REMINISCENCES OF
WORDSWORTH.
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    At the meeting of the members of the  Wordsworth Institute, on Monday
evening, the Rev. H. D. RAWNSLEY, M.A., vicar of  Crosthwaite, read a paper on
"Some reminiscences of Wordsworth among the  peasantry of Lakeland." <r. E.
WAUGH, M. P., The Burroughs, presided. There  was a large attendance.
 
    The persons interrogated by Mr. RAWNSLEY  with regard to Wordsworth
agreed in regarding him as a plain featured man and "a  mean" - that is a temperate
- liver. He was not a man that folks liked to talk  to or would talk to
folks. He had a distaste for field sports and athletics  generally, skating being
the only exercise he was fond of. He was said to be a  splendid skater and to
be able to cut his name on the ice, but, added one of Mr.  RAWNSLEY's
informants, "I nivver seed him do it myself."
 
    In regard to his skating a good story  was told. A lad was sent to his
master to take the poet to a newly swept piece  of ice. On returning the lad was
asked if Wordswoth had given him anything.  "No," returned the lad with a
grin, "but I seed him fa'"
 
    Wordsworth was said not to be a mountain  climber but a great walker; he
used to go along the roads meditating with his  head downwards. Some of the
people supposed that Hartley COLERIDGE used to write  his poems, and others
attributed them to his sister, Dorothy, who was considered  very clever. Mrs.
WORDSWORTH was described as being "very clever at accounts and  good mannisher."
 
    A vote of thanks for his interesting  paper was accorded to Mr. RAWNSLEY,
on the motion of the Rev. J. EWBANK,  seconded by the Rev. J. T. POLLOCK.
 
 
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