The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-05-04
PUZZLED The POET
The Societies Formed to Study
BroWning's Works.
ne DIDN'T FEEL FLATTERED.


Organized Effort to Understand His
Genius An Afternoon Tea and
Story About Tennyson.
Tn her book pleasures and Palaces"
PRINCESS Lazarovich HrebellanOvich,
formerly Eleanor Calhoun of Califor-
mia who as young woman won fame
nc 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" dn
England. be it said, they are not mar
HE but sculptured wood or sculptured
stone and ancient tapestry, but in that
vast universe of houses, big and small,
whose lights glimmer softly through
bazy atmosphere or blink mOrosely in
the fog. where the aristocrats of genius
also rove. On certain days. from gray
and dull. the place suddenly frightened
into a new enchantment, as into my
uicture there came along some poet or
painter, some writer of novels or other
had made my heart futter like the vel
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
10 the house of a new acquaintance.
finding in realitya crush of fashionables
in her drawing room. She put me into
4 4
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
4CornwalD, 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" said,
ito think of my good fortune in being
placed just here
"Yes," piped the old lady merrilyi
ats nice to 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. | 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 l ventured.
HIN, yes" he answered dryly, lit
isn't very Gathering TO think you can't
be understood without the aid of or
gained effort" He was very sweet
and laughed at himself.
l 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 he an
swers like a brute I'll not give up,
though. Lowell wrote me poem on
my birthday. | thought that would
fetch Alfred. so | took ii down to
Hazlemere. flirted it before his face.
"'You shan't 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. 1t
begins like this: Il know a girl, they
say she is eighty | paused.
familiarr snorted Alfred. never crack
ing a smile. The old lady chuckled.
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. Il abommate piano players
-murdererS of conversation. 1t was
cruel; the piano ran the 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 it stopped. Browning
applauded frantically. holding out ms
hands and looking back over his Shoui-
der ut us. while he began 10 say
Thank God. it's over. must tel
You about the strangest experience
ever had. Ii was in France Just
then the pianist began an encore.
Browning almost groaned: wv mars
she doing? You don't think she is go
ing to-
Yes" said. you applauded SO
hard she had to begin again
God forgive me- he walled. Never
again will | commit that error.
The old lady choked with laughter
and Browning bolted for the door
Girls In Guatemala.