The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-02

sketch OF the Lilo and Works of Alfred
Austin.

sketch or the LILO and Works of Alfred
Austin.
Yesterdays New York Herald con-
tanned the following sketch OF Alfred
Austin. the newly-appointed poct-laureate
Of England:
There have been several names men
toned a. the possible or probable success
sors TO the late poet laureate, Lofd n
fred Tennyson. Among those most pfoml-
nently noted were Lewis Morris, mo was
knighted in May last, William Morris,
one OF the greatest OF English poets, bus
OF socialstic tendencies; Austin Dobson.
Algernon Swinburne. William Watson.
ana Alfred Austin. some people imagined
that The prize would tai 10 " iham Wat
son. but his latest poem, entitled The
Purple East" presumably made his can
didacy hopeless when he wrote, referring
TO Armenia:
Never craven England. nevcrmore
Pirate thou OF generous effort, righteous
aim.
Betrayer OF People. know thy shame'
a BUSY JOURNALISTIC LIFE.
Alfred Austin is poet. critic. and
Journalist. lie was born at Headiusiey
near Leeds. May 3D. 1888. His father was
"a merchant and magistrate OF the sor-
ough OF Leeds, ana mis- mother was the
sister Of Joseph Locke. the eminent civil
engineer and VI. p. tor the borough OF
Honiton, Of which he was lord of the
manor. Both OF his parents being Roman
Catholics, he was sent 10 Stonyhurst Col
lcge and afterward 10 ST. Mary's College,
Oscott. From Oscott he took his iegree
al tho University of London ina 1863 and
in 1886 he was called TO the Bar OF tho
Inner Temple on the death Of his father,
In 1861. he quilted the Northern Circuit
and went TO Italy. His first acRnoWl-
edged volume Of verse. 1.-THE Season, a
Satire" appeared In 1869. A third and re-
vised edition of The Season appeared
in 1879. His other pOetical productions
are. The Human Tragedy OS52i repub-
lished In AN amended form IN 1876, and
again finally revised in 1859. 1.-The Golden
Age a Satire" 1871. "Interludes," 1872.
Rome or Death" 1875 Madonna's
Child 1873: The Tower of Babel"
drama. 1874. "LeszkO. the Bastard.
Tale OF Polish Grief" 1871; 'Savonaroa."
tragedy, 1851: "Soliloquies in SONG" AT
the Gate OF the Convent" Loves Wild
ownood and Other Poems" prince Luci-
fer" and English Lyrics all published
between 1851 and 1880 lie has published
three novels-"Five Years OF It," 1858.
All -Aitlrt = lnblf iNnts dlN " on by a
Head 1865. also. THE Poetry of the
Period" reprinted from Temple Bar 1870.
and "A Nindication OF Lord Byron" 1859.
occasioned by Mrs Stoves article THE
True Story Of Lord Byrons Life"
AS SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
lie has written much for the London
Standard newspaper and for the Quar-
terly Review. During the sittngs of the
Ecumenical Council Of the Vatican he
represented the Standard az Rome. and
he was "A special correspondent OF that
journal az the headquarters OF the King
of Prussia in the Franco-German war
His political writings include Russia
Before Europe" 1876. "rory Horrors"
1876. a reply 10 Mr.. Gladstone's "Bulga-
rIan Horrors" and "England's Policy and
PERIL" letter TO the Earl Of Beacons-
field. 1871 In 1888. I'M conjunction with
Mr.. W. j. Courfhope. he founded the Ma
uOnal Review. and continued 10 edit that
periodical till the summer OF 1893 In lse2
Messrs Macmillan ISSUED collected edi-
ton OF his poems In six volumes. since
which time they have Published For
tunatus. the Pessimist." and "Euglands
Darling and Other Poems" and "a prose
work entitled "rhe Garden chat Love"
PRAISE FROM WILLIAM WATSON.
Some of the best specimens Of Afr. Aus
tins poems are found In his English
Lyrics edited by Mr. William Watson.
who. In his preface, thus speaks Of the
new laureate:
"Ho appears among modern poets espes
ciaiiy and saliontly English. In the sense
in which most of our best singers. from
Chaucer onward. have been English.
Whatsoeyer IS worthlly and nobly Eng
fish IS endeared 10 him by every early as
sociation and innate prepossossi0n. but
most Of all the older and simpler modes
of our national life. when still unmenaced
with displacement by less cOmeiy and
more mechanical conditions The old
world charm and grace which yet en-
noble the labOrs OF tilth and husbandry:
the kindly charities Of rustic good neigh
hOrhOOd. and human relations Of cottage
and farm and hail. the unique blending
OF statelness and LONELINESS which
makes the rural abodes Of the gentle class
i'm this country seem the most delectable
of possible dwelling places-all these
things are found mrrored I'm this poets
verse. not with any conventional ideal
zatlOn. but with such simple faithfuness
10 the fact as is natural IN one 10 whom
the fact as Is familiar as IL is dear. And.
together with these things, but oftener
felt as an implicit presence than overtly
uttered. is the underlying sentiment OF
England's greatness on the historic and
constitutional side the enthusiasm for
whatever is splendid and heroic in our
rude island story the chlvalric passion
OF loyalty and allegiance which flames up
I'm quick resentment if any anront be Of
fered to the object of his devotion"