FATAL AGE FOR POETS

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 234, 1 July 1939, Page 6 (Supplement)

FATAL AGE FOR POETS

Masefield’s Tribute To Thomas Hardy

Tbe Poet Laureate, Mr. John Masefield, paid tribute to the genius of 'Thomas Hardy, the _ Wessex novelist and poet, when a Thomas Hardy memorial room was opened in the Borset County Museum. Tbe room is the personal memorial of the late Mrs. Emily Hardy, second wife of the novelist, to her husband. Mrs. Hardy bequeathed the furniture, personal belongings and manuscripts which formed the collection in her will when she died in 1937, nine years after her husband.

Mr. Masefield, who was born in 1875, said one remarkable thing about Hardy was the way he matured. Few artists went on growing as Hardy did until well past the age of 70.

Maturity was perhaps the rarest gift to any human being. Thirty-six was a fatal age for poets—it was surprising the number who had died about that age—and those who continued often ceased to do enthusiastic work after 50. A few, the great ones, went on getting better and better until they were 70. Ibsen was one such, Thomas Hardy another. He did some of his very best w&rk after 65, and it was astonishing that he grew better and better after 50. His "Wessex Poems” had been the most powerful influence for the good of English poetry since Robert Browning. He brought to his writing an extraordinary knowledge of the countryside and it's past, and invented more methods of writing verse than any other of the great company of English poets. ■

SEARCH FOR ANCIENT BRITAIN

Archaeological Campaign

The campaign in search of ancient Britain, which has been carried on by field archaeologists with growing intensity during rbcent years, is attracting large numbers of young men and women, says a correspondent of the “Dally Telegraph and Morning Post.” Led by Dr. R. Mortimer Wheeler, Keeper of the London Museum, an expedition to France has been arranged for this summer to explore the valley of the Seine, and important discoveries are expected. Last year, assisted by 60 men and women archaeologists, Dr. Wheeler explored Normandy and Britany, covering more than 12,000 square miles. He proved that the engineering skill which devised the fortifications of Maiden Castle, Dorset, was derived from the Veneti, the Gallic tribe mentioned by Caesar as his most determined opponent.

This year Dr. Wheeler hopes to establish further links between the Gallic and British peoples during the first century, 8.C., by the excavation of sites in the Seine valley.

Tbe results have been a great increase in knowledge of the industries and crafts of the ancient Britons. These included tbe fashioning of metal ornaments, pottery, and tool and weapon manufacture. Much light has been shed on the types of dwellings occupied, on tbe way these developed, and ou methods of fortification and defence. Another important work expected to be finished this summer is the excavation of the historic palace of the early Plantagenet kings at Clarendon. Wiltshire. The extensive remains found show that the palace was mainly rebuilt in the thirteenth century by King Henry 111. His great, hall, private chambers, chapels’and wine cellar are among the discoveries.

The work lias been carried out under the supervision of Dr. Tancred Borenius, Professor of the History of Art at London University, and Mr. John Charlton, of the Royal Commission ou Ancient Monuments, by permission of Mrs. Christie, the owner of the land.