New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-18
BROWNING'S MARRIAGE.
Il Friends Description of the Poets
Romance.
Romance.

Among the quotations from old letters, writ
ten by early friends Of Robert Browning which
are woven into article in The Contemporary
Review" is penned in 1916 by Joseph Ar
mold, who was in his last years an eminent judge
in India He gives therein an account of his
friends marriage, which. while quite in line
with the accepted version of the Biographies is
picturesque enough to be reproduced here. He
pictures the despotism of the ladys father. and
adds:
Under the iron rigor of this mans domestic rule
and thirty years Of age in the most absolute and
enforced secusion from society, culttvatng her
mind TO wonderful amount Of accomplishment
instrucng herself in all languages, reading Chrys-
ostom in the original Greek. and publishing the
best netreal translation that has yet appeared of
TO write three volumes OF poetry the last of which
raised her name 10 a place second only to that of
not repealed by eccentricites Of external form nom
penetrating into the soul and quintessential spirit
poet has cast it. Well this lady SO gifted, SO Sc
GUIDED so tyrannized over, fell in with Brown
fesh--in plain English loved the writer before she
effect which his graceful bearing. high demeanor
and noble speech must have had on such mind
twilight Of her darkened room She was at once
s by s 0' oF % Rs and mo- esS o
the first interview wholly in love with her.
time his visits to her have been constant He of
IF you do was her terrified answer, he would
certainly throw me out OF the window or lock me
up for life in a darkened room" There was one
thing only to be done, and that Browning did.
married her without the fathers knowledge, and
Immediately left England with her for Italy, where
they living at Pisa in supreme a state
OF happiness you can fancy two such people in
such place The old rascal father, OF course tore
his beard. foamed at the mouth and performed all
other feats Of impotent rage; luckily his wrath is
absolutely Idle, for she has a small Independence
of some ESQ per annuDl, on which they will. OF
course, live prosperously. heard from him week
back, IN which he mentions you most kindly, and
fellow. Oh forgot to say that the soi-disante
invalid OF years. once emancipated from the
paternal despotisn, has had a wondrous revival,
rather complete metamorphosis. walks, rides,
in fact, is healthy woman Of believe. some five
and thirty; little old, too old for Browning, but
then, word all-they in love, who
lends his own youth to everything.
In the diary of Alfred Dornett. who is chiefly
remembered another friend Of the poet, are
these entries apropos Of Papa Barrett:
Browning. happening to mention Mr.. Barrett as
my sweet father-n-law," asked him if there was
any ground for the rumours that had reached every
TO his treatment of his daughter the poetess.
holder" q. e., I suppose, had slaves in the West
Indles.) land seemed TO consider that every be-
longing 10 him must bend to his will and pleasure
as his slaves did"
Alfred Barrett Mrs. Browning's brotherl he said
His sad He one of the best fell
lows alive, but had married without his fathers
consent whereupon the latter had cut him of
| was considerable to the rest of the family. His
| two brothers allowed him LOO a year each 30 he
lived at Bruges for sconomys sake. his wife being
In England"