Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1898 — Queen and Poet. [ARTICLE]

Queen and Poet.

Tennyson was a man of such great personal independence that his honest eccentricities sometimes approached quite near to rudeness. But that there was no flavor of snobbery in his indifference to formalities, and that be was As likely to offend a prince as a workingman, is proved by many occurrences In the poet’s life. Dr. Ma? Muller relates that the late Queen of Holland frequently came to England, and was fond of meeting, while there, distinguished literary people. On one occasion she lunched with Dean Stanley, and asked him to invite several literary men, among whom were Tennyson, Lord Houghton, Huxley and Max Muller himself. Luncheon was ready, and everybody had come to the deanery except Tennyson. Dean Stanley suggested that the party should wait no longer, but the queen refused to sit down before the laureate’s arrival. There was another period of waiting, painful to all the company. Finally some one suggested that probably Tennyson was “mooning about in the clusters somewhere;” one was sent to see, and the poet was Indeed found there, apparently oblivious that anything was going on. He was brought in, and placed at the table next the Queen of the Netherlands. The queen took the conversation into her own hands, and In particular tried to draw Tennyson out. He was not in talking mood. She addressed him a question. “Yes, ma’am," he answered. Then there was another question. “No, ma’am,” came from Tennyson. Again she asked his opinion about something; the question was not susceptible of answer by “yes” or “no.” "Ma’am,” said Tennyson, after a great effort, “there is a great deal to be said on both sides of the question!”, Presently he turned and whispered to Max Muller, “I wish they had put some of you talking fellows next to Regina!”