The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-08-06

BIOGRAPHY.


George Gordon RDroH.
The distinguished subject of this
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 a
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 a chip Of the
old block. Upon the death Of his uncle
Byron was raised to peerage, though
but II 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 16 went
to Trinity College, Cambridge, where he
wasted many hours in idleness and
profighcy, which properly employed
would have given him solid founda-
ton in learning. At 19 he left Gam
bridge and took up his residence at
Newstead Abbey and soon prepared for
publication a 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 EcIfnburgb
Review. This caustic criticism was
something after this style The
poetry of the young bard belongs 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 a satire entitled " English Bards and
Scotch Reviewers" which publication
would have done honor to Pope or Dry
den. So popular was the work that all
agthors reioiced in the new champion
who had arisen to avenge their wrongs.
This popularity, however, did not hast,
and the injustice the satire contained
was afterward admitted by the author
himself, who termed it a 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
"Life 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 "Giaour," "The Bride Of Abydos,
"The Corsair, and Lara" While tht
reading world was enjoying these pro
: ductions, Byron Ito follow the moder
: newspaper style) joined himself in hol.
! bonds of connubial bliss. His marriage
! however, was an unhappy one, and onl.
lasted one year. His domestic trouble
seemed to have stimulated his menta
! activity, for, during the next six month
he produced the third canto of "Child
+ Harold, Manfred" 1.-The Prisoner G
Chillon," and The Lament Of Tasso,
q and not long after came his gay an
! witty little poem, "Beppo." The next
9 last, and one Of the greatest poems {
It his life, was Don JUAN" which b
= commenced in 1922, and in which b
: was engaged the remainder of his day
In 1928 he became seized with the il
spiration to take part in the struggle fC
Greek independence and in Il
u next year he left England, an
~ plunged into the struggle wit
u zeal worthy Of his anciel
u dwelling place Of liberty and genius.
is a pity to be compelled TO record !
. but by this time, owing to his dissolu
le habits, Byron's constitution was cor
e pletely undermined, and in 1924 can
ne his untimely death, in the 37th year
- his age. And thus ended the life of ol
Q who win ever be remembered by an j
ao telligent world.
cd tp