The New York herald., 1870-01-04
gHE BYRON SCANDAL.
Mrs. Steve VindfcateS Lady Byron
in u New Book.
Tho Old Story Repeated at Greater
Length-Lord Byron entity Of the
Crime Charged Because He
Was-A Lame, Puerile and
Inconclusive Argument.


printed some months ago In the Atlantic Mo'.th,y
Mrs Stowe has written book entitled Lady Byron
vmdcatea; History OF the Byron controversy
from It's Beginning in 1916 to the Present Tlme," tho
introductory chapter TO which we published some
days ago. Advance sheets OF the entire work, which
h published as was the original scandal, by Fields,
Osgood & 90. OF Boston. now before Us. We
had expected a very weak defence, but hardly be-
hevcd Mrs. stowe would permit so thoroughly pue-
rfIc composition as this 70 90 before the public as
suostanuating the very grave charges she lad pre-
vlousy given publicity 20. Ii s without exception
the iamest production In controversial literature
that we have read for many years
Mrs. Stowe opens Win the solemn assurance to
her brothers ana sisersf' who sharply criticised her
Atlantic Monthly article that she mas not read
single line or their adverse criticism, and with SIN
puIar inconsistency, proceeds IN the succeeding
chapters TO defend herself against the attacks of
these crrDg relations OF this IL done under
cover OF an ardent desire to vlndcate Lacy Byron.
From the ninth to the eighty sixth pare she labors
hard 10 prove that conspiracy existed ou the part
OF Lord Byron ana his friends 10 inure the far fame
that paragon or earthly perfection Lady Byron in
the estimation OF the virtuops British public. To
this END LORD Byron charged that SHE directly
responsible for getting up and keeping up this per-
BecutioD, which drove hin from England, that she
did tin deceluu treacherous manner, which lett
min chance Of defendng himselfn To make
case Mrs. Stowe quotes from the letters and poetry
OF Byron. At first tne conspirators acted with
caution and secrecy. "Fare Thee Wello was for
some time only privately circulated, az, at the time
OF Its composition Lady Byron had .strong party
In Eng'and.n Her parents were living her counsel
were Sir Samuel Romily ana DR.. Lushington land
the appearance in the public prints OF such piece
as this would have brought down an aggravated
storm OF publc Indignation" The letters of Lord
81
causes which led 10 the separation, are part and
parcel OF the conspiracy, and were only written
because the poet was aware tnat the angelic dispo-
nron OF his wife could not be moved Into
covering Mrs. Leigh and her family with dis
grace. His cartels OF defiance all bald erdash
No committee headed by Mathew Gregory Lewis
.ane chosen board OF iricnds' ever requested
audience with Lady Byron, Sir Samuel RomIlly and
DR.. Lughngton and formally prese nted" the letter
Byron wrole IN August 1917, challenging his vile TO
make public her accusations against him. The per-
gstent efforts o the consprators turned the current
OF popular opinion rom the martyr wife to the SEN
Suai, dcpraved husband. Ia several pages, which
she Calls ~ sum- OF the conspiracy Mrs. stowe
enters upon a rather curious summing up OF the eyl-
dence, such 1t Is. OF this pretended plot IL began
with the poem Fale thee wen, and II forever, writ
ten ..whllc negotiations for separation were pend
mgo SO that we are asked to believe Lord Byron
before ali hopes OF reconciliation had been de-
ssrJyed. II must not be forgotten That we have the
OF various persons that 1t was not for
entire year alter deeds Of separation had been
signed that Lord Byron abandoned the hope OF
being reconced to ms wife. And we know, fur
ther that While This hope lasted he was scru-
puIously particular Ia all That he said OF her;
losing no opportunity OF bestowing upon her the
most lavish praise and ascribng to himself all the
Mrs. Cermont t"Born in q garnet, In Kitchen
bred') VINO IL represented q most worthy
person, the Lines on hearing that Lady Byron
Is M IN which he calls her "lhe moral
Clytemnestra OF her lord" his writings In
which he dares Lady Byron and her counsel
to publicly state the reasons the separation the
fourth cauto OF 'Childe Harodn the first canto Of
''Don Juan" his autobiography, his letter to Mr..
Disraeli vindicating himself against an attack In
Bloctlroops and some other documents ad-
vanced as proof positive Of the existence OF con-
spiracy, the success Of which, marx you was due to
the wondrous fascination exercised by Byron over
ali with whom he came In contact. sHe played
adroty skllrully with binding batteries and seduc
tive wiles that made his victims willing dupes. No
thing can more clearly show the power and perfect
ness OF his enchanImenEs than the mastery way In
which he turned back the moral force OF the whole
English nation, which had risen at first in its
strength against him. The victory was complete.u
With this paragraph Mrs. Stowe ends her story OF
the conspiracy the preof IN support OF which we
have fairly stated. No person can read the two
chapters without impatence. The poems and letters
OF the poet and the action OF the few friends VINO
clung 10 him In the gloomiesI period OF his life, have
not even been ingenously tortured into proving a
preconcerted effort to undermine the reputation OF
Lady Byron The reasoning and deductions are
forced and unsatisfactory. They suppose too much.
Let any person suppose cause and 1t Will not be
dnRicUt to show the effect Now, there was
reason at least for the letters and poems quoted;
but when Mrs. stowe asserts that this reason was TO
cover the crime OF incest something more than mere
quotation is required before we can believe.
However, not to tire the reader with this OF
empty observation-disclosures which the merest tyro
IN the law OF evidence could pick TO pieces loosely
are they compied--we direct our attention TO the
succeeding chapters which end the first part Of the
book. In these Mrs. stowe proceeds TO show that
sat the time or lord Byrons death the English pub.
nc had been SO skilfully manipulated by the Byron
propaganda that the sympathy or the whole world
was with hm.n The literary men OF Great Britain
united in abuse OF the wido W. Numerous quotations
Erom "The Noctes,n published In Bldckwoods
are given as showing the DRIFT OF public opinion.
IN July, 1924 Within three months after the poets
death, there appeared in Bnciacoons poetcal
spiste Written by the famous Timothy Ticker which
professed to give the details OF all that occurred In
the twenty -four hours succeeding Byrpn's marriage
In this epstie there was plenty OF coarscness sell
dom found outside OF 'Faublas.u For months
Lady Byron was Violently assailed on all sides and
when at length she spoke she was abused for speak
ing. Here Mrs. stowe enters upon o "wonans
rights argument, whose pertiuenee to the subject
we cannot perceive Lady Byron was not con
demned for speaking, bu for not speaking plainly.
Sne rctaed her charges privately to ner friends and
publicly gave rttcrance to vague insnuatlons
against her dead husbagd. which either meant
everything or nothing. 1t Is an insult 10 the utelli-
Gence OF the reading public to Imagine that
they would rest content with the mere stale.
ment OF Lady Byron That she had been
terribly wronged III you only knew" she
told the world, "then you wogld give nc your
undivided sympathy. Accept my assurance that