The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-02-29
PUZZLED THE POET
The Societies Formed to Study
BroWning's Works.
HE DIDN'T FEEL FLATTERED.

Thought II Peculiar That Il Required
Organized Effort to Understand His
Genius = An Afternoon Tea and "a
Story About Tennyson.
In her book Pleasures and Palaces
Princess Lazaroyich Hrebelianovich.
formerly Eleanor Calhoun of Califor-
mia, who as young woman won fame
as an actress abroad. gives this story OF
her meeting with the poet Browning:
The revealing charm of London lay
not alone in making acquaintance with
those who dwell in marble halls" Din
England be 1t said, they are not mar
BILE. but sculptured wood or sculptnred
stone and ancient tapestry, but in that
vast universe of houses, big and small,
whose lights glimmer softly through
hazy atmosphere or blink morosely III
the fog. where the aristocrats OF genius
also rove. On certain days. from gray
and dull, the place suddenly frightened
into new enchantment. as into my
picture there came along some poet or
painter. some writer OF novels or other
great one whose name since childhood
had made my heart futter like the yell
low peoples on the California hills.
In response TO the invitation. Wont
you come in for a cup OF tea with us
on Wednesday afternoon ! bad gone
to the house of new acquaintance.
finding in realitya crush of fashsonables
In her drawing room She put me into
a seat and introduced me to an old
lady en- my right and an old gentle
man on my left. both Of whom looked
very bright and alive.
Mrs. Bryan Waller Proctor Barry
Cornwall. mother Of Adelaide Proctor;
Mr.. Browring-the poet. you know"
At the names my heart thumped. i
was wedged in between them.
II surely have lucky star" said,
Ito think Of my good fortune in being
placed just here."
YES" piped the old lady merrily;
its nice 10 like ones fellow sardines.'
Browning said:
81 am always glad to meet Ameri-
cans; they are so appreciative, only In
one way they're worse even than our
people here. l. think l may say that
the thing that puzzles me most in the
world is the Browning society, and
America seems full OF Browning so
cieties." eide
THAT shows how much you mean to
America yentured.
I'm. yes" he answered dryly, lit
isn't very flattering 10 think you can't
be understood without the aid of or
ganized effort" He was very sweet
and laughed at himself.
mentioned Tennyson. Old Mrs.
Proctor said: Look sharp. He does
not love Americans. simply adore
Lowell. and ,Tennyson is one OF my
dearest. I've tried in hundred ways
to have him meet Lowell, but lie an-
swers Ike brute. III not give up.
though. Lowell wrote me poem on
my birthday. ! thought that would
fetch Aired so took it down TO
Hazlemere. flirted 1t before his face.
You shant read it,. said. He
grunted | folded it up and stuffed It
into my pocket and said. I'm back TO
town He pouted like a naughty
child, seized my hand and growled:
"'You may read It.
".Oh, no. never said. He finally
insisted. Well, since you beg me to. it
begins like this: Il know girl. they
say she IS eighty" - paused. -
familiar" snorted Alfred. never crack
ing a smile" The old lady cbnckled
But he's an angel all the same. they're
both angels
In the midst of our talk somebody
began to play long classical piece on
the piano Everybody said. "'Sh!"
Browning. who was In great vein.
whispered. II abominate piano players
--murderers Of conversation" 1t was
cruel; the piano ran tho whole gamut
of its possibilities for half an hour
Mrs. Proctor and Browning rolled their
eyes at each other and at me as If in
agony. At last il stopped. Browning
applauded frantically, holding oni his
hands and looking back over his shout
der at us. while he began to say,
Thank God. it's over! must tell
you about the strangest experience
ever had. 1t was in France Just
then the pianist began an encore
Browning almost groaned: whats
she doing? You don't think she is go
ing to-
YES" l said. you applauded so
hard she had TO begin again"
God forgive met" he walled. Never
again will 4 commit that error"
The old lady choked with laughter.
and Browning bolted for the door.