The evening times., 1896-08-11
LADY TEENYSOKS LIFE
She Was an Ideal wife and com--
parion Of the Poet.
Developed No Great Literary Aotiv-
fty, but Was q Fine Musician and
Set Husbands Poems to Music.

Lady Tennyson, who died recently, was
the daughter OF Henry Sellwood. OF Herk-
SHIRE. aud was 4 niece Of Sir John FRANKLIN.
Sue had been engaged to Tennyson's great
friend. Henry HaiIan. She was married
to Alfred TeEnyson Jure IS. 1850. Her
life with the poet was even and happy. al
though she herself developed no activity
In literature.
Alfred Tennyson first met his wife at
Sonersby; she was the niece Of Sir John
Frankin. and was singularIy charming
girl She was described at the time of tke
wedding by Thomas Carlyle as possess.
ing bright, glittering blue eyes when you
speak to her with wit and sense: and were
1t not that she seems SO very delicate in
health good might be argued of Tebny-
sons adventure" Unfortunately. rue
gloomy philosophers forebodings proved
only too true. and Mrs, later the dowager
Lady Tennyson, had long life Of ex-
trenie deiicacy and ill.health-
From the day Of their marriage. which
took plsce on June 13. 1850. his wife
Emily exercised wondrous influence over
the poets mind In the dedication ap-
pended to 'Enoch Arden he addressed
her as
Dear. near and true: NO truer, Time him
SELF
Can prove you. though he make you
eyermore
Dearer and nearer.
His brother Charles married another
Miss Seilwood, and thus the poeticai ade
OF the family kept together. Though ex-
trcineiy distrustfui of her own powers,
Lady Tennyson seems to have caught some
or her husbands spirit, for several verses
from her pen are in Prof. Paigrave's
Treasury OF Sacred Song" and there is
also number Of hymns couched In SIM
pie but eloquent language intended for use
in the Gordon Boys Home, in which both
she and her husband took the greatest in
terest.
Her real power, however. lay in music.
Nearly every one OF the songs scattered
through The poets works has been SGT
TO music by his wife, and since his death
his widow found time and strength TO put
Ia music the few lines he dictated to her
on his deathbed, and which were sung
during the funerai service IN Westminster
Abbey. Those who were privileged To visit
tie Tennysnn family at either AldwOrth or
III their Isle OF Wight home were always
immensely impressed by the mistress Of the
household.
Although she had been for years n coui-
ple,e invalid, her mental power was of
such a high order that from her couch
she managed everything and everybody
around her. including her husband. sons,
and daughters-in-hw. When uuy act or
cruelty or injustice, was mentioned In
her presence she would half rise from
her sofa and. with cleaning eyes and
ciencied hands. express. her ahhorrence
OF what she had just heard. Knowing
her husbands dread and-horror OF strdng-
ers and of impertiuent curiosity. she en-
deavored to shield him In every way that
lay in her power. and until the Inst few
months even ans wered much of his indis-
pensabie correspondence.
Lady Tenuyson was essentially a home
loving wife aud mother. She never took
part In any OF the great movements with
which women have been so honorab!y
last fifty years Alfred Tennyson's ideal
wife is expressed In the words:
My wife. my life! Oh, we VIII walk this
world
Yoked In all exercises OF noble end.
And so through those dark gates across
the wild
That no man knows
Mine hopes and thine are cne;
Accomplish thou my, manhood and. thyseIf.
Lay thy sweet hands in mine and trust to
me.