River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1875-11-05
INSANITY OF GERALD MASSEY.

I
would mako il appear. gentleman now
residing in Chicago who was d friend Of
Masscy'S, and knows his history, tells the
inter Ocean that the Mrs. Massey here
spoken Of was Gelald's first wife. She
was han6 iome woman indeed, and well
known among the better class Of artists
and actors in London as an oddity. She
vas a maiden before her marriage as well
as after. She died some years since aud
Mr.. Massey married \ woman in most re.
spectS her antipodes.
Says the writer OF Tho Mercary.
Tdings have reached this city from
private sources in England that the we'll.
know poet and lecturer, Gerald Massey,
is suffering from alteration OF the mind,
and had been placed in private asylum,
10 those who have been At all familiar
with the career Of the gifted and unfortu.
nate poet, this sad news will not occasion
unmxed surprise. In his marriage, as un
iclicitons as Byron, he had been literally
Chained TO woman who was at once al,
| Amazon, Medea, and a Venus. The
writer had became acquainted with Mr.,
Massey in the winter Of 1854 55 in New.
castle.on-Tyne, England. Gerald was
then a young man Of 26, engaged on a
occurring tour. For three nights he lee.
tured before the Litcrary and Phlosoph.
ca Society of that town, his terms being
ten pounds sterling per night. His src.
cess was immense. Lord Reyeusworth
was the chairman Of his second te ;ture.
and the poet Was for couple Of days his
L0rdship's guest at Rayensworth Castle.
AT every town he visited on that tour he
was the guest Of aristocracy, and though
this distinction did not turn his head or
make him arrogant, there was no dis.
gnising the fact that he had gradually he.
come in the slightest degree snobhish.
While engaged in lecturing he also was a
regular contributor to the Atheneum.
Consequently his worldly circumstances
were easy, and he was Jolly but temper
ate companion. lie talked much Of his
fame, his baby, his newfoundland dog.
Carlo, and his beautiful, beautiful wife,"
and he used to say that the money he
made by his lectures very inadequately
repaid him for the home-happiness he was
deprived OF during his tour. He abhor-
red tobacco, and repeatedly said he could
not understand how man Of culture and
refinement could introduce the "beastly
odor Of smoke into his home,"
Every thing was lovely with Gerald in
those days. The writer was over hall
dozen years his junior, and caught some
of the poets enthusiasm while listening
to his ieryid eloquence. Let me describe
him, as he then appeared; very little
man, with shock of sandy hair, combed
straight back, without parting, from the
forehead; underneath, a pale and care
worn face; muStache lighter than the
hair; scrambling goatcc; large, lumin.
Gus irOn-gray eyes; an upper lip too
large for the face. and painftA lack OF
character about the lines Of the mouth.
Ills hands were as white as those Of an
hospital patient, and though they were
small, the fingers had noe that tapering
form or delicate tip which we are accus.
toned to associate with the artistic or
poetic mind. lie had then written a few
| poems, one OF which was published IN the
| Edinburgh Witness, while the celebrated
geoloeist, Hugh Miller, was it's editor.
/ But that was before poor Gerald was
married, or, to adhere strictly to facts, in
the year 1913. Alas the year after, he
was married 10 his queenly. looking dulci-
nea; and as she SAID TO herself ''Massey's
imprisoned poetry won me" We have
no room to print the entire poem Of I'm
! beloved. which won Gerad's wife, but
this notice OF the mans life would be in
complete without the first verse, which
paints his hopeless passion at the time he
was ccurting the beautiful Mabel:
Like tree beside the river,
0l her life, that runs from me,
Do lean me, murmuriBg ever
OF my loves idolatry;
And stretch out aims of blessing,
Ard reathe out words OF prayer
And, with passionate expressing,
Waste NY life upon the air.
In my years he lien river
Sings and smiles up in my face
But forever ard forever
Runs from my embrace.
Mr. Massey was then living in an ele-
gantly appointed house IN Portobello. a
couple Of miles from Edinburgh. The
writer visited him there in the summer
Of 1886. Ii was impossible TO escape the
conviction tina: the poet was then ''over-
Swallowed" and hcn-pecked by his wife.
She had grand presence, large, ict-like
black eyes, hard mouth, fine teeth, and
rm that a sculptor would love to
model. After luncheon Gerald and
took walk round Arthur's Seat, and he
commented enthusiastically. as was his
wont, on the physical and picturesque
contours Of the New Haven fshcrwomcn
returning home from Edinburgh. As !
left him for the night he said, while
clasping my hand with both Of his; my
boy, you must get married sec how hap.
py am"
Two years elapsed, and heard little
Of Massey. But when winter came | was
surprised TO see ''poSter" in the mar.
ket place Of South Shields, announcing
that "Gerald Massey, the poet. would de-
liver three lectures in the Central Hall,
Chapter Row" attended the first lee.
ture. Its subject was blood; and Wit
and Humor."
/ occupied back seat, yet ! could dis.
tinctly perceive that the poets face was
more haggard and care.worn than when
last saw HIM. There was probably q
majority Of ladies in the fashionable au.
dience, and the lecturer proceeded with
that ripping eloquence of which Massey