The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-03-31

the table and giving his wife a kiss
which might have been heard block
away had the windows been open.
TENNYS0N IN HIS YOUTH.
RecolJe ctions by an Old Friend-HeIpless
| Without a Watch.
The recollections of Tennyson's
youth, just published in Temple Bar
by his old friend, Mrs. Brookfeld, are
full of interest. This lady, as the
cousin of Arthur Halam, and the wife
OF the poets college friend, w. H.
Brookfeld, knew Tennyson for many
years as we'll as any one outside his
own family could know him, finding
him always, she says, consistently loyal
toward those whom he had once
accepted as his friends. Her first
glimpse of him came before her mar.
riage, when her betrothed brought him
to call upon her and upon her father,
Sir Charles Elton, himself a poet of
some reputation. At this period the
young Tennyson was wonderfully hand
some, and of tall and stately presence.
Although always courteous, says
Mrs. Brookfield, he was, on his first
visit to US, reserved and silent for some
time, until he gradually thawed under
the Sympathetic influence of his friend
Brookfield, to whom he was greatly
attached, and the conversation became
generally interesting and agreeable.
But when a slight pause occurred Ten
nyson slowly rose from his chair, and,
with grave deliberatIon, laid his hand
on my fathers remarkably fine intel
lectual head, saying, "You must do a
great many foolish things, sir, with this
great bump OF benevolence of yours"
My father answered genlally, dare
say | do-and we were all much
amused, though a little awed at the
same time.
One of the pleasantest things Mrs.
Brookfeid says about the poet is that
he was thoroughly kind, compassionate
and sympathetic With all genuine
trouble or perplexity. His sense of
humor, she declares, was always like a
reserve fund, near at hand in daily life
and the exceeding dignity and Sc
riousness of his usual demeanor made
these frequent flashes of humor the
more welcome.
| In his younger days he would allow
his friends to laugh at, as well as with
him, and receive it with only playful
indignation; sometimes, perhaps, he
would wilfully provoke their criticisms.
On one occasion, after they had left
Cambridge, my husband remembered
dining with Tennyson, George Ven.
ables and others at the Reform Club
After dinner, IN contempt of all for
mality, Tennyson persisted in resting
his feet on the table. His friends
demonstrated in vain, until one Of them
said; "Take care, Alfred; they vii
think you are Longfellow." Down
went the feet. x Although
with his intimate friends his conversa
ton was full of depth and earnestnes:
on all serious subjects, he would from
time to time greatly amuse them with
humorous flights of fancy. amounting
sometimes to hyperbolcal exaggeratior
which those who knew him we'll coulc
never mlsun derstand, but which nigh
easily perplex new acquaintance.
A very delightful and highly cult
waited friend of ours, who belonged te
strictly conventional section o
society, had gladly accepted an invita-
ton to meet Tennyson at our house
She had read his poetry with grea
admiration, and was prepared to maxi
his acquaintance with reverent enthus
lasm. He was, however, as retiring a
usual. when with absolute strangers
and the graceful Difference of our dea
friends demeaEor towards him did no
at first tend to dispel his shyness late
in the evening, however, when Alfre'
had realized that this lady was al
intimate friend of ours, and that W
particularly wished that he shoul
make himself agreeable to her, he wen
up to her with good natured friendli
ness, saying: l could not find any
y thing to say to you before dinner, bu
= now that l have bottle OF port in me
can talk as much as you like. My frlen
5. was at first rather alarmed at this play
full announcement, receiving it as
a literal assertion. But she was 500
reassured by the serious interest of h
W conversation, which realized all h'
.t expectation. This is but trilir
u incident to recall, but it is one of tho:
4 early "reminiscences OF his bachel'
is days which seems to me to acqui
le interest from its very simplicity.
ID Mrs. Bookfeld. in describing VII
81 at Lord Ashburton's place, gives
,r amusing picture of Tennyson's comn
nr into breakfast rather late one morniD
y, with a perturbed expression Of fac
and his watch in his hand, saying wi
,s n great gravity: My watch has stoppe
what am | to doP We all felt co
cerned for a moment until think