The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-12-21
The Mothers of Remarkable Men.


Throughout the pages Of history, VIC
are struck with the fact that our remark
able men possessed mothers of uncommon
talents for good or bad, and great energy
OF character. 1t would almost seem from
this circumstance that tho impress Of tho
mother is more frequently stamped upon
the boy, and that of the father upon the
girl-wc mean the mental intellectual inn
press, in distinction from the physical
one,
1t is said of Sir Walter Scott's moth
er that she was n small, plain, well edu-
Gated woman, Of excellent sense, very
charitable, and great lover Of painting
and poetry, and on tho whole superior
woman. IT'S evident from the writings
of Sir Walter that he had uncommon gifts
in word painting.
1t is said of Byron's mother that she
MAS proud woman, hasty, violent and
unreasonable, with not principle sufficient
to restrain her temper. Unhappily, By
ron inherited his mothers inflamable tom
per, and instead Of being subdued and
softened by the harshness with which she
SO often treated him, he was rendered
more passionate by it. Thus we see that
this infirlnity, which by gentleness and
kind treatment, might have been greatly
checked, if not cured, was suffered TO en-
slave one of the most talented, brilliant,
poetical minds which has ever shono
among men, ontaiing life of misery up
OH its possessor, and an early termination
to his career.
The mother of Bonapartc was wo-
man of great beauty and energy of char
acter. This last trait has been strikingly
oxemplificd throughout his whole life.
The mother of Robert Burns, the Scot
tish poet, was n woman of moderate per-
sonal attractions, but in every other re-
spect she was remarkable woman. She
was blessed with n singular cquanimity
of temper, and her religious feeling was
constant and deep. She used TO give
wings TO tho weary hours of her checker
cd life, by chanting old songs and ballads,
of which she had largo store. Her
perceptions Of character were very quick
and keen, and she lived to good old age,
rejoicing in the fame of her poct-son, and
partaLing Of the fruits of his genius.
Lord Bacon's mother is said to have
been woman Of superior mind, and Of
great learning and dccp picty.
Little is said OF the mother Of Nero,
except thai she murdered her second hus-
band, the Emperor Clsudius, about four
years after marriage. Dove wonder that
Nero was cruel Emperor, if his mother
was a murdercss? How strangely does
the mother of Nero, an ancient tyrant,
contrast with the mothers Of fame of our
modern philanthropists and statesmen
tho mother of Washington, whose name
is familiar with every reader Of history !;
the mother Of John Jay who deserves
place by the side of Washington. Mrs.
Jay is said to have had cultivated mind,
fine imagination and an aicctionate
temper.
Tho mother Of Patrick Henry was
woman of great excellence of character,
and marked by superior conversational
powers. Hence, doubtless, the oratorical
gift Of her son. With the mother of the
Adamses all are acquainted. Where will
you find moro real, practical common
sense and true energy Of character than
John Quincy's mother possessed! Moth
CTS will do well TO remember that their
impress is often stamped upon their so..s.
Helen Mar.