Lord Tennyson's Mail

1895

Here is a curious freak of Lord Tennyson's imagination, based on fact: "Look at this pile, which, on my return from abroad, I find heaped on my table. I ought to have thanked you before for your generous lines, but look at the pile — some three feet high — and let that apologize for my silence — and believe me, tho' penny post maddened, yours ever, A. Tennyson." These words followed the drawing by Alfred Tennyson of a kind of pyramid in sections specifying the nature of the letters on his table: "Anonymous insolent letters," "letters from America, Australia, from monomaniacs, etc.," "letters asking explanation of particular passages," "begging letters of all kinds," "subscriptions asked for church building, schools, Baptist chapels, Wesleyans, etc.," "newspapers — gracious or malignant," "printed circulars of poems asked for subscription," "presentation copies of poems," "printed proof sheets of poems," "MS. poems," "letters for autographs," form the two sides of this curious and unique sketch.

People who pester a man of letters do not think of the vast aggregate made up of many single applications of various sorts. Each post used to bring to the house 50 or 60 letters. Mrs. Tennyson and Hallam Tennyson were far too much occupied with the task of wading through these piles of unsolicited correspondence. — Strand Magazine.

Tennyson and Sightseers

1901

Tennyson's well known aversion to sightseers and their ways gave rise to many an odd experience. Once, it is said, he complained to Queen Victoria, saying that he could no longer stay in the Isle of Wight owing to the tourists who came to stare at him.

The queen, with a kindly irony, said that she herself did not suffer much from that grievance. But Tennyson, taking her literally, replied in the same strain.

"No, madam," said he, "and if I could clap a sentinel wherever I liked I should not be troubled either."

Enoch Ardens in Russia

1906

Many Returning Soldiers Reported Dead Find Their Wives Remarried

St. Petersburg. — Among the Russian prisoners arriving from Japan there are many who have been reported dead by the general staff and whose relatives had been so informed. The unexpected reappearance of these men is causing all sorts of strange family complications, as many wives, under the impression that they were widows, have remarried.

In the province of Perm, where a returning soldier found his wife already the mother of a child by a new husband, he took the matter to the village priest for settlement. The first husband offered to acquiesce to the new conjugal arrangement if he received $25, but the second husband was unable to pay the money, and it was finally arranged that the wife should return to her first husband.

However, as the second marriage was considered legal, and as official documents were at hand to prove the apparent death of the living husband, it was decided that the child born While the first husband was away must legally be registered as belonging to the second husband, and that it must be cared for by him.


Luxury for Left-Handed

Right handed men are no longer the only ones who can, if they so desire, avail themselves of the convenience of a mustache cup. There are now made mustache cups for left handed men as well. These cups come in at least two sizes and in a variety of styles as to decorations. Not nearly so many left handed as right handed cups are called for, but the left handed man can now be supplied.

A Magnificent Speech on Tennyson's "Enoch Arden"

Georgia, 1896

A Magnificent Speech

Miss Edna Miller, of Miss Hanna's School, in Debate

Her Speech Delivered at the Tennyson Evening Given by Miss Hanna's School Was Superb

On the evening of the 2d of this month the girls of Miss Hanna's school gave a Tennyson evening, which proved a great success. The greater part of the programme was a debate upon the subject, "Resolved, That Philip Ray was a nobler character than Enoch Arden."

About a half dozen were on either side and the debate was one of the best ever heard by girls. A committee composed of Dr. J. B. Hawthorne, Judge Milton A. Candler, Colonel W. S. Thomson and Mr. C. L. Brooks decided the debated question in favor of the negative side, but Dr. Hawthorne in stating the decision, said that this was only because the burden of proof rested upon the affirmative side. He said they had done equally as well as the other side, but no better, consequently the decision was for the negative side.

The speech of Miss Edna Miller, the bright young daughter of Captain John A. Miller, on this occasion so impressed the large audience that The Junior publishes it in full this week with the picture of the bright girl who delivered it with such becoming grace. Never before did a fifteen-year-old girl impress an audience so deeply. Her speech was frequently interrupted with applause.

"Resolved, That in Tennyson's poem, 'Enoch Arden,' of the two principal characters Philip Ray's was the nobler."

