A TENNYSON STORY
Lady Butler’s, story, in her licwlypublished autobiobraphy, of how Tennyson “pitched into”, her sister and herself for. wearing tight dresses recalls another instance of the poet’s criticism of feminine attire. The late Mr. Edward Whyuiper used to tell how, at a garden party, a. rather gushing young girl was introduced to Tennyson, and, seating herself beside him, attempted awkwardly to carry on a conversation. As all sho got in reply was an occasional “Humph!” she lost her nerve, and began, schoolgirl-like, to wriggle and fideet. Then the great man j,noke. “You’re like all the 1 rest of them,” he growled, “you’re laced too tightly. I can hear your stays crack.” Abashed and embarrassed, the girl withdrew, but later in the afternoon Tennyson camo behind her, and, laying a hand on her shoulder, said kindly, “I was wrong just now, young lady. It wasn’t your stays I hcarcLcracking, but my braces; they’re hitched up too tightly. Sorry.”
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 148, 10 March 1923, Page 15
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159A TENNYSON STORY Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 148, 10 March 1923, Page 15
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