New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-15
GLlMPSES OF SWINBURhE
A Poet of Strange Presence and
Stranger Ways.

PORTRAITS AND SKETCHES. ~ Ed
mund Cosse e.. Is Emo, ~. 80.
Charles Sc,ibner's Sons.
These studies of Mr.. Gosse's literary
contemporaries are agreeable IL not eN-
ceedingly important. He deals Win
Swinburne-who was. he declares oil
all the human beings whom ne mas
known. the most extraordinary; with
that fantastic old person, z. II. horne,
who snowballed Keats in childnood ana
gave TO the world once well KNOWN
poem. Orion: with Aubrey de we're
yho wrote. we remember. the delicious
ballad Europa and who looked IKE
Sir John Tennel's sketch Of the Mad
Halter in "Alice's Adventures VITA
Andrew Lang and John lnglcsant --
and with other authors. Engnsh or
Continental, who Will. Il may DC. IN
terest American readers less than those
We have mentioned. His paper on
Swinburne leads the list and is the
most entertaining Of all. appealing even
TO those who fail TO agree win III"
writer's rash statement that the poet
will end by taking his place as one OF
tho few unchalengcd Immortals. That
Is q large order. and one which, we be-
licve, will not be met.
We find here an amusing picture OF
the enthusiasm with which the poe'
was greeted when he first arose above
the literary horizon. The audience OF
deyotees. II was said, TO whom the I'M
nubl,sbed DOLORES" was read sank on
It's respective knees and adorcd the
youns author-who was not, II must he
admitted, as young as he "let on to be
He was In his thirtieth year. Mr.. Gosse
tells us. when Poems and Baiieds
came out. but he was reported 10 DC
only twenty-four. and his supposed
vouth gave, II was thought, an added
br,ll,ancy TO his talent. Studying him
Mt the zenith OF his reputation, his
friend found himself constantly
startled by the physical problem
What place has this singular being In
the genus hD""'
He stood on a different physical toot,hs
from other men; he formed. as OWE
.ad Of Pindar "a vast species alone
n there had been a planet peolled Dy
Svinburnes he would have passed az an
active. healthy, normal specimen OF II.
All that WAS eXtraordinar! III MN ~
not. apparently. the result OF III heai'"'
hut of Individual and Unborn pecuharity'
Peculiar. indeed, was the poet IN
physique. With his little. narrow Stop
ing shoulders. his abnormally long and
slender neck. and his big mead. he
looked more like some prehistoric b'rd
,han nineteenth century Briton--
more saws Mr.. Gosse. "a hypertrophied
Intelligence than man. His vast
brain seemed to weigh down and give
solidity TO a frame otherwise as lght
as thistledovn, a body almost as I'M
material as that Of fairy He used
to fall into a practically convus'vc
state at the slightest excitement OF
anger. pleasure or admiration, ater-
mating these violences with PERIODS OF
trancelike immobility. He had little
mournful ways" moods OF moroidity
and complaint. George Eliot he de-
clarcd on one occasion. was bounding
en- her myrmidons to his destruction,
the fact being that the poor woman
was, no doubt. entirely ignorant OF the
newspaper attack which the plain'ivc
poet attributed TO her. He delighted In
reading aloud his own poems to his
worshippers, and was prone to go OH
for hours. He had beautiful voice,
and as long as he read quietly the ef-
feet was charming. But sometimes In
reading" Mr. Gosse remembers. he
lost control Of his emotions. the sound
became scream. and he would dance
about the room. the paper futtering
from his fngertips like pennon In a
gale of wind"