MRS ALICE MEYNELL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVI, Issue 16749, 2 January 1915, Page 7

MRS ALICE MEYNELL.

(“Young Woman.”)

To lovers of present-day poetry, the name of Alice Thompson—or, better still, Alice Meynell—is a household word. She is of the modern school, and by “modern” I do not mean the less romantic, although perhaps to some who love the-older poets, the presentday writing may seem to lade some of the pure simplicity of earlier poetry. It is robust, full of metaphor and word-painting, overflowing with vigorous life, therefore with romance. Mrs Meynell’s own opinion is that since the Elizabethan revival, there has • tever been an age in which poetry has held so large a place. One is apt to think of her as a dreamer, a visionary, a dweller apart—as one imagines most poets; but a few minutes’ talk with her told me that, however much that side of her temperament is developed, she is also the practical woman of to-day: businesslike, clear-headed, taking a keen interest in all matters of art, literature and politics ; also, judging by her surroundings, in her home and family. Truth to tell, it is rather pleasant to find it so—that great poets do not always live in airy realms of .fancy. Mrs Meynell has not always written poetry—that she has always been a poet goes without saying: poets are born, not made. Her father, the late .Mr T. J. Thompson, possibly seeing in her childhood signs of a literary career, gave his daughter a wider education than falls to the lot of most girls. She mentions this with gratitud'o in one of her essays. Besides the usual English training, she studied in France and Italy; Italy took hold of her, as it did of that other great woman poet, Elizabeth Browning, to whom Mrs Meynell is often compared, and' she still spends some of her years there, giving the preference to Rome; Florence and Genoa. Her writing took the first form of journalism; for seven years she contributed articles, and, I believe, poetry, to the “Pall Mall Gazette.” Essays appeared in the “Scots Observer,” and she contributed to the “ Saturday Review.” But in 1876. encouraged by Ruskin. who was a friend of her father. Miss Thompson published a volume of poems entitled “ Preludes.” It was illustrated by her sister, now LadV Butler, known 1 to all the world as the painter of the “ Roll Call.” In 1877 she married . Mr Wilfred Meynell* the well-known journalist and

writer. Tt is not;'often we. find “two of a trade” agreeing; Mr and Mrs Browning have been often quoted as tho exception which proves the rule, and Mr and Airs Meynell may step into their shoes as tho present instaaice of the proverb. Mr Meynell at one time edited “ Alerrie England,” which was the first paper to recognise the genius of that strange wild poet of the nineteenth century, Francis Thompson. The story is too well known to repeat; how “The Hound of Heaven ” was accepted, and its author helped 1 and befriended by Air and Airs Meynell, and how the acquaintance ripened into such rare friendship that cue name seems incomplete without the other.. The poet himself-speaks of Airs Aleynell’s work —referring to the poem which appeared in tho “ Scots Observer,” the first written after her marriage—as “of that subtly delicate order which needs to soak into-meii for a generation or two before it gets adequate recognition. Nevertheless,” be adds, “it is something to have won the admiration, of men like Rossetti and Ruskin.”

In 1893 she published a volume of collected essays, some of which had appeared in the “National Observer,” and from that time her, pen has been actively employed, - • The poems, of 1876 were published with additions, and other works—“ The Rhythm of Life,” “The Children,” and '“The Spirit of Peace ’’—followed'in succession. . •

. She has also edited English poets for the Red Letter Library, -translated from the Italian “Aladonna in Art,” and contributed to the leading periodicals in England and the United States.

But of, .all honours .pdneb havc,fallen to her share, Mrs Meynell cherishes most the fact that some time ago her name was among the few suggested for the post of Poet Laureate. No doubt she is right, for it is a position carrying weight, and its aspirants must have already won *their laurels in the field of letters.

This year will see the publication of her collected works, which will be welcomed eagerly by the literary world. The friends of famous people are generally famous people: “like calls to like ” —and Mrs Meynell is no exception! In her father’s home she met Ruskin and Rossetti. Coventry Patmore, Cardinal Manning, George Meredith and Katherine Tynan were among her visitors after her marriage. Cardinal Manning was godfather to her son, Mr Everard Meynell, the author of the “Life of Francis Thompson.” George Meredith came into Mrs Meynell’s life in a somewhat curious way, owing to an unsigned article on Eleanora Duse, then appearing in London. The great man was struck by it, inquired as to the authorship, and promptly sent two friends to call upon her. This led to a personal acquaintance, a visit to his house, and a friendship, probably of mutual benefit. The literary mantle of Mrs Meynell has fallen also on her daughter, Miss Viola Meynell, who is the author of several novels, the latest, entitled ” Lot Barrow,” being a characteristic sketch of country and farmhouse life. Mrs Meynell has strong and optimistic opinions on the poetry of today, and certainly, thinking of .the many ‘writers of note, one is inclined to agree with her. She has her favourites: Chesterton—surely Chesterton may be called a poet, though perhaps not a maker of verse—-

and from his works she * selected! “ Twelve Types.” |

Among poets proper she places Las-' oelles, Abercrombie, J. C. Squires, Alfred Noyes and Alackerith. A word as to Mrs Meynell liersglf. Living in the searchlight ’of publicity, she is probably used to being described. She is tall and slender, the long, soft! black dress giving additional height.-! Her dark eyes and expressive features' tell of character and original thought,! and her surroundings axe in keeping. ] Somehow the homelike atmosphere,] to which a Manx pussy contributed largely, placed Aire Meynell in my‘ mind as not- only a favourite of the public, but as a . woman of homo life. 1 Several interesting .people joined ?us? oyer the tea and cakes, which were' dispensed by Airs Meynell’s younger son, who bears a remarkable 'likenew* to his mother. Unfortunately, Alisa Viola Meynell was away from home, so I had no opportunity of meeting 1 her; but from Mrs Meynell’s remarks, ! I could see that in her heart of hearts' her daughter’s work stands ' cry high. One can hardly close This short 1 article without a reference to at least one poem. The idea X got from' her 1 poetical works is one of religious fer- j vour of love for all tilings, more especially the young. Space does not allow for more than ’ a short quotation, else to my thinking,Your own fair youth ” is .one of the sweetest short poems,' but the following lines to me are very beautiful:

BEYOND OUR KNOWLEDGE. , . Your sins shall be white as enow.” , _Xato the rescued worffi, new'coiner, - The newiy.dead stepped up, and Cried,:; ™ Uh * , w -“ a * is that sweeter than summer Was to my.,-heart, before I died? Sir (i», an Angel), what is yonder rt More bright than tho : remembered skies A lovehor fight, a eofier splendour, V Than when the moon was wont to rise? Surely, no sinner wears such seeming;' Even the rescued world within ” *'

OE, the success of His redeeming, Oh, child, it is a rescued sis.