The newspaper., 1906-12-07
Life of Spencer.
BY MRS. MINNIE CURTIS

English poets, was a man OF pure
character, elegant culture, and rare
genius. One OF the brightest starr of
Elizabeth's reign. He was born at
East Smithfield, near the Tower, |
London, in 1852. He is supposed to
have been of good family connections,
but as there Is nothing known OF his |
parents the evidence is very uncertain.
He received his preparatory train
ing at the Merchant Tailor's School. |
When he was seventeen years OF age,
May 20, 1862 he entered Pembroke
Hall, where he earned his board by
acting as waiter. In 1872 he took
the degree OF Bachelor of Art, and
four years later, in 1876 Master OF
Arts. We may safely infer from his
broad scholarship that he was "A dill
gent student, obtaining considerable
knowledge Of Latin and Greek
literature as is seen in his works.
He left the University while still a
boy to live as IA tutor in the north;
but after some years of poverty and
the scorn of IA fair country lass
ingenuity, has shown almost beyond
question to he Rose Daniel sister of
the poet by that name he again
went south.
In 1873, while still in the north, he
published his first important work.
The Shepherds Calendar. 1t was
dedicated to Sir Philip Sidney. one
of his staunchest friends, whose
acquaintance he had probably made
through Gabriel Harvey college
friend. Though less finished than
some, the peculiar melody and pro
fuse Imagination which this poem
disclosed, placed its auther, at once
in the forefront Of living poets.
In 1880 Arthur, Lord Frey of VII
ton, was appointed lord deputy Of
ireland, he made Spencer his private
secretary; there can be no doubt that
Spencer proceeded with Lord Grey to
Dublin which thus became his home.
He accompanied the lord deputy
through the bloody scenes connected
with the suppression of Desmond's
rebellion, and Lord Grey suppressed
ii SO cruelty as to be recalled, and
Spencer learned the lesson Of massa-
ere and determination, W hich he after
wards advocated, making his name
hateful to the Irish nation.
He was introduced at court by
Sir Philip Sidney, and in recognition
OF his services he received from the
crown, "A liberal grant of land in the
county of Cork, an estate of about
5000 acres. ON which he now went to
reside.
His great work The Faerie
Queene" was begun about this time,
some writers say that II was begun
in England, hut the larger part was
written in Ireland. The first three
books were published in 1880. three
more in 1896. there are twelve books
in it's present incomplete state and
Is one of the longest poems in the
language. The first two books are
those usually read, and give the best
fdea Of the beauty of thepocm. which
Iiuce- him IN hc iir-t ranks of Eng
lish poets. and gives him the name of
the Poets Poet" Spencer bestowed
n great deal of labor upon all of his
productions, Colin Clouts' Come
Home Again" is said to rank second
with his "Faerie Quccne.'
ON June II. 1894, Spencer married
"a lady by the name OF Elizabeth Cher
family name remaining uncertain)
Spencer celebrated his marriage In the
finest, the most beautiful of all his
poems, in his "Epithalamium.
In l59S Spencer was recommended
by her Majesty for Sheriff OF Cork,
and in the month of September
received his appointment. In the
autumn of 1899 there broke out an
other of those fearful Instructions,
of which the history of English rule
in Ireland is mainly composed.
kilcolman Castle was burned, the
poet and his wife escaped with diff
ficulty and their youngest child who
was left behind persisted in the flames.
Reduced to poverty Spencer lied to
London where he spent a few miser-