The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-05-13
ANECDOTES OF BYRON.

TreIawney's Recollections of Shelley aud BE-.
ron tell US, among other "reminiscences, how
Byron contrived to keep his fat down
Byron had not damaged his body by strong
drinks but his terror of getting fat was so great
that he reduced his diet to the point of absolute
starvation. he was of that soft, lymphatic TEN
permanent which it is almost impossible to keep
within moderate compass, particularly as, in
his case, his lameuess prevented his taking ex
ercise. When he added to this weight, even
standing was painful; 80 he resolved to keep
down to eleven stone, or shoot himself. be
said everything he swallowed was instantly con
verted into tallow, and deposited on his ribs
He was the only human being ever met with
who had sufficient selfrestraint and resolution
to resist this proneness to fatten. He did SO
and at Genoa, where he was last weighed, he
was ten stone and nine pounds, and looked
much less. This was not from vanity about biz
personal appearance, but from better motive
and as, like Justice Greedy be was lWays hun.
cry, his merit was the greater. Occasionally
he relaxed his vigilance, when he swelled apsce
l remember one of his old friends, saying, By
ron, how well you are lookingl" If be had
stopped there, it had been we'll; but when he
added, "You are getting fat" Byron's brow
REDEEMED, and his eyes flashed, "Do you call
getting fat looking well, as if l were a hog
and, turning to me, he muttered, Z" The beast,
can hardly keep my hands off him."
The man who thus offended him was the hus
band of the lady addressed as "Genevrs," and
the original of his "Zuleiks," in the Bride Of
A6ydos. / don't think he had much appetite
for his dinner that day, or for many days, and
never forgave the man who, so far from wishing
to offend, intended to pay him a compliment.
Byron said he tried all sorts of experiments to
stay his hunger, without adding to his bulk. 81
swelled," he said, sat one time, to fourteen
stone, 80 clapped the muzzle on nay jaws, and,
like the alternating animals, consumed my oWr
fat" he would exist on biscuits and scda-Wa
ter for days together; then, to sllay the eternsl
hunger gnawfng at his yitals, he would make ups
horrid mess Of cold potatoes, rice, fish, or greens
deluged in vinegar, and gobble it up like
fsmished dog. On either of these unsavory
dishes, with biscuit aud glass or two Of Rhine
wine, he cared not how sour, he called Teasing
sumptuously. Upon my observing he might IS
well have fresh fish or vegetables, instead Of
stale, he laughed, and answered, 81 have an 3D.
vantage over you: have no palate. One thing
is as good as another to me-" Nothing,
said, "disagrees with the natural man. he
fasts and gorges: bis brains don't bother Sm'
but if you wish to live ?"--"Who wants to
liver" ne r6pleu. NOb 1ue DyrOub hle
short-lived race on both sides, father and moth
er. Longevity is hereditary: am nearly q!
the end of my tether. i don't care for death
d: it is her sting can't bear pain" By
starving his body, Byron kept his brains clear.
No man had brighter eyes or clearer voice;
and his resolute bearing and prompt replies
when excited, gave to his body muscular
power that imposed on strangers. never doubt
ed, for he was Indifferent to life, and proudeTT
than Lucifer, that, if he had drawn his sword
in Greece, or elsewhere, he would have thrown
away the scabbafd.
Doctrine is nothing but the skin OF Truth sci
up and stuffed.
Any feeling that takes man away from Bis
home, is q traitor TO the household.
The most dangerous ipfdelity of the day %
the infdelity of rich and orthodox churches.
In the morning, we carry the world, like At,
las /; at noon, we stoop and bend beneath it; aud
at night il brushes us fat to the ground.
In this world, it is not what we take up, but
what We Sise up, that makes us rich.