12 Ely), W. F. Brookfield, and J. M. Kemble. To these latte two Tennyson later wrote poems. But the "Apostle" to whom Alfred became most warmly attached was Arthur H. Hallam, the son of Henry Hallam, the distinguished historian. Arthur had prepared for the University at Eton, the most famous of English fitting schools, and entered Trinity at the age of seventeen, a few months after Alfred (Oct. 1828). In many ways Arthur Hallam was a remarkable young man. Brilliant, studious, and thoughtful, yet cheerful, companionable, and utterly unselfish, he combined the traits of character which give both strength and charm to manhood. Moreover, his personal magnetism was great and fascinated all who came in contact with him. Of the many tributes to his memory, that which Mr. Gladstone paid him is perhaps the highest. In his old age the great statesman who had known Arthur Hallam at Eton could look back over fourscore years and say:* "Far back in the distance of my early life and upon a surface not yet ruffled by contention, there lies the memory of a friendship surpassing every other that has been enjoyed by one greatly blessed both in the number and in the excellence of his friends. It is the simple truth that Arthur Henry Hallam was a spirit so exceptional that everything with which he was brought into relation during his shortened passage through this world came to be, through this contact, glorified by a touch of the ideal. Among his contemporaries at Eton, that queen of visible homes for the ideal school boy, he stood supreme among all his fellows; and the long life through which I have since wound my way, and which has brought me into contact with so many *See The Youth's Companion for Jan. 6, 1898. men of rich endowments, leaves him where he then stood, as to natural gifts, so far as my estimation is concerned. A tribute such as this is worthy of a place with that other more famous one which Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke, an old man like Gladstone, paid to his boyhood friend, when he requested that on his tomb should be recorded what he deemed the greatest honor of his long and brilliant career, that he had been "the friend of Sir Philip Sidney." Between Arthur Hallam and Alfred Tennyson there grew up during their college days a strong and beautiful friendship. Together they studied and read; and as they boated on the Cam, or strolled in Trinity gardens or about the neighboring country, they talked of their plans for the future, and discussed questions of literature, science, and social reform. In 1829 both wrote poems on "Timbuctoo" in competition for the Vice-Chancellor's medal. Much to Hallam's delight, the prize went to his friend, and he wrote enthusiastically to Gladstone that he considered Tennyson as bidding fair to become the greatest poet of their generation, perhaps of the century. Alfred, meantime, was just as certain of the coming eminence of his friend in literature and statesmanship. They planned to publish together a volume of poems. Arthur's father, however, did not approve the plan, and Alfred's poems appeared alone. These were the verses of the 1830 volume, entitled, "Poems, Chiefly Lyrical." Arthur, who was deeply interested in the success of the book, wrote a review of it in the Englishman's Magazine for August, 1831. This review was laudatory, but at the same time judicious and keenly analytical. It still ranks as one of the most accurate and discriminating bits of Tennysonian criticism ever written. Meantime, in the summer of 1830, the two boys went on a vacation pilgrimage through France into the Pyrenees, having in mind a romantic desire to give aid to the Spanish insurgents who were rebelling against the Inquisition and the tyranny of King Ferdinand. After many interesting experiences, they returned and resumed once more their University work. Alfred's college days, however, were numbered. In February, 1831, he was summoned home by the illness of his father. The illness proved fatal, and Alfred, believing it to be his duty to assume the care of the family's affairs, did not return to his studies. Hallam continued at Trinity and took his degree in the following January. Shortly after, while living with his father at 67 Wimpole Street, he began the study of law at the Inner Temple, London. In spite of their separation, the two friends continued to see much of each other. Alfred went down to London and spent many happy hours with Arthur in his "den" at the top of the house in the "long unlovely street.' Even more frequently did Arthur go to Somersby. Thither he was drawn not only by friendship but by love; for by this time he had become engaged to Emily Tennyson, the poet's second sister. In the summer the friends took another trip on the continent, and made a tour of the Rhine. Together they planned Alfred's next volume of poems, which was published late in 1832. This volume showed work of a more original character than any of his previous publications and included several poems which are still classed among Tennyson's masterpieces, such as "The Palace of Art," "A Dream of Fair Women," "Enone," "The Lotus Eaters," and "The Lady of Shalott." A volume of this character could not fail to attract attention. It was read by the progressive young men at the University with the greatest enthusiasm, and at the Cambridge Union it gave rise to this question for debate: "Tennyson or Milton, which is the greater poet?" Some of the professional critics however, were not so appreciative. Among the reviews which appeared was one in the Quarterly for July, 1833, which ranks as one of the severest criticisms ever written. It was unsigned, but has always been supposed to have come from the sharp-pointed pen of John Gibson Lockhart, the "Scorpion." While this new volume of Alfred's poems was being thus approved and condemned, Arthur set out with his father for a pleasure trip to the Danube. He had gone as far as Buda-Pesth, and was on his way home when, on the fifteenth of September, having suffered only slightly from an attack of intermittent fever, he died of a sudden rush of blood to the head. It was found on examination that the bloodvessels in his brain were weak and that under no circumstances could he have lived long. His remains were brought back to England and were buried in St. Andrew's church, Clevedon, in Somersetshire, near the home of his grandfather, Sir Abraham Elton, Bart. The following inscription was engraved upon his tomb: ΤΟ THE MEMORY OF ARTHUR HENRY HALLAM ELDEST SON OF HENRY HALLAM ESQUIRE DAUGHTER OF SIR ABRAHAM ELTON BARONET WHO WAS SNATCHED AWAY BY SUDDEN DEATH AND NOW IN THIS OBSCURE AND SOLITARY CHURCH ONE TOO EARLY LOST FOR PUBLIC FAME BUT ALREADY CONSPICUOUS AMONG HIS COTEMPORARIES FOR THE BRIGHTNESS OF HIS GENIUS THE DEPTH OF HIS UNDERSTANDING THE NOBLENESS OF HIS DISPOSITION THE FERVOUR OF HIS PIETY VALE DILECTISSIME DESIDERATISSIME PATER AC MATER HIC POSTHAC REQUIESCAMUS TECUM son. The sudden death of his friend was paralyzing to TennyIt brought him up against the hard realities of life. A thousand questions as to the meaning of suffering and evil pressed upon him. Deprived of that counsel and encouragement upon which he had depended constantly, he was completely at a loss. The fierce onslaught of the Quarterly had made him suspicious of his poetical powers; without the friend who believed in him, he was without confidence in himself. Not for almost ten years, if we except two or three passing publications in periodicals, did he again break silence. During these years, however, he was not idle. He read the world's best literature, Greek, Latin, Italian, German, English. He studied History, Chemistry, Botany, Mechanics, Animal Physiology, and Theology. He brooded over the problems of life, individual and social, and proved himself to be, indeed, what Carlyle said of him, a man solitary and sad, dwelling in an element of gloom, carrying a bit of Chaos about him which he is manufacturing into Cosmos." Moreover, during these years the poet composed almost incessantly, perfecting himself in the art of composition; he re-wrote many of his earlier pieces, refining and strengthening them, and produced others con |