The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1873-12-04
Lovely LetItla.
From Robert Dale !, owens chagtsE Of AutobiograI


l made the acquaintance, during This visit
to London, of one of those celebrities, APP
pearing from time to time who are a riddle
even to their best friends, Leititia Elizabeth
Landon, author of the Inapr0Disaty'ice, the
TTOU5adOur, and many minor pieces which
appeared occasionally (uRder the signature
I. f.. H., in the London Literary Gazette,
then edited by Jerdan). Her poetry was
usually characterized by deep feeling, sad
and romantic; and it had won her for the
time a brilliant reputation, albeit it has
scarcely outlasted the age in which she
wrote. She and Thomas Moore were, in
my youth, my favorite poets; and had
read, / think, almost every lire she
ever published. Great was my amaze
ment when / met the writeri Pretty,
careless it seemed, lively, with just
touch of fiippancy in her manner, she
took pains to disclaim ali tender or pro-
found emotion speaking jestingIy of
every thing that savored of enthusiasm,
and declaring that whatever of sentimental
appeared In her poetry was but dressed-up
copy of what others had felt and ex-
pressed, and had never actually, come from
her own heart. The real things, she was
wont to say, were good dinners, nice sup
pers, handsome apartments in busy Lon
don Cfar preferable to the dull country) an
equipage, and all the appointments Of dis
tinguished society. 1 was reminded of her
many years after, by a stylish young lady to
whom / was introduced enc evening during
supper, at the La Pierre House in Phila-
delphia famed for its larder), who said but
little until she had tasted a smoking dish
which the waiter had just set before her;
but then she thawed out, exclaiming en-
Enthusiastically, "Well, this world is worth
living in after all, as long as such
tenderloin steak as this is to be had
in it." But though Miss Landon sought
to make herself out a mere worldly
character, / do not think that she
really was so. She yemained to the
last the cherished favorite of circle Of
warm and devoted friends; but selishness
does not win and retain for itself the love
and devotion Of those who sec it and feel it
for years in daily life. She gave me the
impression of a detected woman, whose
heartthad been wronged, and vino thought
to face it out by deriding the dreams She
had failed to realize. do not believe that
she was devoid Of the devoted affection she
had so often and so charmingly portrayed.
As Mary Edgeworth has somehow said,
genuine feeling Is seldom successfully coun-
terfeited; the tone Of simulated emotion is
pitched either too high or too low, as deaf
persons bawl or speak in a whisper. t, / think
Miss Landon's hooking spirit was the result
OF some bitter, nnacknowledged disappoint-
ment in carly life. Here and there, in her
writings the same spirit crops out, as in
some lines, the concluding stanzasof which,
as remember them, read:
''The neck Of the peacock,
The iris'E dyes,
The light % the opal
The April day skies
Would they be lovely
A all Of them are
But Tor the chance
And the change that are fheres
Breathe no vow 70 nc.
uill give none o. mlacs
Love should light IN an instant,
A. quickly decline
His bluehes, bis agbs
Are beEildeung things;
Then away with be feiters
And gives me bic wings.
Miss Landon was but twenty-five when ]
met her. Her after story was q sad one,
At the age Of thirtv-sIx she married 1fr.
Maclean. who had been appointed governor
Of a British settlement on fbe coast Of
Africa. Bulwer mot then Lord Lytton)
gave her away. At the wedding breakfast
z large number Of literary celebrities were
present, and more than one Of these took
occasion % express in fattering terms, their
high appreciation Of the amiable and tai
ented lady from whom they were now. aiasi
about 70 part. perhaps Tor long ycars. IN
reply, the bridegroom rose, and. IN the cool
est tone, said, he hoped Mrs. Maciean
would deserve these encominms. Years
afterward, Buiwer, relating the circumslan-
ces to an intimate friend from whom / he'd
this anecdotel added Imagine what q
shock i must have been 20 usl The poor
bride turned paleaa q sheet; and not 3 guest
e the table but deplorcd Der fate.
Il Is inconcoivable how any man. with the
slightest plcleufion, ono need Eot say %
conjugal affection. but 60 tie common
amenities Of social life, could have uttered
ne coarse, unfceling words. When one
reads that. after the lapse Of q single year,
the wife died at Cape Coast Castle and vas
buried on A rude African shore, one need