Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-10-31
~SNOTES.~,


Herbert Spencer, who was SO last
April, after expecting for so years that
each new birthday would be the last,
,s absolutely sound In mind. despite all
The reports to the contrary. lie is fee
bio In body, and few months ago
there was some uneasiness regarding
his condition, but the advent Of sun
shine on the sands Of Brighton after a
long and depressing period of cold and
rain has pulled himself up wonderfully.
lie has finished his life work. however,
and probably will never Write another
word that Is intended for the public
eye. Not long ago an enterprlsing
American magazine asked me to offer
him any sum that he might name for
an article OF any length whatever on
any subject that might interest him.
But the only answer was that while he
appreciated the compliment OF such an
offer he regretted his inability to COM
ply with Il. He has received plenty OF
other offers almost as liberal In the
last two years.
The aged philosopher Is now practi-
cally alone in the world Affairs of the
heart never interest him, and he now
has not one near relative living Iux-
ley and Tyndale are gone, and nearly
all his other friends, except John Nor
Icy, and he is said to feel his isola-
ton keenly. The man who acts as his
secretary and writes practically all his
letters for him IL almost his only COM
panion in the lonely house at Brighton.
The elaborate revival of "Ben- Hur"
which Messrs. Klaw a Erlanger this
week presented at the Salt Lake thea
Ter recalls the fact that, although 1t is
almost quarter OF century since the
Harpers published General Wallaces
famous novel, more copies are now sold
every year than when the book first
appeared, In the current performances
Of the work in It's dramatized form, the
scenery and effects of the sumptuous
Drury Lane theater production are util-
i2ed while the cast includes Annie
Irish, Harry Woodruff, and j. r.. bod
son,
How a great fortune may be within
the grasp and yet elude one Is impress.
siyely illustrated by the closing exper-
fences Of Robert Morris's life. His
descendants view the anthracite and BIZ
luminous coal lands in Pennsylvania
and West Virginia. the oil wells in
western Pennsylvania, the sites Of sew
eral now nopulous and prosperous cities
including Washington (of which Morris
once owned IA great part), the cotton
fields Of Georgia and the Carolnas,
and wonder nj the perversity of the
times which made him a bankrupt and
left them no part In what would have
been the greatest inheritance In Amer
lea Millions of acres were scattered
TO the winds because Morris could not
Keep up with the interest and taxes.
After the Mississippi Bubble. the Nor
us Bubble, as DR.. Oberhotzcr, shows
In his recent speculative fiasoo on the
western continent AS jay Cooke failed
because OF the third Napoleon, Morrlss
failures may be ascribed TO the disturb
9nces brought upon the world by the
first
The last time saw Alfred Tennyson
was like the first, an imposing and
unique occasion. That last time was
ON the day when Tennyson, Just en-
aoWed with a peerage was formally
introduced to the house of lords, the
pace where members OF the house of
commons are privileged to stand The
Whole ceremonial Is a severe trial for
me nerves and the composure of even
me most self-possessed and self-satis-
ned among newly created peers. The
newcomer wears for the first time his
robes Of state, and these robes make
EarD IN which II is hardly possible for
any novice not to appear somewhat
ridiculous. The new peer is formally
conducted by two OF his brother peers
mo the house Of lords, Is presented to
The lord chancellor and other leading
members Of the house, and has to make
many genunectlons and go through
many forms which bear. TO irreverent
eyes suggestion of theatricallty and
masquerade. Tennyson comported him
self with modesty and dignity through
out the whole Of his peculiar ordeal
and the general feeling was Tint even
II the performance had been carefully
rehearsed which we assume II certain.
ly was not, Lord Tennyson could not
more successfully have got through his
part In the dramatic exhibition. RE
cent Letter in Harpers.
In his article on THE South in Ameri.