The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1884-06-26
Sheffield Worthless.

Tho atmosphere of Sheffield is not
favorable to the development Of genius,
but a few notable men have grown un-
der the smoky skies whose fame has
reached MI English readers. Chantrey,
tho sculptor, was born within two or
three miles of the town; Montgomery.
tho poet, spent most of his life in it !;
and Elliott, whose fac:le versiiication
contributed rs much to the repeal OF
tho corn laws as the most logical elo-
luence Of prose, carried on business
within its precincts.
When he was mere boy. and an nm
successful one, having failed in Lon
don, the rock that breaks so many
hearts, Montgomery saw an advertise
ment in q Sheffield newspaper which
led to his engagement upon its staff.
The paper was tho Register, which was
in disfayor with the Government on
account of its sympathy with the dis
affection created in England by tho
French Revolution, anu tho embryo
poet had not bcen long enough in IN
editorial chair to perceive what Dead
Sea fruits its rewards are. when ,the
proprietor having fled) he was arrested
on the charge of having written a sedi-
tious ballad, and sentenced to three
months imprisonment. Soon after his
release his sense Of humanity was
touched and his indignation aroused
by the violence Of military officer III
quelling u distul bance, lor tlcscsip-
tion OF which no was again arrested
and imprisoned six months. But hc
survived these penalties and prosp,red.
Under the name Of tho Iris, the
Register became great pccuniary sue
cess. and Montgomery diel in April.
lsai, Mt the ago Of s3 years, wealthy
and honorcd, after residence in Shelf
aeld of siAty-two years. 4 bronze
statue upon a granite pedestal has
been erected to his memory in tho
General Cemetery. His paper was
published and most of his poems were
written in an old house in tho Harts-
head, which was recently occupied as
u tavern, but now is used as Offices.
1t il related that Hewitt once called
Il ) attention to tho number Of authors
whose homes hal become public drink
ing places, among others Burns, SCOTS.
Shelley's, and Colosidges, mt Neither
Stowey. Montgomery laughed, hut he
lived to SEQ his own sanctum become
the resort of disrcputabla old topers.
Ebcnezer Elliott, tho "Corn-law
Rhymer,' entered the steel business in
| Sheffield with capital Of tlOo. and
after many struggles acquired re-
spectacle fortune His corn-law rhymes
had an extraordinary success. and il his
! other works were not satisfactory III
, form they showed in some degree real
!, inspiration.
Chantrey was milk-boy in Sheffield.
and when released from this occupation
he was transferred to tho scarcely moro
| congcnial shop Of 4 grocer, aud thtn
arlrenticed to carver and glider,
with whom he remained only short
time. Aftcrward he started on. on his
own account rs u portrait painter. and
moaestly set forth his claim to patron.
ago through an advertisement in Mont
gomery's paper, which stated that "ho
hoped to mect with tho liberal senti.
ments of an impartial public" Ills nj.
! sancement WAS rapid, and from Il
humble portrait painter he soon to-
,elaped into a great sculptor. lie was
kaightea by William ~, md WAS
buried ina suburb Of Sheffield. Thomas
, Creswick, the landscape painter. VA
also native Of tho town, rs were
| Archbishop Stecker, Sir Stcrntlal.
Bennett, and several other celebrities
| I'.iliam X. Eideiny, IN HarIer's
| Muausfsle