POETS’ PETS

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12199, 25 July 1925, Page 16

POETS’ PETS

1 One of the most romantic as well as one of the greatest figures of Victorian times was Dante Gabriel Rossetti, for he was in the front rank both as a painter and a poet. But,, like many other, men of genius, he had some peculiarities, them the lore of strange pets, which he kept mostly in his big gaxdten behind No. 16, Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, London. At one time or another he possessed a Wombat, a woodchuck, an armadillo, a racoon, a kangaroo, a deer, a chameleon, a salamander, and even a zebu, the sacrod cow of India. The wombat was probably the favourite epid enjoyed most privileges, being ■ accustomed to sleep on tji* epergna in the middle of the dinner table, quite undisturbed by lights or conyersation. On one occasion it took advantage of an absorbing discussion to h©lfp itself ttf expen»%£ve cigars. It chewed up a boxful. • Tennyson wrote several poems on the owl, as other poets do on nightingales and skylarks.' One night, sitting at the attic window in his father's country rectory, he heard the cry of a young owl, and 'imitated it so well that the bird came to him. From 1 that moment it became a household pet. Its fate, was a sad one, however, for it was drowned in a well. The nearest and dearest pet Burns ever Possessed was a sheep, which he called Laillie. He wrote two poems to Maillie after her death. The sheep used to foll6w the poet everywhere, and iwould run Tyith the speed of a greyhound to meet her master. Cowper's three hares—Puss. Tiny, •'and Bess—belong to literature, for he tells theif story in his inimitable letters. Puss was his companion for 11 years and 11 months. She was in the habit of pulling his hair when she wanted to go for ;a walk. Tiny was a bad-tempered little beast, responding to caresses with snaps and grunts. Bess was gentle and affectionate. The three enjoyed a nightly romp pn the poet's parlour carpet.