Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-20
SN|NBDRN[, The POET
SOME REcoLLEcrIoNs OF ENG.
LANDS FAMOUS MASTER
OF SONG.
LAST OF GREAT LINE
OF VICTORIAN POETS

LAST OF GREAT LINE
OF VICTORIAN POETS
Ardent Student Of ahaksspsars In Ills
Childhood pays-An Instance Of His
Winning Psrsonailty-Two Odd Es-
eapades-Grsat Lover Of Children.
Algernon Charles swinburne, the
poet who recently died at his home,
The Pines, at Putney, near London,
ana upon whose shoulders all England
expected Tennyson's mantle Of poet
lameate to fail, was born on April 8,
1887, 80 that he had just entered on
bis seventy-third year when death
came. He was descended from an an
Gent family which runs back to the
days Of Edward II. for ifs pedigree.
he was the last leaf on the tree that
bare the group Of great Victorian poets.
The poet was the son Of the late Ad-
miral Charles Henry swinburne and
Lady Jane Henrietta, who was the
daughter Of the third Earl Of Ash
burnham. As child he was extraor-
dinarily precocious, and at the age
when children think only Of their play
he was an ardent student Of Shake
apeare, taking, as his parents often re-
lated. copy Of the plays Of the i'm.
mortal bard to bed with him. Swim.
burne's boyhood ives spent ut his par.
ents' home in the Isle Of Wight, and
It was there that his great love for
the sea grew, for the poet knew and
loved the sea in all its moods. His
two favorite recreations were swim
ming and cliff climbing, In both of
which he excelled.
In 1847-8 he was educated by tutor
In the Isle Of Wight and after a years
study was sent to Elton, where, how
ever, he led a lonely life.
AS an instance Of Swinburness pc
culiarly winning personality, when DR..
Hawtrey, the head master at Elton,
once sent for him to demonstrate with
the boy on his love for poetry, the in
terview ended with the conversion Of
the master and promise that his
pupil should have access to DR.. Haw-
rey's own library and the understand
ing that he should be allowed to take
away any Of the works Of the old Eng
lish dramatists he desired.
In 1856 Swinburne entered Ballot
college, Oxford, but did not wait for a
degree. By this time the muse was re-
cetving his respectful attention, and
instead Of waiting to graduate with
his class he started of on VISIT to
Florence with the late Walter Savage
Landor.
Swinbune's birth was contempora-
neous with the coronation Of the late
Queen Victoria. 1t was In 1861 that
Swinburne published his first volume,
1.-THE Queen Mother and "Rosamond,"
and not year has passed since then
that. he has not contributed to the
world OF letters one or more books of
prose or poetry.
Swinburne was strong in his likes
and dislikes. He appeared to care lit
tie for the opinion or criticism. Of Lon
don and the world outside. He was a
deyout worshiper at the shrine Of Bob
ert Browning, and some years ago be
caused all England to shake with
laughter when he brought q fo0tstool
to public banquet at which Brown
ing was the guest of honor and, sol
EMMY placing it at Browning's feet,
sat upon it-at the feet Of the "mas-
ter
Another Of Swinburne's escapades
occurred after dinner at the London
Art club when he showed his disap-
prevail Of his fellow members by pill
ing up their hats on the floor Of the
banquet hall and dancing on the mod
est headpieces. This made substantial
grist for the comic papers. and one
publication buriesqued the affair by
lions Of the Greek form Of drama. The
burlesque was put on the boards, and
the club members made up tho cast.
Policemen who were called IN to bride
the poets rage made up the chorus.
Hats were sent flying about the stage,
and the members walled:
A. forests with tempests that wrestle
From the hatracks our hats are torn
down.
Then the chorus Joined the tumult
by shouting:
The Englishman's home is his castle;
The Englishman's hat Is his crown.
And so the burlesque continued true
to the traditions Of Aristophanes when
he amused the Athenians by ridicultns
Aeschyius.
Swinburne was frank and cordial
with his friends and, aside from being
Q noted leader in conversation, was
fond Of reading his own poetry. he
vas a bachelor. He amassed rare
collection OF literary curtos. The poet
never mingled much In general society
% hs was somewhat deaf It wss his
habit to take long Cross country jeunts
and as he trudged along with down
cast head, seldom lifting his eyer
from the ground, he was a welcome
Lord Bountfful to the children whom
he met on the way. He gave them
cakes and candies and was pleased
with their demonstrations. No mat
ter how hard It rained or severe the
storm that overlook him while abroad
on these excursions, he pulled down