The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1916-07-07
PUZZLED The POET
The Societies Formed to Study
Browning's Works.
HE DIDN'T FEEL FLATTERED.

Thought It Peculiar That 1t Required
ORGANIZED Effort to Understand ms
Genius Afternoon Tea and
Story About Tennyson.
In her book Pleasures and Palaces
Princess Lazarovich HrebehanoVlcn'
formerly Eleanor Calhoun of Callfor-
mia. who as a young woman won fame
as an actress abroad, gives this story CT
her meeting with the poet Browning;
The revealing charm of London lay
not alone in making acquaintance with
those who dwell in marble halls" On
England, be it said, they are not mar
BILE. but sculptured wood or sculptured
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 flutter like the yell
low peoples on the California hills.
In response to the invitation, Wont
you come in for cup Of tea with us
on Wednesday afternoon" ! had gone
to the house of new acquaintance,
finding in realitya crush of fashionables
in her drawing room. She put me into
seat and introduced me to an old
lady on my right and an old gentle
man on my left, both of whom looked
very bright and alive.
Mrs. Bryan Waller Proctor BARRY
CornwalD, mother of Adelaide Proctor;
Mr. Browning-the poet you know"
At the names my heart thumped.
was wedged in between them.
81 surely have a lucky STAR" l said,
ito think of my good fortune in being
placed just here!'
YES" piped the old lady merrily;
its nice to like ones fellow sardines."
Browning said:
| II 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 ] may say that
the thing that puzzles me most in the
/ world is the Browning society, and
America seems full Of Browning So
cieties."
THAT shows how much you mean to
| America" ventured.
Him, yes" he answered dryly, at
isn't very flattering to think you can't
! be understood without the aid Of or
!, ganized effort" He was very sweet
! and laughed at himself.
l mentioned Tennyson. Old Mrs.
Proctor said: Look sharp. He does
not love Americans. l simply adore
Lowell, and Tennyson is one of my
| dearest. I've tried in hundred ways
to have him meet Lowell, but he an
swers like a brute. I'll not give up.
though. Lowell wrote Inc q poem on
my birthday. L thought that would
fetch Alfred, so l took it down to
Hazlemere. flirted it before his face.
"'You shan't read it, 1 said. He
grunted. folded 1t up and stuffed II
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 l said. He finally
insisted. We'll. since you beg me to. Il
begins like this: II know girl. they
say she is eighty pa used. -
familiar! snorted Alfred, never crack
Ing SMILE" The old lady chuckled
But he's an angel all the So me. They're
both angels"
In the midst of our talk somebod,
began to play a long classical piece OF
the piano. Everybody said, "'Shr
Browning, who was In great vein
whispered, II abominate piano players
-murderers of conversation" 1t wa
cruel; the piano ran the whole gamu
of its possibilities for half an. hour
Mrs. Proctor and Browning rolled thei
eyes at each other and at me as ie,.tl
agony. At last it stopped. Brownin,
applauded frantically, holding out hi
hands and looking back over his shoul
der at us, while he began to say
THANK God, it's over! l must tel
you about the strangest experience
ever had. 1t was in France Jus
then the pianist began an encore
Browning almost groaned: what
she doing? You don't think she is &c
ing to-
"Yes," 1 said, you applauded 8
hard she had to begin again"
God forgive mer he walled. "Neve
again will l commit that error"
The old lady choked with laughter
: and Browning bolted for the door.
q Girls In Guatemala.
Mona Nf fhn p1ot1o-.