The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-05
Social and Personal

Tennyson. who from his infancy was
f, stepped in the classics, and compared
| the writings OF the two masters TO
tourist and bold explorer. the tourist
going whittier his guide might lead,
seeing the things that were 20 be seen,
and the man who went everywhere
plucking at this strange flower and
| that and climbing to lonely heights
and peaks. from which to send back a
message and dream Of vision to
those who might not attain The ele-
! nents of the art of this poet are two
! fold. namely. his immense range OF
subject matter and the dramatic quail
4! ty OF his volumes of verse. 1t is
worthy Of note how very English
| Browning's subjects are. He loved &C
ton, but his was often the action of
brain cells, rather than quickness OF
dramatic development in his plot. and
;t2z Gco s.N'aia'|'" Gt.eoanta, GcT '4$te (uuG,
that his plays have never been sue
cesses when staged. They are too in
ward. reveal too many inner feelings.
and he Will spoil any scene in order
10 Introduce lyric. His poems are
mostly rorances In dialogue form, and
/ his plays read better than they act,
since his characters are analyzed,
Irather than developed, and for high
poetry and subtle imagination they
poems. the dramatic monologue that he
introduces in SO many of them is the
most wonderful; certainly there is
nothing like them in English liter
ature They are exquisite rhythmic
pieces of art, and all of the glories are
seen by the inner eye. He set forth
tire doctrines and beliefs OF his own
In regard to art in the greatest har-
mony and subdued tone. and his own
desires and ambition are threaded
throughout the entire range OF his
Imagination. His work is intellectual
~ clever and stimulating TO the mind
and packed with wonderful palaces OF
music built up of wonderful words, and
his suggestions of problems are like a
deiicately constructed mesh OF poetic
intricacies.
What one finally arrives at as tho
essential characteristics OF Browning
is that he did not follow the beaten
path; he has been called obscure; he
thinks like lightning. and he assumes
the mental culture OF his readers as
he rushes on with his headlong
thought His illusions are so remote
and his language is 50 condensed that
his meaning cannot be- gathered At a
glance; he saw In pictures. and those
pictures were great, gigantic. rough
sketches. from which his audience was
TO 1T his own thought Browning
sought TO reveal the workings OF the
human soul, the decay of ideals; he
sought to develop a chance meeting, a
glance. into the crisis of life. He is
less national than Tennyson, but more
original more vigorous, and il is his
immtnse staying power ami the intel
lectual substance of his writings. that
has not been foun1 since the time OF
Shakespeare, that lifts his poetry so
far away and above the other Vic
torian makers OF verse. II is By the
subtle alchemy OF his magnation that
the commonplace is lifted into the
realm Of the ideal; he is a torch bearer
Il tie multitude. His courage was
sublime, his faith and buoyant optim-
Ism runs through everything that ne
wrote and the central note OF Brown
ing's poetry is the iner conflict of the
soul II is the glory of Robert 1ii uwi-
Ing that he Is not only stimulating TO
the intellect, ut that he gives us {,
hrm grip on that mystic realm CT
hearts desire.
Mrs. Cox Entertained.
The Washington Post of yesterday
contains the following of interest to
society in Richmond
THE Club of Colonial Danes gave
a delightful reception Thursday from
i to o'clock at their clubhouse. I
and Sixteenth Streets, in honor of Mrs.
William Ruffin Cox, of Richmond pres
ident of the National Society of Colo
NAL Danes of America, An interesting
feature of the reception was the un-
yelling of portrait OF Sir Walter Ra-
leigh. presented to the club by Mrs.
Brenizer. recording secretary OF the
society, who copied It from the por-
trait in the possession OF the North
Carolina Society of Danes. Ambassa-
dor Bryce was Il guest OF the club and
made an address following the removal
of the American and British flags which
yelled the portrait. In the receiving
line were Mrs. Eugene Van Rensselaer,
president of the club: the ambassador,
Mrs. William Ruffin Cox and Mrs Bren
izer. Mrs. Joseph II. Lamar. Mrs. Ed
ward r. Gheen, Mrs. Kicks and Mrs.
IL +. Andrews presided at the tea
table"
Interesting Wedding.
a wedding of great social interest
here and throughout the State took
place THURSDAY evening at o'clock at
the nome OF the brides mother. Mrs.
Joseph II. Allyn. in Butte Street, Nor
folk. when her daughter. Emily, be-
came the bride of DR.. NJ. r. Page Lee,
son OF the late Colonel Charles S. Lee
and Mrs. Margaret Page Lee
The house was decorated with palms,
ferns. white flowers and burning
candles. The ceremony was performed
under an arch of Southern smilay by
Bishop Beverly D. Tucker, assisted by
DR.. Harry b. Lee of Charlottesville.
uncle OF the groom.
The bride entered with her brother.
herman Allyn, by whom she was given
away She wore a gown of white
satin trimmed with lace and pearls.
Her veil was caught with wreath oC
orange blossoms. She carried a shower
bouquet of lilies of the valley and
orchids.
Miss Mabel Allyn, sister of the bride,
as maid of honor, was her only at
tendant. She wore a gown OF pink
charmeuse and lace and carried an
armful OF pink Killarney roses Phil
lips T. Lee was his brothers best man.