The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-05
A NEGLECTED GRAVE.
The Cypress-shaded Enclosure Where Poet
Shelley's Heart Rests.

Shelley's Heart Rests.
"Shelley?" asked the man in charge
of the Protestant cemetery at Rome.
when we appeared at the gate on re-
cent beautiful afternoon. 1t is the only
English word. except Keats" that he
can pronounce correctly. Three years
ago the same man put the same ques-
ton to us. We again answered ives"
For with many others of the English
speaking race we took a sad pleasure
in visiting the graves of those two most
gifted and unhappy beings. Shelley's
heart alone rests in the cypress-shaded
inclosure which is now full of graves.
The rest of his body, it may be remem-
bered, was reduced to ashes on a fu-
neral pyre in the presence of Byron
and some others, at that spot on the
shore of Spcz2ia Bay where the
drowned poet had been cast up by the
waves. As this is an age of monu-
ments to neglected genius, was Curl
Gus to sec if any thing had been done
for Shelley by his ardent admirers
since 1883. Mo- there is the old small
stone fat on the earth looking moldier
than ever. The inscription ''Corcor-
dunn is filled in with dirt A weed.
looking like burdCck, grows rankly
about the grave. There is not flower
near it, unless one should count in
wthered and blackened rose which
some plying soul had thrown down on
the center of the dingy marble slab.
This may have been lying there for two
or three months. dare say fragments
of it will be found there year hence
unless the wind blows them away. For
it is evident that Shelley's tombstone
| is never swept and cleaned except Oy
the elements. Trelawney, the lifelong
friend and stauAch defender of the
poet. rests beside him. He died at the
age of lightweight and Shelley at thir-
/ v. In standing beside these two
graves, especially destitute of human
care, one pays tribute to friendship II
we'll as to genius.
Another old man-Sevcrn-sleePs
alongside of young Keats. Their
graves, situated in free and wind
swept place. outside of the stuffed cem-
eterv, are we'll cared for. The same
good people who put up the exquisite
portrait of Keats in altO-rcievo against
the wall of the portal and erected the
tombstone in memory of Severn doubt
less provided for proper attention to
the graves. The wall near by is thick
with climbing roses. Daisies, butter
cups and some flowers not so familiar
! to US star the lush grass on every side.
A trim hedge incloses the two who, in
death as in life. were not divided.
Keats sleeps under the shadow of L
laurel tree, which has grown much in
the last three years and still supplies
| leaves in abundance to be plucked and
pressed as souvenirs. As we stood
there and watched the sharp shadow OF
the venerable pyramid of Cestius slow
| " creeping toward US, the spell was
broken by the harsh voice of man at
nv elbow. What n shame" he said,
that such an epitaph should be allowed
to stand above such grave" turned
and saw an Englishman. He referred,
of course. to the bitterness of the in
scription abiding to the savage criti-
cisms which doubtless fastened the
death of the consumptive, broken
hearted Keats. The Englshman
thought it was high time to erase this
memorial of bygone literary feud.
True" replied, 1.-The epitaph does
seem out of place now, when the posi-
ton of Keats among the English i'm
mortals is assured. But. after all.
should it not be kept there as warning
TO future critics? 1t should teach them
to be more tolerant of young authors
with their new and daring styles. "
The other man could not accept that
view of the case. did not care to dis
cuss it. SO we touched hats and parted.
Cor. Journal of Commerce.