The English language has few, if any, tenderer, purer, sweeter or more pathetic stories than that which gives to us the characters of Enoch Arden, Philip Ray and Annie Lee.

The immortal Tennyson in this tale of love and pathos, of griefs and joys, gives to the world three of the most lofty, noble and unselfish characters known to our literature. Of these characters we shall contend that Philip Ray's was the noblest — the most exalted.

While the discussion proposed for this evening must of necessity magnify and elevate characters respectively championed, still it would seem a little unfortunate that two such characters as Enoch Arden and Philip Ray should be brought into that contrast which debates always require.

Before entering properly into the discussion of our subject we desire to insist that the story of Enoch Arden, as told by Tennyson, makes a complete record of the facts. That the pictures, so to say, as he paints them are all that can be legitimately considered.

I am aware that the temptation here to indulge in flights of fancy and imagination is great, but contend that no speculation as to motives or conditions or circumstances not specified in the poem should be given weight.

That nobleness of soul and character which stamps its possessor as a true hero most frequently exists in lives of suffering hid behind faces that smile.

The greatest battles of this life are those that are fought within the hearts of men. Great heroes suffer and are silent. The true test — and the hardest — of greatness of heart is in weathering disappointments and bearing with grace defeats.

Enoch Arden spoke his love, Philip Ray loved in silence. As the current of the mighty river his love, though silent, was deep and enduring, Enoch Arden was the successful suitor of the hand of the fair Annie Lee. Philip Ray was rejected.

Our story does not disclose in the life of Enoch Arden that any such severe test was ever applied to him as the youthful Philip Ray was forced to meet when he sued for the hand of Annie Lee and lost, and was forced to become a spectator to the bliss which his life coveted.

That strength of mind and nobility of heart which enables an individual to suffer and smile as Philip Ray did through this most trying ordeal is an unmistakable evidence of the highest order of heroism; the magnanimity with which he yields this prize, the absence of revenge and resentment and the unselfishness with which he labored ever afterwards to promote the highest interest of his successful rival is absolute proof of his pre-eminent nobility. The basis of all true heroism is unselfishness. That heart which can resign to another those things most loved is truly noble. To illustrate how far this nobleness of soul was found in the character of Phillip Ray let us briefly recount his cares and his battles and how he met them.

Without murmur or complaint he bowed to the choice which Annie Lee made between himself and Enoch Arden. From the standpoint of human nature his treatment to Enoch Arden and Annie Lee after this would have been indifferent and unfriendly, but with him, never for once is such a spirit manifested. During Enoch Arden's long absence on his unfortunate sea voyage he is ever mindful of the highest interest of his wife and children. When the hand of providence opened the way he came to Annie in her grief and despair and comforted her and helped her — educated her children and made himself a father to them, saying all the while he desired to carry out what Enoch wished.

In every way did he seek to contribute to the need of Annie and her children, and that, too, with that delicate loftiness of heart which makes him at once the very paragon of nobleness and goodness. When ten long years had elapsed since Enoch Arden's departure and all hope of his return had died, he ventured to make Annie his wife, saying all the while that he would be content to be loved a little less than Enoch. And when Annie puts him off from year to year, and month to month he tenderly tells her to take her own time — his every action proving that in seeking to become the husband of the supposed widow his highest desire is to gain the position wherein he can best contribute to her needs and promote her welfare. Unselfish, generous, noble Philip Ray — let no tongue seek to cast a blot upon the manliness and nobility of heart which knows no malice, no revenge.

What grave injustice is done to true magnanimity when anything but the highest of motives is assigned for the most exalted actions.

Enoch Arden had his trials, but none that showed the great and noble character which Philip Ray's life developed. Enoch Arden was shipwrecked at sea, but Philip Ray had shipwrecked hopes. Enoch Arden was far removed from the scene of his home and loved ones, Philip Ray from the time that Enoch Arden won the hand of Annie Lee was a constant spectator of his own blasted hopes. The superlative degree of nobility and heroism finds a proper illustration only in the ability of the individual to live in unselfishness and in the every outward indication of absolute peace of mind while coming in daily contact with the fact which robs life of its charm. Without murmur of complaint Philip Ray for long, long years was a witness to the joy and happiness of the more fortunate Enoch Arden. Measured by any standard which true philosophy accepts Philip Ray has no superior in any country or any age.

