The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1860-09-27
THE MOTHERS OF REM MARKADLE
MEN. -

Throughout the pages OF history we
are struck with the fact that our re-
markable men possessed mothers of un-
common talents for good or bad, and ~
great energy OF character. 1t would
almost seem from this circumstance
that tho impress OF the mother is more
frequently stamped upon the boy, and
that Of the father upon the girl--we
mean the mental intellectual impress,
in distinction from the physical one.
1t is said Of Sir Walter SCOTS moth
or that she was small, plain, well ed.
ucated woman, OF excellent sense, very
charitable, and great lover Of poetry
and painting, and on the whole a supe-
rlor woman. 'fs evident from the
writingH ot Sir Walter, that he had un-
common gift in word painting.
It Is said Of Byron's mother, that she
WAS proud woman, hasty, violent ahd
unreasonable, with not principle sulfi-
clcnt to restrain her temper unhappi-
ly, Byron inherited his mothers inham-
able temper, and instead Of being sub.
ducd and soltened by the harshness
with which she SO often treated him,
he was rendered more passionate by It,
Thus we see that this intirmity, whicL'
by gentlcness and kind treatment might
have been greatly checked, if not cured
was suffered to cnslave one of the most
talented, brilliant poetical minds which
has ever shonc among men, entailinga
life Of misery upon its possessor, and an
early termination TO his career.
The mother Of Bonaparto was wo.
man Of great beauty and energy ofchar-
actcr, The last trait has been striking
ly cXempIifed throughout his whole
life.
The mother of Robert Burns, the
Scottish poet, was II woman Of mode
rate personal attractions, but in every
/ other respect she was q remarkable wo-
man. She was blessed with singular
cquaninlty OF temper, and her religious
feelings were constant and deep. She
used to give wings to the weary hours
Of her chockercd life by chanting old
songs and ballads, OF which she had
large store. Her perceptions of char
actor were very quick and keen, and
she lived to Il good old ago, rejoicing in
the fame of her poct-son, and partaking
of the fruits ofhs genius.
Lord Bacon's mother is said to have
been woman Of superior mind, great
learning, and deep piety
Little is said Of the mother Of Nero,
except that she murdered her second
husband, the Emperor CIaudius, about
four years after marriage. DO we Won
der that Nero was cruel Emperor, if
his mother was u murdeross ? How
strangely docs the mother Of Nero, an
ancient ,yrant contrast with the moth
crs Of some Of our modern philanthro.
pist3 and statesmen the mother Of
Washington, whose name i, familiar to
ever reader of history the mother Of
John Jay, who deserves a place by the
side Of Washington. Mrs. Jay is said to
have had q cultivated mind, " fine i'm
aginatOn, and an atfeCtionate temper.
The mother Of Patrick Henry was a
woman Of great excellence Of character
and marked by superior conversational
powers. Hence, doubtless, the orotori-
cal gilt Other son. With the mother Of
! the Alam,cs all are acquainted, Where
will YOU find more real practical COM
mon sense and true energy of character
that John Quincy,s mother possessed !
Mothers will do we'll to remember that
) their impress is often stamped upon
their sons.