Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-03-01

better wisdom, learned that the human
race is one and that none can really rise
by treading on his brother-man, learned
that happiness is born, not of the lust
to possess and enjoy, but of the desire
to give and to bless-then, and not
until then, when she brings others with
her. can the soul shd true rest in her
Palace. Tennysor would teach us not
to be lovers OF beauty only, but also
lovers of humanity.
The poet looks into the hearts of his
fellows, or, as Tennyson says, she sees
through his own SOUL" This is true OF
all great poets. Shakespeare, the
apostle Of conscience, was able to
express the thoughts and feelings of a
king or peasant, philosopher or a
half wit. Tennyson also possessed this
power in marvellous degree. In his
character sketches he touches the
whole circle of humanity; each charac-
ter speaks for himself in language of
his own. The Northern Farmer
loves the land and nothing more. An
interesting comparison may be made
between what the Northern Farmer
has to say about ''Iuvv" and the follow
ing sentence from Locksley Hall:
Love took up the harp of life, and smote on
all the chords with might;
smote the chord of self, that, trembling passed
in music out of sight,
The poet beautifully describes the
simplicity of the thoughts of childhood
and youth in the "May Queen" and
also reveals his familiarity with, and
love Of nature. Illustrative of his
power to say great deal in few short
sentences the poem Circumstance"
may be cited. Here we have the
march Of life from childhood to old age,
from the cradle to the grave.
Tennyson is pre-emiuently the poet
Of purity. Tt is the supreme glory of
Browning and Tennyson that in an age
when literature was being defled,
poisoned, when the abysses of degra-
dation were being revealed, they lifted
up their eyes to the true and the pure,
they gave utterance to elevating
thoughts and have left nothing behind
to stain the human mind. Tennyson,
in dealing with human life leaves out
its meanness and its vulgarity, and
brings to his art an acute and strong
moral sense. Then he was a man of
his times; he embodied the thought of
his time in his verse. He exults in
endless development until he almost
out-Darwins Darwin. Hespeaks of zone
far off divine event to which the whole
creation moves"
He is also the poet Of faith, distinc
lively the Christian poet This is
brought out very strongly in "In
Memoriam" the psem which placed
him before the world as a great poet
In it he discusses the problems Of life,
death and immortality, he has softened
our vision of the great future, and cast
rays of hope over the unseen world.
His faith is thus expressed:
''Thou wilt not leave US in the dust;
Thou madest man, he knows not why;
He thinks he not made to die;
And thou mast made him; thou art Just
We see his life through his words.
they are his best biography. His
poems are his life. He has been spoken
of by other great poets as pre-eminent
in power because none of his contem-
poraries have touched so deeply and at
so many points the hearts of people of
all ranks, classes and conditions.
LoWell-"It may be centuries before
such thinker and speaker as Tenny-
son appears" Mrs. Browning-"Hei is
divine poet; if anything were to happen
to Tennyson the world would 90 into
mourning" Robert Browning"
poetry illustrations and consummate,
in friendship noble and sincere"
AS regards the man himself, there
will ever remain associated with his
memory those words of his at the close
of the last volume, melodious in their
rhythm, tender in their thought, and
touching in the simple utterance of
personal trust.
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me,
And may there be no morning of the bar,
When put out to sea.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark;
And may there be no sadness of farewell
When I embark.
For though from out our bourne of time and
place
The flood may bear me far,
hope to meet my Pilot face to face
When have crossed the bar.