SD1733. Unidentified Correspondent to The Home Journal (New York)
As published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 20, 367 (in part).
[Rome]
[?May] [1854]
* * F. as you know, is very enthusiastic and romantic, and has a perfect passion for the poetry of both Mr and Mrs Browning. First, she saw Mr Browning, at a friend’s lodgings. Nothing was said of this, at first, on her return; but, at last it came out, and, upon my eager inquiries, F. confessed that she had seen him—but, alas! it was not the Browning of her imagination! There was a certain levity, amounting to flippancy—he was a little bit of a fellow, etc, etc. I could not get much out of her. Not long after, we were invited to meet the Brownings at ——’s, the artist. F. and C. went, the former radiant with hope and joy, for she had just been reading Mr. Hillard’s glowing description of the spiritual pair, and was sure that Mrs. Browning would make up for all previous disappointment. On their return, she talked loudly of the Italian Dukes, the travellers, the artists, etc. “Ah,” said I, “but the Brownings!” F’s countenance fell. She was mum. At last C—— broke out, “She looks just like an old moth!” “What! the Brownings fallen through, entirely?” I said. “Well,” said F., with energy, “I am determined never to believe in people of genius again! There she sat, drinking her tea, a little ugly old woman, with a horrible mouth—why, she looks exactly like one of the old women in Boston!” “Well, but her flaxen locks and ethereal looks—and then her conversation—how was that!” “Nonsense! her hair is dark and her complexion is shocking; and, as for talk, I could get nothing out of her. I’ll never believe in anything again!” It appeared also that the poet calls his wife “Ba!” Whether this is emblematical of lambs and innocence, or intended to combine all the B’s (Betsey Barrett Browning), or is meant for Bah! with reference to his first discovery of the moth likeness, I will not undertake to say. But, at any rate, she is Ba’d at, in all companies where her husband goes with her. * * The real lioness of Rome just now, is Miss Hosmer, the American sculptress * *
Text: The Home Journal (New York), 15 July 1854, p. 2.
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