Richland beacon., 1880-08-14
BIOGR.4PHY.
George Gordon Ryross.

George Gordon Ryron.
The distinguished subject OF tA1
sketch was born in London in 1888,
being the only son of Capt. John Byron
by his second wife, Catherine Gordon, a
Scotch heiress of Aberdeenshire, and .
lady noted for the ascerbity Of her dis
position. Capt. John Byron, or Mad
Jack Byron as he was frequently called,
was one of the handsomest and yet
most dissipated men of his day. Young
Byron was emphatically chip Of the
old block. Upon the death of his uncle
Byron was raised to peerage, though
but IL years of age, and he was vested
with the proprietorship of Newstead
Abbey, magnificent country seat,
shaded by Sherwood forest. which had
echoed with the bugles Of Robin Hood
and Little John. When quite boy he
entered Harrow school, and at Is went
TO Trinity College, Cambridge, where he
wasted many hours in idleness and
proAigacy, which properly employed
would have given him a solid founda-
ton in learning. At 10 he left Cam
bridge and took up his residence at
Newstead Abbey and soon prepared for
publication number Of his juvenile
poems entitled "Hours of Idleness.
These poems were not destitute Of merit,
but might have been written by any lad
who had moderate talent for poetry and
good education. Judging from the
character of these publications it was
evident that some stimulus was needed
for the development Of Byron's powers;
and that stimulus was provided by
an anonymous writer in the Etlfnburgh
| RcrieW. This caustic criticism was
something after this style: "The
poetry of the young bard bslongs to
that class which men nor gods can toler-
ate we counsel him that he does forth
with abandon poetry" Scarcely had
the laughter ended when Byron replied
in satire entitled English Bards and
Scotch Reviewers" which publication
would have done honor to Pope or Dry
den. So popular was the work that oil
authors rejoiced in the new champion
who had arisen to avenge their wrongs.
This popularity, however, did not last,
and the injustice the satire contained
was afterward admitted by the author
himself, who termed it ferocious rhap-
sody-a miserable record of misplaced
anger and indiscriminate acrimony.
| In 1909 he went to the Mediterranean,
and spent some time in Turkey and
Greece, and after two years returned,
and published two cantos Of his favorite
poem "Childe Harold" Moore, in his
"Lhe of Byron" says, "The effect of
this poem was electrical /; his fame had
not to wait for any of those gradations
usual in such cases, but sprung up like
the prophets gourd" During the next
two years, Byron's pen was not idle
the following books were produced, viz ::
the "Giaorr," "The Bride of Abydos, "
"The Corsair, and "Lara." While the
reading world was enjoying these pro-
ductions, Byron Ito follow the modern
newspaper style) joined himself in holy
bonds of connubial bliss. His marriage,
however, was an unhappy one, and only
lasted one year. His domestic troubles
seemed to have stimulated his mental
activity, for, during the next six months
he produced the third canto of "Childe
Harold, Manfred" "The Prisoner Of
Chillon," and "The Lament of Tasso,
and not long after came his gay and
witty little poem, "Beppo." The next,
last, and one of the greatest poems Of
his life, was "Don JUAN" which he
commenced in 1922, and in which he
was engaged the remainder Of his days.
In 1923 he became seized with the in.
spiration to take part in the struggle fol-
Greek independence and in the
next year he left England, and
plunged into the struggle with
zeal worthy Of his ancient
dwelling place of liberty and genius. II
is a pity to be compelled to record it.
but by this time, owing to his dissoluts
habits, Byron's constitution was com
pletely undermined, and in 1924 came
his untimely death, in the 37th year o
his age. And thus ended the life of one
who will ever be remembered by an in
telligent world