The sun., 1916-01-23

beautiful colored plates Of Hawaiian
fishes
Tensyson as Seen ny Chrastopher
North and Prof. Lounsbary.
The next best thing to talking about
Tennyson with an impossible survivor
Of those who discussed contemporary
with their original publication Poems
by Two Brothers" and Poems. Chiefly
Lyrical is to follow THOMAS II.
LoUN NsBuRr in The Life and Times OF
Tennyson (Yale University Press).
through the flies OF the journals OF the
years for which he was able to fin
ish his book. 1909 to 1850. The un-
completed projeca has been set in or
der for the priater BY Prof. Wilbur
L. Cross.
The rise Of Tennyson and his Vic
tor.an school" in succession to the
Georgians Is a chapter in literary ad-
venture in which John Wilson. the
Christopher North Of Blackicood's. is
a central figure. His dealings with
Tennyson form the core Of this book
The Poems by Two Brothers" ap-
peared in 1927. Alfred's Cambridge
prize poem. "Timbuctoo." came two
years later. Tennyson's first inde-
penden. volume, Chiefly Lyrical" was
published in 1880. II made. by its
own merits" "a distinctly favorable
impression" The praise IL got was
largely the fruit of personal friend
ships: but it had no hostile notice.
But the exaggerated encomiluns Of the
Tennysonian clique were bound in the
end to attract the lightning. In Black
UOod's for February. 1882. "NocteS
Ambrosiana" lamented. in fashionable
style. the decay OF poetry. Christopher
North can perceive no new heads r!s-
ing above its horizon. Asked IL there
are no "younkers." he says: "A few
but equivocal. | have good hopes OF
Alfred Tennyson. But the cockneys
are doing what they may To spoil him
and II he suffers them to put their
birdlime on his feet he will stick
all the days OF his life on hedgerows
or leap futtering about the bushes
! should be sorry for it---for though
his wings are far from being full
fiedged they promise now we'll in the
pinions-and should not be surpr ised
To see him Yet a sky soarer" Leigh
Hunt was chief among Wilson's
"Cockneys." The rough old critic
credited the Young poet with feeling
and fancy, "a fine ear for melody and
harmony too" and rare and rich
glmpses of imagination He even
| went SO far as To suggest genius as
| his possession. The imagined inter
| locutor accuses Alfred Of afYectation
Christopher admits the charge. but ex.
presses confidence that the fault viii
be outgrown But he could not swal.
low the adulatory renny sonans In
writing to the thesis that the beset.
ting sin of periodical criticism was
boundless extravaganza Of praise, hs
eNemplifed 10y the trowel men who
had been bedaubing Mr.. Tennyson
"One OF the saddest misfortunes." hs
said. that can befall a young poet |.
| to be the Pet OF a Coterie; and tn,
very saddest Of all, II in Cockneydom
Such has been the unlucky lot OF Al
fred Tennyson. He has been elevated
| to the throne OF Little Britain" VII
son lashed Hallam.
STILL setting out TO do Justice 4
the ingenious lad and save hin
from his worst enemies. his friends,
Wilson did not meanly measure
though he carefully qualified. hi
praise. He was no gentle monitor. II,
spared no weakness, and he foun,
many OF them to castigate. "Drivel
miserable" "idiotic." mostly silly
some OF 1t prettyish." Clumsy" dis
tingu!shed Stiffness" feeble and fan
tastic strains" these were the harsl
particularizations. They were attache,
definitely to individual pieces. not 4
the poets artistic personality. Then
Having shown" he said. "by gentl
cha astisement that we love Alfre,
Tennyson. let US now show by Judi
cious eulogy that We admire him. and
by we'll chosen specimens Of his fin
faculties. that he is worthy Of our ad
miration." This he did generously
and even half upologized for his pre-
vious depreciation.
In contradiction to his natural dis
position Tennyson let his own self
appreciation and the adulation Of hi
literary friends betray him into max
ing angry retort He had certainl
had nothing less than justice fror
the powerful critic he could not af
ford to challenge his hostility. Ru
he did it-and did not do it well. I
the Poems" Of 1892 were these lines
You did late reyisv my lays,
Crusty Christopher,
You did mingls blame and praise,
RuNy Christopher.
when I learnt from whom II came
forEave YOU all the blame,
Musty Christopher.
could not forgive the praise,
rus,y Christopher.
} II the poet Was sensitive, the crit
was even moro 20. The puerlls taur
ISattied Tenuysonss haah IN far q