In these two characters we find much to admire and love, much to commend and little to condemn. Weighed, however, in that balance which estimates true nobility, generosity of soul and loftiness of purpose and of heart, and the character of Philip Ray has scarcely a parallel. While less strong and daring in physique than Enoch Arden, yet that strength of soul which makes true nobility was found in him to a higher degree than in Enoch Arden. Enoch Arden's life was more dashing, perchance more brilliant, and certainly more dramatic, but it clearly lacked that evenness of temper, that patient fortitude, that noble self-sacrifice which Philip Ray's possessed. The tragic ending of Enoch Arden's life certainly moves us to sympathetic tears and genuine grief, but this should not draw us from a proper consideration of the true greatness of the character of Philip Ray.

In the great battles royal of life — wherein are determined the highest nobility — no test can be more trying and more searching than that to which the poet subjects Philip Ray. The test was like a refiner's fire. How well he stood it and what greatness of character he displays, the story itself reveals. No one who pretends to a knowledge of what constitutes true strength of character will for a moment doubt or dispute that more of the elements of the true and noble soul are found to exist in the character of Philip Ray than in Enoch Arden. And pray, how are we to judge of nobility of soul if not by the standard of practical every-day greatness? What a low standard of greatness is set up if we allow the sad surroundings of Enoch Arden to outweigh the true nobleness of Philip Ray! Take nine out of ten of the civilized men and under like environments with Enoch Arden they would become the hero he did. But how many of the same men do we see failing in the every day battles of life which were so bravely fought and won by Philip Ray?

Enoch Arden excites our pity and compassion — the exalted character of Philip Ray commands our profoundest respect and admiration.

—The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, March 22, 1896, p. 2 children's section, The Constitution, Jr.

Note: No picture of Edna Miller was actually printed with the article.

Address on Tennyson, His Conception of Art and Life

Winnipeg, 1915

ADDRESS ON TENNYSON BY PROF. CRAWFORD

Wives of officers stationed in Winnipeg on military duty are to be admitted to the courtesy of the Western Art association through the gracious action taken by the members at a meeting held yesterday afternoon in the drawing room on the mezzanine floor of the Fort Garry, an action prompted by the consideration that the officers' wives, most of them away from their homes on a not too gladsome errand and missing their usual activities, should be made to feel as much at home as possible. In future they are to receive notices of meetings exactly as regular members.

The president, Mrs. Alan C. Ewart, announced that Lady Cameron will formally open the General Exchange, Carlton street, Saturday, Jan. 16, at 4 o'clock. She explained that the exchange and lunch room adjacent were doing business all the time and working up to quite a flourishing condition, but this would be the official opening. To help with expenses for a month or so a series of small matinee bridges were planned, the first to be held at Mrs. Ewart's residence, Ruskin and Park Row, Thursday, January 21, at 3 o'clock.

The address of the afternoon was given by Prof. A. W. Crawford on the subject, "Tennyson's Conception of Art and Life." He showed the great poet as the champion of the social value of art, and the proclaimer of the social responsibility of the artist, as the recluse in actual life, but not in thought or spirit.

In support of this interpretation, Dr. Crawford let Tennyson speak for himself through two groups of his poems, the first dealing with the poet's art, and the second with the arts of form, namely painting, sculpture and architecture.

Several of these gems the speaker read with a sympathy and power that made them an intense pleasure to hear, even without his illuminative side comments. In them he showed Tennyson's message to be that the pursuit of art for art's sake meant spiritual stagnation, but art was the hand maiden of life, the endeavor to present life in its most perfect forms and ideals, not to the mere end of perfect art, but to the goal of perfecting human lives. All problems of life and death, good and ill, were problems for the poet or artist because his mission was as a revealer of truth to men.

Tennyson's supreme art poem, the "Palace of Art," showed a soul building a palace of beauty for her own selfish enjoyment, but turned back upon herself, "like the still salt pool, locked in by bars of sand," descending through uncertainty and confusion to utter misery she was redeemed at last only by sharing her palace with her fellows.

—Manitoba Morning Free Press, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, January 9, 1915, page 9.