The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-07
BEARDSlEY IN POETRY.
rgrs rs THE war PoET-Lh CREArB
AUSTIN Is DESCRIBED.
sLights Are TOO White and parks To-"
Bfack"--An Autumn Day with Ten"y-
son's soccessor--A Beautiful Home

u Is lust two days since Alfred Aus
lin was appointed Poet Laureate Of En-
gland BY Her Majesty. Queen Victoria,
and Her Majesty's Prime Minister lora
Salisbury. In that time Alfred Austin has
run the gsmut or approval and disapproy-
oil. ridicule and praise, blame ana apin'-
ration. But as the first two years o. me
reign. for his appointment is loI ~,
comes 20 a close. Alfred Austin becomes
more important In the public eye ~
better liked by the people VINO af' ''
fenced to read his works 60 ia
He IA tho Beardsley In poetry, io' "a
brings out lights that are 700 W.. 49, SniI
az contrast. too abrupt, too uncertain
ana 100 singular: but with al ne ~ Id
r,en6's Beardslcy IN verse. Ano ne 10 e''7
Poet Laureate. -, ..o..rv for
80 4. M othcr name for H. one wouio
s,,,'.,.e ,bat he wrote Il in htte deh
a., son,e busv street In London's dnst'es'
corner But such Is not the cas- '.s
tins sanctum sanctorum rs IN q pe""'
mi country house situated h''Ie o"
side OF London and short rai'~@s s s"",
s'ue 80 cbarine Cross. The residence
~ ,.eli hack from the road, and Is sur
,onrJos by a park Of stately ems As
-, ,,.sr The house the elms grow scarce1
ana finally disappear. and you mo YOU
selftn a veritable Hover acre. in the mtdst
.,whicb sets swlnford Old Manor BIT
xu.sin.s home. In the Austin family ana
among the Poet L0ureate's inunls'fs l''ls
house Is called Veronicas garden III ueio'-
cnce 10 certain poetic works OF inc oelei-
er But the people around only kno" 7"
by the familiar name which II mas po'"e
for years. -, a..
hesutif,i with an the late flowers, ana
N secure an October bloom/they are
planted according to season ana are KEEP
In blossom until the latest SNOWMAN h'S
its fling I'm the frosty air.
All Of Mr. Austins latest works reler
10 this garden. 1.-THE Garden l Love oe-
scribes II so accurately that you can ma
MANY OF the shrubs mentioned lhere' ~
has also inspired many of his prose ana
for a period Of four years before MS APP
nointment 10 the Laureateship he wrote
nothing that did not in some way 'ouo"
upon this magic spot IN Ashioip'
other poets may work by fits and starts'
81, tho poet Laureate OF England rises
cvcry morning. even these brisk autumn
dsvss AT an early hour and takes Walk
while the dew is on the grass. Near the
house there Is very large OAK Tree
which Is the poets favOrite oak ana under
meath whose shades he passes many houis
~ the day. Under this oak IL Is ai"'N9
dry and free from dew. and here Inc posl
s,ons and rests during the morning wan.
This oak Is one OF the most rehlAt h ~ 70
features OF Swinford old Manor. ~ -
90 large around that ten people WIN arms
outstrefched could scarce span JUS .ru"1
With their arms; and so widespread u.
t,s branches that you can walk lvO ieel
under them without turning. Ihe leaN'S
80 co thick that the dew never pehe-
trates them. and the rain Is scarce ehous'
IN keen the sward green beneatn'
Around the base of the tree there If
a little hoard floor. upon which IS niue
round seat and here the poet Wri.es
through the middle hours or the uay Si 49,.
no has partaken Of the breakfast WIN.
ike that which has served the pails.'
Millet. is largely the product OF inc s"'
den. .,.o,,,s ,ptc
- ,,ardeo which is at the back OF the
ta,,se and here he takes the greatest IN
go, an the vegetables that are raised
,horc although. to the disgust OF tn'
oarae,er no often insists upon piah'iht
a,,d,, flower I'm the midst or the car
rots and green peas. ~. .,,,,.
The luncheon hour Is the reception ui"'
for the Laureate and at this meal ne ~
cet,,es visitors from London. never d ua'
s.'.os tbat some one with letter OF III
t~aa,c.ion does not seek his hospllahtS
ro Them he is gracousness itsell' al
though 10 strangers he Is something I'M
TAnnvson. rather cautious ana uniS ,,
poth NJ the Poet Laureates OF hhsi"nU
Tennvson and Austin-haVe poen '0'''N