The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1867-12-28
The Last Days Of Byron.

An American thus writes: / passed
the winter of Byron's death in Greece,
and the latter part of February went to
Missolonghi to see him. He was then
suffering from the effect of fit of epi-
lepsy, which occurred in the middle of
February. The first time that called
at his residence l was not permitted to
see him; but in few days received a
polite note from him at the hand of a
negro servant, who was a native of
America, and whom Byron was kind to,
and proud of, to the last.
l found the poet in weak and rather
irritable state, but he treated me with
the utmost kindness. He said that at
the time first called on him all stran-
gers and most of his friends were ex-
cluded from his room. "".
But" said he, 'had l known an
American was at the door, you should
not have been denied. l love your
country, sir; it is the only spot of Gods
green earth not desecrated by tyrants."
In our conversation, alluded to the
sympathy at the time felt in America,
for struggling Greece. All he said at
the time in reply was:
"Poor Greece poor Greece once
the richest on earth. God knows /
have tried to help thee!"
He then referred in rapturous terms
to Bozzaris, then justfallen, and showed
me letter from the chief.
In few days after l left him I re-
ceived another note from him, request
ing me to call and bring with me r.
ving's Sketch Book. | took it in my
hand and went once more to the illus
trious authors residence. He rose
from his couch when | entered, and
pressing my hand warmly, said:
"Have you brought the Sketch
Book T."
I handed it to him, when seizing it
with enthusiasm, he turned to 1.-THE
Broken Heart"
That" said he, is one of the finest
things ever written on earth, and l
want to hear an American read it. But
stay, do you know Irving?"
1replied that | had never seen him.
"God bless him !" exclaimed Byron,
"he is genius; and he has something
better than genius-a heart, l wish |
could See him, but fear | never shall.
Well, read then The Broken Heart
yes, The Broken Heart What a
word !"
In closing the first paragraph, 1
said:
''Shall I confess it? l believe in
broken hearts"
YES" exclaimed Byron, and SO do
|, and SO does every one but philoso-
piers and FOOLS"
So | waited whenever he interrupted
me, until he requested me to go on; yet
| cared more for the commentary, as it
came fresh from Byron's heart
While I was reading one of the most
touching portions of the mournful
piece, observed that Byron wept. He
turned his eyes upon me and said:
You see me weep, sir. living him
self never wrote that story without
weeping. nor can l hear it without
tears. | have not wept much in this
world, for trouble never brings tears
to my eyes; but | always have tears for
The Broken Heart" -..
When read the lastline Of Moore's
verses, at the close of the piece, Byron
said:
'What being that Tom is, and Ir-
wing, and Emmett and his beautiful
love! What beings all Sir, how
many such men as Washington Irving
are there in America =? God don't send
many such spirits into this world. /
want to go to America for FIVE reasons.
Iwant to see Irving; l want to see
your stnpendous scenery; | want to
see Washington's grave; I want to see
the classic form of living freedom; I
want to see your government recognize
Greece as an independent nation
Poor Greecen'
These were the last words of Byron.