Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17
The Poet Laureate.

Mr.. Alfred Austin, the poet laureate.
shows some pluck in again facing the
critics with a volume of poems. Most
of the critics seem to agree with the late
Artemus Wards opinion of one of his
contemporaries that the poet laureate is
anything but a poet. But Mr.. Austin
goes unfuff1ed on his way. He looks to
posterity for the appreciation which does
not come very freely 10 him in his life
time. . ,,.. - .-
Ashford. in Kent. in charming old
manor house. where he looks upon the
world with "A philosophic eye. Nothing
in his appearance suggests the poet.
Though seventy years old he is still a
dapper little gentleman, with white hair
and heavy white mustache. alert. well
set up. and very neatly dressed. often
in country tweeds and knickerbockers.
With his keen features and brown cheeks
he looks like nothing so much as retired
Anglo-Indan official.
His tastes have always been in favor
of country life. and when he is not in
England he seeks relaxation In Italy. In
literature he represents the conservative
tradition, and. indeed. at one time was
rather active in tory politics behind the
scenes
He was very friendly with the late
Lord Salisbury. and often acted as that
minister's amba SSador to the newspapers
the laureateship when. after Tennyson's
death. the queen would have liked to
confer the official laurel on Sir Theodore
Martin while the world in general ex-
pected it to go to Mr.. Swinburne.
Bishop Accused.
Bishop Sheepshanks of Norwich. for
merly of Liverpool, where he labored for
| twenty years. is being accused of pulpit
garrulity in the eastern counties. and a
nicely worded petition has been sent to
him asking him to abbreviate his dis
courses 1t is said that at a recent con-
firmation service he gave one address
which lasted over fifty minutes and an
other which exceeded an hour. DIR. Sheep
shanks. however. is constantly coming
into prominence for his unconventional
ity of habits and thought. Last year he
made two startling suggestions-that
bishops incomes should be reduced and
their palaces sold, and that seats in the
house of lords should be given to repre-
sentatives of the principal non-conform-
list bodies If they wished to have them.
Few princes of the church have seen
more of the world than DIR. Sheepshanks
He has heen chaplain to the Royal En-
Sineers has missionized among gold min
4rs and red Indians. has witnessed the
alteration of the great lama in the sa-
cred city of Mongolia and has preached
before Brigham Young and 2.O0J Nor
mons In the Tabernacle of Salt Lake
CITY He has slept on the bare ground
with only a blanket 10 cover him. He
has gone for weeks without fresh meat
and had to mend his own boots and
clothes.
\ lover of the open road he is still a
sturdy tranlper of long walks. although
eight wears past the threescore and ten
When he was rouShing it in British Co.
lumbia AS rector of Holy Trinity New
Westminster. "A reverend visit cal He'd at
the vicarase to see him. When the visit
or got to the house lie a man sweep
ing il out and ask ID him Ii the rector
was at home. Yes" said the ''industri-
Gus" housewife Il am the rector" 1t
was the future Bishop OF Norwich
Pensions to Veterans.
The pensions given in this country to
veterans of the army and navy are small
compared with American pensions. either
singly or in the aggregate. but clubs are
constantly being organized for the men
of both services. The Union Jack Club
I described some time ago al lis opening.
This club is doing excellent work. and
now is to be supplemented by the Neter
ans Club the prime mover of the scheme
being Maj Haggard. brother of the we'll
known author. Rider Haggard.
All who have served on the lower deck
mr. in the ranks will be eligible for menu
bership. 1t is estimated that in London
alone there are something like 3N,OU
ax-sprvice men with no central head
quarters and but little to keep alive the
old friendships and esprit de corps formed