Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-25
AMONG THE POETS.
An Amusing Incident In the Life OF
James Barron Hope.


The following appears in the Baltimore
Sun:
Messrs. Editors: In your paper OF this
morning, under the head Of New Pub
LEGATIONS" is a notice Of 1.-THE Poems OF
James Barron Hope" While reading II
there came back to my mind an incident
in the life of my friend Hope that Is
worth telling. and that, believe, VIII
interest many OF your readers Inc late
John r. Thompson, or Richmond. va,
was the editor and proprietor OF the
Southern Literary Messenger, in which
Homes poems usually first saw the lisnt-
The Intercourse between those two friends
was OF the closest and most Intimate
character. Thompson had been In Eu-
rope for several months. 1t must nave
been about the year 1855 or 1876. Just
before returning home he spent several
weeks In Paris. The younger Bulwer'
who afterward succeeded to his fathers
title as the second Lord Lytton, anu
who served later as Governor-General OF
India, was then secretary or lesauoh
to his uncle, Sir Henry Bulwer LUTON
at the Court Of Louis Napoleon, and was
vet known TO the literary world only as
Owen Meredith.
dav or two before leaving Paris.
THOMPSON and Bulwer dincd together at
the Trois Freres, where In those days
everybody dined. Thompson was the
guest After dinner the host took from
his pocket the manuscript or tnat sihsu-
larly touching poem. THE Wife's TRACE
dy''-who can read II with dry eyesY The
author said the poem, as originally VIII
ten. contained only the first two parts
And In that form he had sent the manu-
script to his father. in London, LOT MS
criticism In reply, he said, Lore Lyt-
ton had advised him 10 add third part
which should contain sequel In the Iorm
OF a lust retribution for the crime or the
wife. He insisted that not only
healthy interest in the woman, but also
the requirements OF good morals, de-
mapded such a turn to the tragedy. Act
ing upon that advice, he said. he had
written part third. had sent II TO his
father. and that just before coming TO
dinner he had received reply. with the
manuscript returned and approvvi; and'
thereupon, in the confidential intScourse
OF two literary men, he read the poem
10 his American confrere. Charmed, both
with the confidence ard the story, Mr..
Thompson at once begged for the manu-
script. The request was gracefully grant
ed. and he brought the autograph
copy with him to this country.
AS soon as he reached home one OF
his first thoughts was TO let his friend
Hope see the poem; and. at the same
time to play n prank upon him. He made
a COPY OF It in his own handwrlting-
nobody who has ever seen that exquisite
chirography can ever forget tilt was
simply a luxury TO read it--inclosed II to
Hope. with one or two adroit traps TO
try and lead him TO accept the poem as
Thompson's own work. and the question
was asked, Who is the author OF the
wifes Tragedy" The poem, when IL
reached Hope, had never been published;
Il never saw daylight In this country
until several months after and the only
COPY on this side OF the water was In
Thompson's hands. and yet by return
mail there came q letter from Hope
which l remember very well TO have
seen-somewhat after this fashion:
"No, you don't; you don't catch me In
your trap. You never wrote The Wife's
Tragedy and the only man now living
who could have written 1t is Owen Mere
dith."
Nothing ever gave Thompson greater
pleasure than to tell that story.
Faithfully. WILLIAM MUNFORD.
The Rectory st. Stephens Church, Mil
lersviIle Post-Ofice. Anne Arundel
County. Nd, February II, 1896.