European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 29, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                William Wordsworth wrote some of the world s Best loved poems in Dove cottage at Grasmere in England s Lake District. Dovecot age literary shrine to poet Wordsworth by Graham Heathcote associated press the poet Thomas Gray described Grasmere England As Quot this unsuspected Little Paradise Quot when he visited in 1769. Nathaniel Hawthorne the american writer who followed in 1855, said Quot this Little town of Grasmere seems to me As pretty a place As Ever i met with in my life. It is quite shut in by Hills that Rise up immediately around it like a neighbourhood of kindly  and it s Here in the Lake District perhaps the loveliest spot in All of England that stands Dove cottage the Home of William Wordsworth when he was writing some of the world s Best loved poems. Dove cottage 270 Miles Northwest of London is among the country s most popular literary shrines. Under the Low ceilings of Dove cottage visitors can tread the floors which the poet his wife their three children and his sister walked on nearly 200 years ago. Quot the earliest record of it is from 1617 and we think it was built in the previous Century Quot says Malcolm Duffin one of the guides. Quot we have the original key. Quot american and japanese visitors seem most impressed about the depth of history  Wordsworth who died in 1850 at age 70, was the supreme poet of English romanticism inspired originally by the French revolution and expressing the splendor of nature and human destiny. Dove cottage was his Home for 8v2 years when he was at the Peak of his Talent writing major works and some of his Best loved Short poems including to the cuckoo the Rainbow she was a phantom of Delight and daffodils. He expanded his autobiographical poem the prelude which shows the development of his mind and records the tumultuous Era in which he grew up. His sister Dorothy who lived with him kept a journal which has become a classic. She kept it she wrote Quot because i shall give William pleasure by  Wordsworth keeps everyone Busy 140 years after his death. Quot the life and work of a Genius is inexhaustible Quot says Helena Palmer guide and administrator of the. Wordsworth Trust which maintains the cottage museum and Library. Quot i read some Wordsworth and coming Here i begin to feel the spirit of the poet. The cottage the Lake the Grasmere Valley a very enclosed surrounded by Hills close to nature and with a Strong sense of  Dove cottage looks out Over the Lake called Grasmere and to Hills named great Rigg seat Sandal steel fell Helm crag and Nab scar. Wordsworth always valued the place As an inspiration to Quot see into the heart of  Grasmere Village is a Short walk away and the Wordsworth family Graves Are there clinging together in St. Oswald s churchyard beside the murmuring River rot Hay. For 170 years before the Wordsworth Dove cottage was an inn called the Dove and Olive Bough. It was empty when William and Dorothy moved in on dec. 20, 1799, both catching colds in the unaccustomed Damp and Dorothy wracked by a Toothache As Well. But then followed some of the happiest years of their lives. Quot Wordsworth had an income of $350 a year and did t need to work Quot Duffin says. The cottage was rented to them by a Farmer for about $25 a year. The rent went up to $40 when the poet brought Home his Bride Mary Hutchinson in october 1802. Their three eldest children were born in the cottage. The smell of Wood smoke greets an approaching visitor. The Trust keeps a fire going in the original fireplace to make people feel at Home on their 25-minute tour. The fire also bars the Damp As thick mists Roll Down from the Hills. A Pink rambler Rose spreads across the whitewashed cottage s front Wall. Downstairs Are a parlor living room bedroom Kitchen and storeroom with a Spring beneath its floor. There Are four rooms upstairs two of them very Small and one stuck All Over with newspapers that Dorothy originally put up for insulation. A amps map the outside privy has vanished but the Garden Wordsworth made on a Steep slope behind the cottage and the Well he dug Are still there. When the Wordsworth moved to a larger House in Grasmere the cottage became the Home for 26 years of their Friend Thomas de Quincey the writer. His wife Margaret made the Burn Mark at the top of the stairs when she put Down a bucket of hot coals and left it too Long. Wordsworth became famous while he was still alive so his family kept his furniture and other relics like the cuckoo clock from German admirers with its Little wooden Bird still calling the hours. The cottage also displays de Quincey s measures for the opium to which he became addicted after using it As a painkiller. This year is the Centennial of the Wordsworth Trust founded to ensure the Quot eternal Possession Quot of the cottage for the nation and Quot All those who love English poetry All Over the  the cottage was purchased in 1891 and has been open to visitors Ever since. It had 400 visitors the first year and All the visitors books from Day one Are in a cupboard in the parlor. Duffin says 86,000 visitors came last year. Robert Woof a University lecturer in English and a Wordsworth scholar directs the Trust. He said it receives no Public funding works largely with voluntary labor and is trying to find $1.27 million to pay off a mortgage to finance a study Center restaurant car Park and other work. The Trust preserves the old buildings and their peaceful surroundings and the poet s manuscripts and letters in 60 bound volumes and 120 boxes and such things As the 2,000 autographs collected by the poet s daughter Dora. Quot the first is a letter of Admiral Horatio Nelson and the next is from George Washington Quot Woof says. A children leave drawings of what they see and poems they write during their visits. Tara Quinn and Lisa Mcgonagle wrote Quot memories of the Hills All tucked tight together Quot i Hope they la be there forever and  november 29, 1990 stripes Magazine 3