A Conversation with Tennyson.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 77

A Conversation with Tennyson.

An American s-entleman, in the course of a recent reminiscent talk, told his friends how he once listened to a com creation beirwecn Lord Tennyson and a young Englishman, then iust beginning to be known an i-tcrature. It took placo in a ccmijhy inn where the- two had been introduced l>v a mend of both, who bad left to catch ark tiain Immediately after his presc-nta-J Tbe Ameriai. sitting at a table near by hc-ard The Englishman, ashy but ai-dcnt admirer of the jo&t bc~m mede^y and Ptammeringljr to tel him how much pleasure !-c had taken in his poem= When he wed speaking, Tennyson said: The'young man was abashed, but he tried

again. He spoke of the beautiful scenery ' in the vicinity, and mentioned the points of f interest which he had visited, and which i he knew were more familiar to the post than to himself. His final remark was a question. Tennyson answered: i "Humph!" ! A third time the embarrassed young man resumed the conversation, although he j looked as if he would like- to escape if he : knew how. He had become desperate, ana talked about the weather. The clouds had grown threatening; would it really rain? Tennyson was standing near the threshold. He stepped outside, lodked up, held out his palm, to feel if any drops were falling, and ! ■uttered : j "Humph!" Then he walked off aroimd j tho house, and disappeared from view. j "Well !" oried the Englishman. The ] American, although he was not addressed, looked up with twinkling eyes and re- I sponcfed "Humph !" Then both laughed, i and an acquaintance sprang up between them which prospered more fortunately . than the relations so rapidly begun and terminated between the great laureate and his thoroughly-snubbed admirer.