New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-14

birds 10 the last, He used to move along with
quick. shor; step. taking little runs down steep
places and occasionally haliing TO tell some story
or enforce some point In discussion or TO quote
sonorous passage from Homer or Milton
The western end OF the Isle OF Wight. where the
besron will stand IL cut or by Freshwater Gap.
80 n. 20 form a sort OF peninsula. Tennyson' IN
fact. described II as such many years ago. when
writing 70 protest against the impending derecra-
ton OF a railway and promptly corrected by
newspaper writer who reminded him that IN"
place OF his abode an island II Is home OF
sea birds and OF Withholding sheep. whose paths
are too siddy for mos, visitors. The down itsef
IL clothed with furze. and the turf Is full OF TURK
ing orchids and shy dwarf vioiets. On the lower
hill OF the peninsula, about Totiand Bay. Is bar
row. which Tennyson used 10 say was probably the
tomb OF some Danish leader.
There Il a splendid view from the top. extending
over the soen from the Portsmouth Downs on the
one side Weymouth on the other. and Inland
over the New Forest. Two verses In the In Me-
moriam' ge a description which may possibly
apply 70 the surface OF this breezy down. but for
the fact that Tennyson did not take possession
OF Farringford I'll 1853:
Calm ana deep peace this high woli
And on these dews tha, drench the furze.
And all the sllvery gossamers
That twinkle into and gold.
Calm and -,in light yon grea, plain
That sweeps with all It's autumn flowers.
And crowded farms and isssenlng towers.
To mlngie with the bounding main.
Tennyson was fond OF recalling an old hypothesis
he had found In some book that at remote ge-
o.ogical period. when the North Sea was dry land.
a great river draining Contra. Europe. had here It's
estuary and was inhabited by strange monsters OF
the clay whose remains are occasionally disgorged
by the quarres OF the Black Gang.
The beacon standing at present on the downs liz
not the Nsketch~d by Frederick walker. but
a modern erection Of tar and asphalt. substituted
two three years for the venerable structure,
which was much impaired and embellished by the
knives OF rapacious visitors. The new Tcnnyson
beacon. therefore. vii. cause no outrage to senti-
ment on the OF whet II dsplaces.
As shown In the illustration. II consists OF tall
Iona cross. thrtytwO feet high. With the pedestal
designed by Mcpherson. H. ~ The Inscription on
the shaft reads rs follows: ITO the memory OF
Alfred Lord Tcnnyson his Cross beacon TO
Sailors. Is raised by the people OF Freshwater and
others who desired TO honor him In England and
America" There is certain fitness even In tho
choice OF tho form Of the monument as Tennyson
was strongly interested In Celtic Christianity. and
had thought AZ time OF writing a poem upon
the monks OF Iona. The Trinity House and Board
OF Trade have agreed 10 accept the beacon ma
tonal property and to provide for Its proper main
.cnance II Will be marked az the "Tennyson Bea-
con- all official charts and Will serve land
mark for vessels entering the Scent from the west
That the poet himself would have chosen this form
OF monument In this particular spot, no one can
doubt who has noted his Intense and passionate
love OF the sea.