MR. WILLIAM WATSON.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 734, 5 February 1910, Page 9

MR. WILLIAM WATSON.

EXPLANATION OF A POEM. " PERIOD :OF ' D3EESPONSIBILITY." One of the poems in Mr. William Watson's recently-issued now collection gavo rise to much discussion-bocaiiso it.seemed to bo a peculiarly malovolent description of a lady ""■ whoso identity was ' openly guessed at in American newspapers. The Poem was entitled "The Woman with the Serpent's Tongue," and. tho . sensation caused,.by its appearance was increased when Mr. Watson was reported as admitting .that'the lady whom he had uncharitably described was Mrs. Asquith, wife of the Prime Minister, and that the' unpleasant mentality attributed to her. was that of Miss Violet Asquith, ' her step-daughter, who was, Mr. Watson said, tho evil genius of; the Asquith family, and the real Prime Minister of England. Mr. Richard Watson, the brother of the poet, has since, made a statement which, explains the publication of the poem and the amazing.- statements, subsequently attributed to its author. Mr. Richard Watson (reports, the "Daily News" Montreal correspondent), says that his brother is:at times out, of his mind, and the pre-, sent is one.; of the occasions when he is acting . under mental, aberration. . : Mr. Watson says he is reluctant to make this statement, but he' believes 'it to be due not.' only,- to tho public bnt to tho- poet himself, who; when he recovers.his mind, will be .the first to regret and condemi the-"words he has given .utterance to, and' which aro; solely'attributable to his mental malady. This malady first manifested itself: in 1892,. after he had written the famous poem, "Lachrymae , Musarum," oh the death of Tennyson. In order to write : this great flde the poet shut himself tip for nearly; three .days without rest or proper food, and was unde ra very severe stress all.that.'time. .The.result was a severe shock to',his health; and when' Mr. Gladstone immediately, ; afterwards conferred upon him a grant of i£2oo from theßoyal Bounty \Fund, with a promise of considering his'name' for tho Civil Pension list; tho mews proved too much.for the poet in his. shattered condition and "unbalanced hi3-mihd.S ::',"._ " .-Almost' ..-immediately..-- afterwards, the poet ■ conceived a violent. hatred against '.distinguished-..persons in ;i England; and was 'dominated byan idea that: it was' his mission to speak and act.against them. Later..on .ho was the strongest friend of -.these' same persons.' "He' is .acting now," declared. .-.Mr.' Richard Watson, • "under; a; similar delusion,. and in. this' infatuation' has: niado written and verbal statements.: which have no. justification,;,and of- a sort utterly": at-.varianco with , his' nature, statements which, when his,mind' returns; ho will .condemn unsparingly." ;Mr. Watson says that he cannot give any. definite reason for. the. present .outburst, but considers that the.clue to' his, brother's- present mental- disturbance may' possibly bo 'found: in . his.-i."Sonnets, to Miranda.". ; These wore written at a time of intense: feeling,. and; contain a: depth of tragic:and personal interest. ; Ho asks : for a-suspension of .judgment in regard to his brother,' and'begs his -.friends' not to I .'criticise him while he is in, an-undoubted (condition of irresponsibility.,- 1 ;.. :..