The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1921-06-08
THOMAS GRAY AT WORK

Thomas Gray, who is best known
as the author of the "Elegy in the
County Churchyard," although he has
written great quantity of sublime
English verse, had rather unevent-
full life, sixty-seven years of which he
passed in London, in Cambridge and
at Stroke-pogis, with a few brief inter-
walls spent in travel.
We are told that Gray's chief
pleasure lay in wading through huge
libraries, out of which, on vast num-
Der of subjects, he extracted great
amount of information. Such were
Grey's assidous study and research
that the Rev Temple, writing a few
months after Gray's death, said; per
haps he was the most learned man
in Europe. He was equally acquaint-
ed with the elegant and profound arts
Of science, and had not specifically,
but thoroughly. He knew every
branch of history, both natural and
civil, had read all the original histor-
les of England, France, and Italy; and
was great antiquarian Criticism,
metaphysics. morals, politics, made
a principal part of his plan of study.
Voyages and travels Of all
sorts were his favorite amusement,
and he had fine taste in painting,
prints, architecture and gardening.
Gray was the first to open up the
Northern antiquities and legendary
literature; he was also one Of the
first, if not the very first person who
began to trace out and distinguish
the different orders of AngIo4Gothic
architecture; by attention to the date
Of its creation. These were the stud
les. enough to occupy a life, which
kept him close at Cambridge in his
room for years, and once induced him
to take lodgings, for about three
years, near the British Museum, where
he diligently copied from the Hadle-
ian and other manuscripts.
1t was at the last named place he
resided, Stroke-Pogis that Gray pro-
duced his best poetry. Here it was
said that his "Ode on a Distant Pros
pect Of Elton College," and his "Dong
Story were not only written, but
were mingled with the circumstances
and all the tenderest feelings of his
own life. Near his home was raised /
an artificial mound, and upon it was
a sort of summer house, which gave
full view OF Windsor and Elton. Here
Gray used to delight to sit; here he
was accustomed to read and write
much.
Gray was eight years in writing his
famous "Elegy" of thirty-two verses.
He began it at Stoke in October of
1742, and finished it in June, 1850. He
is said to have written some of the |
stanzas among the tombs Of Gran
chester. With the exception of GER
tain works OF Byron and Shakes
peare, no English poem has been so
widely admired and initiated abroad /
The Gray home at Stoke-Pogis has
long pulled down, and has been re-
placed by an Elizabethan mansion. /
The garden has also shared in the
change, but the summerhouse on the
summit is still held together by iron
clamps out of the respect to Gray, but /
the trees are now so lofty that they
completely obstruct the view. and
shut out both Elton and Windsor. 1t
was at this house that the two ladies
from the park made their memorable
visit, which gave occasion to Gray's |
Long Story" Americans must al
ways be especially interested in the |
Gray and StokePogis for its connec-
ton with William Penn, the origional
proprietor of Pennsylvania, who re-
sided here.