The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-08-24

shire, and Lord Byron was to Join her there
soon after. They had parted with mutual
demonstrations of attachment and good un-
derstanding. On the journey Lady Byron
wrote a letter to her husband, couched in
playful, affectionate language. What, then,
must have been his astonishment when, di-
rectly after her arrival at Kirby Mallory, her
father, Sir Ralph, wrote to tell Lord Byron
that his daughter was going to remain with
them, and would return to him no more?"
This unexpected stroke fell heavily upon
him. The pecuniary embarrassments grow
ing up since his marriage (for he had already
undergone eight or nine executions in his
own house, had then reached their climax
He was then, to use his own energetic express
sion, ''alone at his hearth, his penates trans
fixed around" and then was he also con
demned to receive the unaccountable intelli.
gence that the wife who had just parted from
him in the most affectionate manner had
abandoned him forever.
His state of mind cannot be told, nor, per-
haps, be imagined. Still he describes it in
some passages of his letters, showing at the
same time the filmness, dignity, and strength
of mind that always distinguished him.
If we were to enter into polemic
on this subject, or simply to make conscen-
tious researches, there would be many chances
of proving in opposition to the axiom that
choice of their helpmates. In truth, if there
have been a Germina Donati and a Milbanke
we also find in ancient times Calpurnia and
a Portia among the wives of great men; and,
in modern times, wives of poets who have
been the honor of their sex, proud of their
husbands, and living only for them. Ought
not these examples at least to destroy the
absolute nature of the theory, making it at
best conditional? The larger number of great
&c ,,,t, fbiu
Der we find Michael Angelo, Raphael, Pc
trarch, Ariosto, Tasso, Cervantes, Voltaire,
Pope, Alfer, and Canova, and many others
among the poets and philosophers, Bacon,
Newton, Galileo, Descartes, Bayle, and
Leibnitz
What does that prove if not that they either
would not or could not marry, but certainly
not that they were incapable of being good
husbands? Besides, a thousand causes
apart from the fear of being unhappy in
domestic life, considerations of fortune, prior
attachments, etc.-may have prevented them.
But as to Lord Byron, at least, it is still more
certain with regard to him than to any other
that he might have been happy had he made
q better choice; if circumstances had only
been tolerable, as he himself says. Lord
Byron had none of those faults that often
disturb harmony, because they put the wifes
virtue to too great a trial. If the best dispo-
sition, according to a deep moralist, is that
which gives much and exacts nothing, then
assuredly his deserves to be so characterized
Lord Byron exacted nothing for himself
Moreover, discussion, contradiction, teasing
were insupportable to him; his amiable, jest
ing way even precluded them. In all the cir
cumstances and all the details of his life he
displayed that high generosity, that contempt
of petty, selfish, material calculations so well
adapted for gaining hearts in general, and
especially those of women. Add to that the
prestige belonging to his great beauty, his
wit, his grace, and it will be easy to under
stand the love he must have inspired as soon
as he became known.
And now let us hasten to add that
although Lord Byron was not in love with
Miss Milbanke he had no dislike to her per-
son, for she was rather pretty and pleasing in
appearance. Her reputation for moral and
intellectual qualities standing on such high
pedestal, Lord Byron naturally conceived that
esteem might well suffice to replace tender
ness. 1t is certain that if she had lent her.
self to it more, and if circumstances had only
been endurable, their union might have pre-
sented the same character common to most
aristocratic couples in England and that even
Lord Byron might have been able to act from
virtue in default of feeling; but that little
requisite for him was wholly wanting. His
celebrated and touching Farewell might be
brought up as an objection to what we have
Just advanced. 1t might be said that the
word sincere is proof of love, and insincere
a proof of falsehood. Lastly, that in all
cases there was a want of delicacy and refine
ment in thus confding his domestic troubles
to the public. Well, all that would be ill
founded, unjust, and contrary to truth. This
is the truth of the matter Lord Byron had
Just been informed that Lady Byron, having
nf h,y, ha 1attar x,,ba ha
firmed all that her father, Sir Ralph, had
written, namely, her resolution of not return
ing to the conjugal roof, had afterwards
caused this letter to be sought for, and on its
| being restored had given way to almost mad
! demonstrations of Joy Could he see aught
else in this account, save a certainty of the
evil influences weighing on her, and making
| her act in contradiction to her real senti-
ments? He pitied her then as a victim
thought of all the virtues said to crown her
the Elusive belief in which he was far ther
from having lost; he forgot the wrongs she
had inflicted on him-the spying she hat
| kept up around him, the calumnies spread
| against him. the use she had made of the let
! ters abstracted from his desk. Yes, all was
! forgotten by his generous heart; andaccordine
! to custom he even went sofaras to accuse him.
self-to see in the victim only his wife, the
mother of his little Ada! Under this excite
ment he was walking about at night in his
solitary apartments, and suddenly CHANGED to
perceive in some corner different things that
had belonged to Lady Byron-dresses aud
other articles of attire. 1t is well known how
much the sight of these inanimate mementoes
has power to call up recollections even to
ordinary imaginations. What, then, must
have been the vividness with which they
acted on an imagination like Lord Byron ST
His heart softened toward her, and he recol
lected that one day, under the influence Of