Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-07-15
GeIctte0 A1isfeIlanp.
THE MOTHERS OF REMARKABLE MEN
By HELEN MARI.

Throughout the pages of history we
are struck with the fact that our remark
able men possessed mothers of uncom-
mon talent for good or bad, and great
energy of character. 1t would almost
seem, from this circumstance, that the
impress of the mother is more frequently
stamped upon the boy, and that of the
father upon the girl--we mean the men
tai, intellectual impress, in distinction
from the physical one.
1t is said of Sir Walter SCOTS mother,
that she was small, plain, well educated
woman, of excellent sense, very charita-
BILE, and great lover of poetry and
painting-and on the whole superior
woman. 1t is evident from the writings
of Sir Walter Scott, that he had an un-
common gift in word painting.
1t is said of Byron's mother, that she
was proud woman, hasty, violent, and
unreasonable, with not principle enough
to restrain her temper. Unhappily, By
ron inherited his mothers inhammable
temper, and instead of being subdued
and softened by the harshness with which
she often treated him, he was rendered
more passionate by it. Thus we see that
this infrmity, which by gentleness and
kind treatment might have been greatly
checked, if not cured, was suffered to
enslave one Of the most talented, bril-
liant minds which has ever shone among
men, entailing life of misery upon its
possessor, and an early termination to
his career.
The mother of Napoleon was woman
of great beauty and energy of character.
This last trait has been strikinely exem-
plifed throughout his whole life.
The mother of Robert Burn-after-
wards written by himself, Burns-was a
woman of moderate personal attractions,
but in every other respect remarkable
woman. She was blessed with singular
equanimity of temper, and her religious
feelings were constant and deep. She
used to give wings to the weary hours
of her checkered life by chanting old
songs and ballads, of which she had a
large store. Her perceptions of charac-
ter were very quick and keen. She
lived to good old age, rejoicing in the
fame of her poet son, and partaking of
the fruits of his genius.
Lord Bacon's mother is said to have
been a woman of superior mind, of great
learning and deep picty.
Little is said Of the mother of Nero,
except that she murdered her second
husband, the Emperor Claudius, about
four years after her marriage. Do we
wonder that Nero was a cruel emperor,
if his mother was murderess? How
strongly does the mother Of Nero, an
ancient tyrant, contrast with the mothers
of some of our modern philanthropists
and statesmen the mother of Wash
ington, whose character is familiar to
every reader of history; the mother Of
John Jay, who deserves place by the
side of Washington. Mrs. Jay is said
TO have had a cultivated mind, fine
imagination, and an affectionate temper
The mother of Patrick Henry was a
woman of great excellence of character,
and marked by superior conversational
powers. Hence, doubtless, the orator.
cal gift Of her son. With the mother
Of the Adamses all are well acquainted.
Where viii VIC find more real practical
common sense and true energy OF char
acter than John Quincy's mother pos
scssed? Mothers will do well to remem-
Der that their impress is often stamped
upon their sons.