The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-08
IN. nrn, of the laureate.

At last the exemplary patience which the
English literary world has shown toward
Alfred austin has become exhausted, and a
daring critic has raised his voice and
spoken his mind on the absurdity of the
Iaureste's metrical brays. In the current
number Of THE Critic that clever wrf er
on dramatic art. William Archer, exp ezses
his opinion under the caption. "Quousque
Tandem?" He enquiries:
The Home Secretly has assured US that the
examiner of plays has been -rebuked' ior an
discreet utterance in the newspapers; whence il
sppears that she officers Of Her Asicsty's house
hoid are not absolutely irresponsible, but can
b ss'lled 10 order when occasion demands. Is
IL II time, then, that some should gently
but irInly demonstrate with Mr.. Alfred Austin,
author Of 'Msieking' and other verses, whose
indiscTeet utterancos in the newspapers are be-
coming a national scandal2 II ridicule
and parody, if iibes and ieers, could bring home
10 Mr.. Austin the pathetic absurdty Of his posi-
tion, be would long ago have learned TO mini
mize it by a resolute silence
Fortunately for himself, unfortunately for his
country, sense Of humor has been denied him.
Praised by nome derided by. all, he pipes
impeIturbable. II is this very doggedness, in
itself sublime, which makes the nation ridicu-
lous Wherefore ! ask: How long are we fated
10 grin and bear itg
This is strong language, but not the
strongest in the article Witness the fol-
lowing:
at is scarcely necessary to cite instances of
Mr.. Austin's lack OF tact As that deficiency.
however, is especially glazing in his deliyeranees
foreign afairs, 1t CALI for little further
consideration Rule Britannia is a yerv
good song in its way, and where two or three
Britons are gathered together in festive mood
there Is harm IN their assuring each other
that they never, never shall be slaves; but it
does not follow that want laureate 10
be perpetually executing glazing variations upon
Rule Britannia in she columns Of the Times
j. il 10 be endured that the brain and
heart Of England shall be officially represented
in the eyes of the world by such bounding brag-
gsdocfof In a private rhymestcr it would be
paitTy enough; IN court poet Il IS intolerable.
Its manner huniliates Us; its matter can only
irTltate neighbour Is IL not time that Lord
Salisbury Tor gallant old Cecil. as the bard
Of 'Mafeking' would call him) should take steps
10 check the consequences Of joke which has
turned out such very bad oneg Mr.. Austn's we'll
meant industry Cfcl there Is doubt as 10 the
excellence Of his intentions) has tsifly earned
him knghthcod Why not let him have IL as
soon convenient, with hint that he should
III future coHhne his poetic attentions to such
domestic events royal christsnings. and so
far foreign slairs are concerned. should forth
with join the Chcir InaudibleI'
This is Just the sort of thing which the
American public has been aching to hear
said about Mr.. Austin. and now that some
one has been bold enough to say 1t, it
should receive prompt attention. There is
no reason why the laurels OF Tennyson and
Wordsworth should be smirched with the
breathings Of their bland and demure,y
sasinine successor. If Lord salisbury's APP
polntment OF Mr. Austin was a joke. It has
long ago been worn out, and should be con-
signed to the old files of Punch" Such
specimens OF English lhumor are as incom-
prehensible to the world at large as Amer
lean humor Is said to be to the Englishmsn.
So long as Mr.. Austin confined himself 10
gently pastoral lyrics it was all very well.
though Il does seem rather hard that the
Queen should b. subjected In her old age to
odes which smack OF the barnyard and the
market basket. But when be undertakes 10
hands international politics he not only
makes himself ridiculous, but gives every
English reader occasion to blush hard for
his nation At the present crisis England
has troubles enough on her hands without
the laureate. America IS not especially
concerned with the niseries of Great
Britain, but as sharer in the common in