The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-01-24
THE BULLETIN.
Publication once, Bulletin building,
Washington Avenue.
LORD BYRON.
A NEW ASEcDoTE or THE POET.


Attic time when Coleridge was in great
embarrassment, Rogers, when calling on
Byron, Glanced TO mention it. He imme-
diately went to his writing desk, and
brought back scheck for q hundred pounds,
and insisted on its being forwarded TO
Colcridge. II did not like taking it, said
Rodgers, who told me the story, for
knew that he was in want Of it himself.
His servants he treated with considera-
ton for their feelings which l have sell
dom witnessed in any other, and they
we're devoted to him. AT Newstcad there
was an old man who had been butler 10
his mother; and / have seen Byron, AS the
old man waited behind his chair at dinner,
pour out glass Of wine and pass It to him
when lie thought we were too much engage
ed in conversation TO observe what he was
doing. The transaction was thing Of
custom; and both parties seemed 10 fat
ter themselves that il was clandestinely
effected. a hideous old woman, who lad
been brought in TO nurtc him when he was
unwell ut one of his lodgings, and who
few would have cared 10 retain about them
longer than her services were required,
was carried with him, in improved attire,
to his chambers in the Albany, and was
seen after his marriage, gorgeous in black
silk, at his house in Picoadilly. She had
done him service and he could no, for
get it. OF his attachment TO his friends,
no one can read Moore's Life and
entertain n doubt. He required a great
deal from thein--nOt more, perhaps.
than he from the abundance Of his
life, freely and fully gave, but
more than they had 10 return.
The ardor Of his nature must have been in
= moral state Of disappointment. He
imagined higher qualities in them than
they possessed and must very often have
found his expectations sadly baked by the
dullness Of talk, the pcrversity Of taste. or
the want Of enthusiasm which he en-
countered on better, or rather long sc-
quaintance. But Notwithstanding, | have
never yet heard anybody complain that
Byron had once appeared TO entertain n
regard for him, and had afterward capri
ciou.ly cast him of. Years after they
had met for the last time, Lady Bryon
went with Mrs. jameson 20 see Thor
waidsen's statue of her husband, which
was at Sir Richard Westmaco,ts studio.
After looking at it in silence for few
minutes, the tears came into her eyes, and
she said to her companion. 1T is very
beautiful, but not so beautiful as my dear
Byron. However interrupted by
changes Of caprice or irritability, the gem
sral course Of her husbands conduct must
have been gentle and tender, or it never
would, after so long q cessation OF inter-
course, have left such kindly impressions
behind it. have, indeed, reasons to be-
lieve that these feelings Of affectionate
remembrance fingered in the heart OF
Lady Byron 10 the last. Not fortnight
before her death, dned in company with
an old lady who was on visit 10 her.
On this lady returning home and mention
ing whom she had met, Lady Byron
evnced great curiosity TO learn what SUBJ
jects We had talked about, and what
heard of them, because l had been such
q friend Of her husband" This instance
of fond remembrance, after an interval Of
more than forty years, in woman of no
very sensitive nature--a woman Of moro
intellect than feeling-conveys to my
mind no slight argument in defense Of
Byron's conduct as a husband.-Life Of
Rer. W. Harness.