from the brain
of demons, fiery hot to burst all
harriera in her onward raca for