The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-28
The Judgment of Authors.

From the st. Louis Globe Democrat
Tennyson would not talk about his po-
etry, but once intimated that he regarded
the ode on the Death of the Duke of
Wellington" as containing more inspira-
ton than some of the others. He once
said that he did not expect much of the
charge of the Light Brigade" and was
agreeably surprised at its reception.
Scott believed that "Waverley" was his
best novel; and the Lady of the Lake.
his best poem. He and the Ballantynes
had more than one lively discussion on
change of opinion. He knew the Lady
of the Lake by heart, and once repeated
the whole to prove the fact
Milton regarded the Paradise Regain
ed as infinitely superior to the "Pard-
disc Lost" and once EXPRESSED great sur
prise that any one should entertain
contrary opinion He said that of all his
works the poem ION the Morning of
Christ's Nativity" was his best 1t was
his earliest, being written in 1929 when he
was q years of age.
Dickens considered David Copperfield''
his best novel. In conversation he once
declared that next to it in originality came
the "Pickwick Papers" and after them
"Oliver Twist. A waiter in country
inn once brought him 'Dombey and Son.
to read, not knowing, of course, who
he was. He said he read a few chap
tiers, but could get up little interest
Longfellow was slow to talk about his
own poetry, but from hints given by his
biographers 1t is evident he considered
''Evangeline" as his best, and his trans
lation of Dante as second in point of
merit Many of his admirers Will agree
with him as to the first. few, as to the
rewrite 'Hiawatha,' / would use a differ
ent meter"
Swift never talked about his writings.
and seemed to regard them merely as
means to an end this being his own per-
sonal advancement The Tale of a Tub"
got into print without the knowledge or
Of hfff Ct.rff4 l..
sufficient regard for his own fame to
publish a correct edition as soon as he
read the garbled version that at first ap-
peared.
Bryant always thought that he could
write much better poetry than that con-
tanned in his '1hanatopsis which was
one of his earliest. During his later days
he, on several occasions, expressed some
surprise at the preference shown by his
admirers for this particular poem, when
have done so many things better" He
believed the translations of Homer to be
the best work he ever did
owen Meredith rested his fame on "I.u-
cile" but could never be induced to con-
tradict the charges of plagiarism that
were made in connection with 1t. What's
the use?' he said. IF / deny them peo-
pie will believe there is something in
them. If l say nothing at ALL the book
viii be read and the charges ignored or
and in the circle of his intimate friends
often quoted passages from it and de-
scribed the circumstances under which
Young's judgment of his own works has
been confirmed by posterity He regarded
the Might Thoughts on Life, Death and
Immortality as his masterpiece. In an
other respect. however. he was wofully
mistaken. He said: If l had not writ
ten the Night Thoughts ] would still
be remembered by my prose writings"
Ninety-nine people in a hundred who
have read the Might Thoughts" are not
aware that he wrote anything IA PROSE.
so completely have his literary. political
and doctrinal writings passed out Of the
public mind
wordsworth considered THE EKcur-
sion" his best. and next 10 it, the White
Doe Of Rylstone." Wordsworth said that
when he first thought seriously Of being
a poet be looked into himself 10 soc how
he was ntted for the work, and seemed
20 ind there chat first great gift fhe
vital soul, "A statement which shows thar.
whatever other people may think - him,
he had "a passably fair opinion o. him-
SELF he frcQuently expressed his oDin-
ION of his own poetry. and once salq thar
hf hai Widcned the domain o. the poet
over d whole 0eid deemed irreCiafma-
Die.