Page:Facts and Fancies about Our "Son of the Woods", Henry Clarence Kendall and his Poetry (IA factsfanciesabou00hami).pdf/19

Rh speaking of or reciting his poetry. For I was somewhat anxious on my own account (in the position, for the time being, of the poet's interpreter) lest my voice should not be tuned just to that pitch best suited for the fine music of Kendall's verses—my past work and training having been among "the laurelled throng" of the older countries and requiring a very different manner of delivery to that which would be in harmony with the breezy swing of some of the metres of Kendall's versification. However, Australian woodland scenery was familiar to me, and I felt at home with the rivers and the creeks and the mosses, and even the bell-birds, and I had the satisfaction of at least not offending the presiding chairman, for I received very kindly words of encouragement from him in the following letter a few days after the Kendall lecture:—

"1st Sept., '84. "Dear Mrs. Hamilton, I hope you are satisfied with the success you achieved on Saturday night. It was, without doubt, very pronounced, especially when one considers that in the matter of lecturing, ladies are more severely handicapped than the sterner sex. I should like to see you grapple some further subject, and I do not think you would have any difficulty in duplicating Saturday's success. "Yours very sincerely, P.J. Holdsworth."

I hope I do not weary the reader with this diversion from the chief subject of this Essay. Further on we shall lose ourselves in Kendall's poetry and sink personal feelings, sentiments and reminiscences in our all-absorbing interest in the genius of the poet.