National Republican., 1883-07-02
EIN ENGLAND'S METROPOLIS.
gMr. JeafrssnnS Singular Story Of Lord
ByrOns Life.
AWork Of Curious Interest But Ques-
tonable Value,
Excepting That Il Sets at Rest Forever the Calumnies
Circulated by Mrs, Stowe.
What They Are Doing I'm the London
TheRters - The Newest Plays
and the Latest Operas.

London literary circles. After q most care
Aful perusal of the work cannot wholly ad-
4 Xmire it. Lord Byron is represented as an ex-
Extraordinary genius, and his virtues have
gained but little at the compier's hands. The
Dwork is written without any attempt at fine
~ phrasing; on the contrary, cannot recall one
single poetical description.
u One may write of poets without being poeti-
y cal, but it is rare to write life of such anlan
as was Byron denuding his most fascinating
ventures of even the ordinary charm.
Mr.. Jeaffreson has given such a collection
of facts, and hard facts too that in reviewing
the work one marvels much whether this
authors predecessors have not presented a
much more sympathetic and truthful. picture
of the great poet Moore, with all his phan-
tastes, has written life of Byron which is u
model of English verse, but then he was
Moore. Mr. JeatIreson presents stern facts to
prove that the Irish bard's work is almost
J, wholly untrue aud almost entirely imagina-
tive.
81 The question Is not whether Mr.. Jeaffreson
= can positively assert that Byron took biscuits
pand soda water (his usual repast) at 3 O'clock
nor whether, according to Moore he took the
same thing at o'clock. There is certainly
~ difference of two hours. What these little
kinaccuracies, if so they be, have to do with the
"real life of Byron" i scarcely appreciate.
The new author, on the contrary, to make
his work as different as possible from that of
any other .Byronial biographer, dwells upon
trifles with painful Scotch exactitude. He
also presents the past with so terrible pro-
pensity to obesity, and describes his meals of
potatoes soaked in vinegar" ''his biscuits
and soda water" with such continued recur-
renee that one is rather disgusted than other
wise. Once telling it would sufficiently
stamp 1t on the memory.
- Ia th1H 90 ~
8 we are treated to some new facts Before
o. leaving for Greece we are told that on the
II evening of June l. 1923, he was in Genoa at
N Lady Blessington's. Seated by her side on
- sofa he made this remark, Here we are all
bnow together, but when and where shall we
kmeet again. | have sort of boding that we
pee each other for the last time, as something
9tells me that l shall never return from
Al Greece"
He then describes Byron's disposing of cer-
tain things as souvenirs to those present !;
\ how he fell into one of those womanish fits
of hysterical weeping to which in agitation
he was liable at every period of his life"
Byron gave Lady Blessington pin from his
breast, but replaced it on the morrow with
Venetian chain, indlting the following words
to the lady: =" am superstitious, and have
recollected that memorials with point are
of less fortunate augury. / will therefore
request you to accept instead of the pin the
inclosed chain, which is of so slight value
that you need not hesitate" -'''E '"'
Later we are told that Byron was not dis
tinguished in activity in storm off Genoa ;
hat there was no storm and no occasion of
displaying intrepidity with his lame feet, and
Hthat instead of going ashore once he went
|~twice
Mr.. Tom Moore is called "comcally wrong
IN some of his statements, curiously inexact
and sensational in his anecdotes about Byron"
The above being fair samples of Mr.. Jeaffre-
10 nnftE
whether or no its idea of the poet Byron is
just or unjust as given in Moore's splendid
memoirs. Happily the Irish bard first pre-
sented life of this great genius to the light
of day, aud although Mr. Jeatlreson has COM
piled nearly eight hundred pages of solid
matter we think that Macaulay's remarks ON
Moore's work are very nearly right.
Before giving them, however, Mr.. Jeaffreson
deserves great praise for this admirably
linked chain of evidence regarding Byron's
relations with his sister, the Hon. Mrs.
Leigh The total disproof of Mrs. Beecher
Stoves vile structure of abomination re-
Celves unqualified praise from every person
In the United Kingdom. There is not one
dissenting voice. He tells of the way in
which the hard, unhappy widow might have
been led to make condolences with stranger
relating to Il sister who had once been SO
much to her, did she indeed ever make such
condolences; but-there is the doubt.
Lady Byron dead, Mrs. Leigh dead the
poet only splendid monument to the genius
of English poetry, it was easy for Mrs
Stowe ito remember" that which none but
prurient mind ever could have discussed or
retained. 1t is sad reflection that the first
OF American authoresses shsuld have so dis
graced American writers by repeating and
promoting the publicity of vile scandal
born from weak, vengeful woman's chatter
over cup of tea, and no less reprehensible
curiosity on the part of another who had
heretofore justifiable claims on the world at
large as an admirable and clever writer
Byron's name will stand with that of
Shakespeare, Dante, Milton, Keats, and Shell
ley. as Macaulay said in his famous article of
the Edinburgh Reuiew, of June, 1881:
What our grandchildren may think of the
y characterof Lord Byron as exhibited in hispoe-
try we do not pretend to guess 1t is certain that
the interest which he excited during his life
"A is without a parallel in literary history, and
later i'll speaking of the Byron worshipers
y and followers, he said, "There was created in
n the minds of many of these enthusiasts aper-
81 nieious and absurd association between intel
n lectual powers and moral depravity." Again,
ITO our children he will be merely writer,
and their impartial judgment will appoint
his place among writers without regard to
his rank or his private history. That his
poetry will undergo n severe sitting; that
much of what has been admired by his con-
ktemporarles will be rejected as worthless, we
lhave little doubt. But we have as little doubt
THAT after the closest scrutiny, there will
fnstill remain much that can only perish with
the English language"
Jeatfresons work will command the respect
Wand interest Of all. Its principal value is in
that it sets Mrs, Stoves calumnes at rest for
fever. 1t proves that Augusta Leigh's in
& Khuence over her brother was for his good, and
9ior his good only. Surely all the world will
thank this last biographer for so splendid a
9refutation of what had nigh become world
3wde notoriety. The more regretable on ac-
~ count of its dubious authenticity and unwel-
Z come character. The book is selling like
n wildhre, and Mr.. Jeallreson will become fa-
Il nous. Byron worshipers OF to-day will de-
y YOUR every page, and Byron haters will cer-
Mainly have To digest some very unpalatable
Rpths. Truths, however, in favor of the
1 lancholy, unfortunate poet.
,i he theaters are filed nightly. Fedora, the
1picheiis and the Lyceum company attract
Nwds, while b. O. Stephenson Impulse"
Is tair 70 outrival the tyrannic perennial
~ iasel kirke' in popularity. Apropos and
u taking OF BryOn, IL is known that Harry
lnway, the leading gentleman of the Dani-
PIE, Is Harry Coulson, grand nephew to the
NJ ~. He is handsome clever actor, and
probably 90 to America soon. He is a
at tavorte here and wins great success in
- play.
N7 Maria Durapd, an American prima donna,
'3s made a magnificent debut at Covent Gar
+ Ia the principal role "Gioconla of Pom
.'|||.| Ollls oONra Of that mama nurand has