The sun., 1896-06-21

After residing some three years In Naples the
Blessingtons arrived at Florence in the spring
of 1897. aud took possession OF The Casa PecOr
which had once belonged to Elise Bacclocch
Duchess OF Tuscany. Once established here
they throw open their doors and received many
distinguished men. among them two who par
ticularly interested tho hostess, being
Lamartire and tho other Walter Savage Lam
dor Lady BlesslnRton was favorshly impressed
by Lamar..ne; according to her he had a
presence d'tsprit not often to DO m6 with in the
generality Of poets and perfect freedom from
any OF tho afIectations OF manner attributed to
that genus tItftdbl,." We also learn that no was
hande ONE, DISTINGUISHED. and drcs .es so per-
lectly like gentleman that one would never
suspect him to be poet. No shirt collar turned
over an apology for a cravht, no long curls fall
ling on the collar OF tho coGt, no aAsuiuptlo Of
foppishness OF any kind; but just the sor. Of
inan that, seen In any society, would be pro-
nounced bien coIpne u Jrut." Lord BlessinRton
had been previously acquainted with andor.
and. on coming to Florence. sought him out and
introduced him to tho Coun tess. Landor was,
at this time In his nfty first year. and had been
since 1921. q notable figure In Florence, by rea-
Ron OF his cccentricties. Tho wondering ltal-
ians. on seeing him, used to say that all tho
English were mad, but this one was madder
than tho rest BY many OF the Florentines
however. he was liked. His courtesy to women
was only eGuAlled by his love of children; his
generosity was excessive; his affection for anil
mails led him to treat them as human beings;
flowers were to him ns living things. But his
temper forever banished peace from his neigh
borhood. As to his personal Appearance. Lam
dor wholly Indifferent. II wa his custom
10 wear his clothes Until they could scarcely
hang together; years before, when he USED to
visit his sis Is, who offend I'd by hit care
lsssness in this respect they would leave new
garments by his bedside, which he gould put on
in the morning without discovering the change
With mono of tho English visitor to Florence
did he bscomo so iutimste as with the Blessing
tons. The strong, magnetic charm which few
who approached Lady Blessington failed to ex-
perience felt from tho frat by Landor and
1t swayed him to the ord. Gu her part, she was
struck by the dignity and urbanity Of his man
Aer, his fearless courE.o in the expression OF
tis opinions, his contempt for what he consid-
cred unworthy. the simplicity OF his mode Of
life, from which self lfgratihcatlon WAS riGidly
excluded, and HE almost womanly tenderness
She had been led TO think him eccentric and
violent, but she confesses that tho only singu-
,arity she can find In him Is his II oro than or
dinary politeness toward wonen-a singularity
that heartily wish wns one no longsr." Then
his fine intellectual head. with Its broad. promi-
neLt Forehead, quick and expressive eyos, and
tho mouth full OF benevolence. pleased her
greatly. Finding Lady BlessinRton sympathetic
and charming. q brilliant tconvorsAtio ist, and,
what was more. . willing listener, Walter Saw
age Landor visited her overy evening from 8 to
IL during ais stay in Florence and, when ho
moved TO Fiesole, distance OF three miles, he
spent two evenings . week In her delightful
company. On every subject he was ready and
willing to vent decided opinions In vigorous
English. For instance, he would not let her
praise him for his admiration OF Wordsworth
aud Southey. That was only proof, he said.
that he was not born 70 be . poet He was not .
good hAter, he only hated pain and trouble He
thought he could have hated BonADarte II ho
had been q gentleman. but no was so thorough
blackguard, thief, and swindler that, wher-
ever he appeared. contempt held the shield be-
fore hatred. 1t was, he said, among the few
felicitiss Of his life that he had mover been at
tAohed 70 party or been . party man. He
had always excused himself from dinners that
he miGhtnot atsno. Tho EnElishs he declared.