The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-11

It was an Intelligent. appreciatlve and
fashionable audience, but not large enough
to yield % the lecturer SIS minute, az did
his talk before the Century Club of New
York, when "Wagner" was his subject.
A full description of the speaker has
already been given in these columns.
Those who have heard him here have lis
tened TO him only from the pulpit. Ii he
is entertaining there II Is safe to say that
he is doubly so on the lecture rostrum.
where he is at liberty to run riot in the
mazes of literature, of which he is such
thorough master.
He appeared upon the platform q little
late, and addressing the assembled ladies'
and gentlemen said: Il am quite sur
prsed surprised to see so many here. or
to see any one here at all. l am little
late | know. was told to be little late by
the highest authorities. They said that
people of San Francisco were never pune
thai. and therefore the lecturer should not
be too early, and tnat by coming lase l
would perhaps get applause.
Generous applause and laughter followed
this remark.
You see this was right" he interjected.
alter the applause had died away.
The subject OF the lecture was Ten
nyson, the ,oat of the age" The speaker
could talk of Tennyson to the reseunding
OF his own voice in an empty room, he
said. 10 his youth Iennyson was his
enthusiasm. He was just in advance of
our fathers, and young men always like
something that is 10 advance OF their
fathers.
The greatness of the poet Iaureste was
shown even at his funeral. He died at
the age of IS, and it Is fact that his eye
was never dimmed.
At Westminster Abbey. when his fun
eral took place, the scene was most re-
markable. In some respects it was dis
tasteful because the hawkers were selling
circulars and poems of the dead poet on
the streets while the funeral was passing.
They were persons ia many eases who
probably had never heard of the poet, but
they knew that anything concerning him
had market value.
At the funeral all the great men of Eng
land we're present, except the G. D. NJ,
who is he great old man-GladstoDe.
The speaker declared thar this was the
! age of great good old men. San francisco
has one. and every one would know his
ame without the mention Of it.
1t begins with S. it is Sutro. Then he
referred to Lincoln and others who had
age. The last poem Of Tennyson was one
of his sweetest, and in his best style
"Crossing the Bar"
This poem was recited, as were many
others during the course OF tho lecture.
When a boy, or rather young man, Ten
nyson took a house near where the lee
turer was going to school. and the people
of the village were all anxious to see him.
of course. but be never went out. noteven
TO church.
II was so in love with the poet" said
Mr. Haweis. that resolved to see him,
and with this idea IN view called at the
house. The girl that came to the door
said that she aid not know whether Mr..
Tennyson was In or not. knew that was
a lie, but / finally managed to get in.
When the poets wife came into the room
and asked what was wanted, told her,
but sha said that MIR. TennysoD never saw
anybody.
"Finally l prevailed upon her to ask
him II he could see me. The poet rather
reluctantly came out. after asking if the
fellow WAS an impost0r. He shook HANDS
with me, and soon left me alone l I'M
plored Mrs. Tennyson for a srecimen of
her husbands handwriting and finally got
it and went on my way rejoicing"
The story was very prsttily told, the
speaker illustrating his Embarrassment at
the time in a very amusing manner.
The reason why we make so much of our
poet is that be Is so important, was de-
cIared. His nature is as sensitive as the
J Eolan Tyre. He paints the pictures OF