CHARLES SUMNER AND TENNYSON.

Otago Witness, Issue 1456, 11 October 1879, Page 24

CHARLES SUMNER AND TENNYSON.

The last time Sumner was abroad he visited Farringfurd, Tennyson's home on the Isle of Wight, both men being acquaintances of long standing, and both egotists. Sumner began talking of Amerioa, in which country Tennyson has not the ((lightest interest, except from a monetary point of view. The poet looked bored, and the senator gallantly changed the Subject to poetry. The laureate thought that word applicable alone to hiß own works, and forthwith stepped into the library for a complete volume of them. Returning, he handed it to the American, commenting very enthusiastically upon the perfections of " The Princess." Mr Sumner said :

"I am very familiar with • The Princess,' Mr Tennyßon ; it is one of my favourite peems. ' I have' read it frequently." " Read it now," naid the poet. Mr Sumner, naturally embaraassed at being asked to read a pet poem before its author, nevertheless complied, rendering the text in his rich, deep, cultivated tones. The poet sat uneasily for a few minutes, then seizing the beok from Mr Summer's hand, Bldd: " This is the way ' The Princess ' should be read," and commencing with the prologue laid the book down only when he had completed the lines : " La»t little Lillia, rising quietly, Disrob'd the glimmering statue of Sir Ralph From those rich silks, and home well pleased he went."

The time occupied in the recitation was just five hours, during which time the senator dared look nowhere but at the poet. At the expiration of the torture, Mr Sumner roße quickly and bade his host adieu, fearful lest he should propose reading the " Idylls of the King," or some other of his works.