The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1837-12-28
MEMOIR OF LETITIA ELIZABETH
LANDON.

In delicious little history, which is rem
dered more delicious by the assumption forced
upon us, that il is the real history Of her own
childhood Miss Landon frankly informs us
that she " was not pretty child" Now this
candor will not appear at all surprising, if we
reflect that the lady, when making the confess
sion, perfectly wen knew what all the world
is aware Otto wit, the change that invaria-
bly, takes place between childhood and matu.
rity, whereby the pretty become plain and the
plain pretty--on the principle which fate or
fortune SO frequently illustrates in daily life,
or " win first, lose last" Il might be super
huous to warn those who knew her Of her want
Of pretiiness in childhood; but. as far as the
public are concerned, il was wise acknow-
Judgement, for they have been INDUCED with
very few opportunities of seeing portrait of
their poetical favorite. The truth is she has
been writing necessarily since she first began
to write; and sitting for ones picture, is very
like sitting still and doing nothing-which by
no means suits her genius and temperament.
Miss Landon is the first and greatest, if not
the only example. Of the achievement of an
enduring and universal fame, in the character
Of an Initialist. All literary England was ring
ing with her music and her praise before her
name had transpired al all. Stanzas had been
inserted, and books published, ere then, with
out name; and great was the renown which
at that very time Sir Walter Scott was anony-
mously winning but nobody had successful
ly inilialized. until l.. E. L. arose-nobody
dreamed Of spelling fame in three letters that
expressed no meaning at all. Yet they be-
came known almost at once. How immedi-
ately they fixed themselves in the memory,
and how deeply they took root even while
their unnamed owner was but mere contri-
butor to a literary journal, without the ques-
tionable distinction Of having produced sin
gle volume Of verses. 1t was as impossible,
L. E. l.. for any other three letters in the al
phabet, as to confound the name Of Byron with
that of Campbell, or Moore's with Words
worth's. The Improvisatrice had not finished
her first song, when public feeling perhaps,
rather than public opinion, ushered the youth
full singer into the presence Of the chosen poets
of the time, assured by the very truth Of the
emotions which her strains awakened, that
the development Of her fine faculty would es-
tablish the claim to seat among the elect;
and ihenceforth, the magic three the " l.. s.
d." Of the world of matter Of fact, have not
been better known than the l.. E. L." of the
world of poetry.
The youthful dreamers Of that day, who,
startled by the rapidity as well as the richness
Of the song, and charmed by the linked sweet
ness that was not merely long drawn out, but
seemed TO have no end, were half inclined to
imagine that l.. E. L." might be in some un-
known tongue the name Of sylph or naiad-
that the fair poets inkstand was lily, her ink
dew, and her pen the wing feather Of real
phoenix-these youthful devotees have seen
their graceful and gallant fancies dissipated
one by one, and were long ago convinced,
even before the first portrait appeared that
there was an actual mortal lady in the case,
and that l.. E. L. really meant Letitia Eliza
beth Landon! But beyond that they know
very little, nor can we tell them much more.
What we have heard we will relate.
The family whose namesi lis now identified
with SO much that is poetical in our literature,
has singularly green and fourishing testi-
monial Of its age and responsibility, still WISH
bic in the church Of Jedstone Delamere, in
Hertfordshire. There, at this day, round the
tomb of one Of the Landons, may be seen
growth of hazels-fresh and luxuriant as any
in the open air, and sacred as those of Words
worth, which by his needless and eager hand
"Deformed ard sullied, patiently gave up
Their quiet being
and made him feel that there is :" a spirit in the
woods" This scene Of green and beautiful
repose is i'll strong contrast with the active
and in the end unprosperous life ofMiss Ian
don's father, who was partner in the well
known army agency house in Pall-mall-the
interest in which had previously been pos
sessed by Mr.. Adair. The good fortune Of
this gentleman did not, unluckily, descend to
Mr.. Landon, whose sole treasure at his death
consisted in that Of which he and the world
were alike ignorant, the gift of genius which
nature had conferred upon his daughter. Of
this father, thus blessed unaware" and I'M
conscious Of the glory Of his fortune amid the
seeming ruin, there is a trait recorded by which
he may be pleasantly remembered. We find
it in an incident related in the i" History of
Child,' to which we have above alluded. Lit
tie L. E. l.. was excessively fond Of favorite
dog Of her fathers, and the dog was just as
fond of repairing at certain hour to certain
spot, to wait the return of its master Rather
than part company with her pet, the child
went with him one day, and waited toe
| When she heard the sound of the horses
hoofs, she was half inclined to run away !;
but her stay was rewarded, for her father took
her in his arms, and kissed her as he said,
$50 you have been waiting for me !" and
then, hand in hand both walked very happily
across the park.
The next day, and the next, and the next,
child and dog were in attendance kisses and
caresses were bestowed, and were no doubt
/ II l... l...I.
| l.. E. l.. was luckier far one day, for her fa-
| thor On annroa cbioo tho onta hold mr., IN har