The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-30

Byron's writings are occasionally marred
with profanity and Righteousness, and
that they contain a considerable quantity
Of trash. III he had never been married,
or il, being married, his domestic life had
not ended in disaster and scandal, his per-
sonal reputation would stand higher than
IL does at present in the esteem OF society.
II about one-third ofNwhat he wrote had
never been published his reputation as
man OF letters would stand higher than il
now does in the esteem OF the beat judges
OF literary art. After an exhaustive
discussion Of the subject in every possible
aspect OF IT, after every variety OF hostile
assault, and after praise sounded in every
key OF enthusiasm and in every language
Of the world, these truths remain. II is a
pity that Byron was not a virtuous man
and a good husband. II is pity that he
WAS not better literary artist, that he
wrote so much, and that he published al
most everything that howrote. Bs,, when
all this has been said, IL remains a solid
and immovable fact that Byron was great
poet, and that he continues to be great
power in the literature and in the life of
the world. Nobody who prctends to read
anything ever omits to read "Childe Har-
old"
To touch this complex and delicate sub
jeCt in only a superficial manner II may
not be amiss 10 say that tho world Is under
obligation TO Byron, II for nothing else, for
the spectacle OF most romantic. impress
sive and instructive life. His agency in
that spectacle, no doubt, was involuntary,
but all the same he presented it. lie was
true poet; man OF genius; his faculty
OF expression was colossal. and his conduct
was absolutely genuine. No man in liter
allure ever lived who lived himself more
fully. Even his assumptions Of disguise
only made him more obvious and transpa-
rent. lie kept nothing back. His heart
was laid absolutely bare. We know even
more about him than we know about DR.
Johnson-who never could have dropped
an h without having II picked up by his
biographcr-and still his personality en-
durcs the test OF our knowledge and re-
mains unique, romantic, fascinating, pro-
life OF moral admonition and infinitely pa
thctic. Byron in poetry. like Edmund
Kean in acting, is figure that completely
fills the Imagination, profoundly stir the
heart, and never ceases to impress and
charm, even while IL aillicts, the sensitive
mind. This consideration alone, viewed
apart from the obligation that the world
owes 10 the better part Of his writings, is
vastly significant OF the great personal force
that is Inherent in the name and memory
OF Byron.
IL has been considered necessary TO nc
count for the sadness and gloom OF Byron's
poetry by representing him 10 have been a
criminal afflicted with remorse for his
many aud hideous crimes. His widow,
evidently monomaniac. after long brood
ing over the remembrance Of calamitous
married liie-briei, but unhappy, and
terminated In separation whispered
against him, and agllns,lhi half-sister, an
atrocious charge; aud tbs. 10 the shame
and disgrace OF American literature, was
brought forward INV years ago by dis
| tinguished female writcroi America, much
noted for her works Of fiction, and especi-
ally memorable for this one. The expla.
nation Of the mental distress exhibited in
the poets writings was thought 10 he 81
fcctunlly provided in that disclosure
But, m this disgraccful. revolving and in
human story -dcsccrating graves, insult
ing great and noble genius, and casting
inlamy upon the name of a sweet, ailec
donate, faithful and virtuous woman-fcl
Ia pieces the moment II wis examined
the student Of Byon'sg grief stricken natur,
remained no wiser thnn before this iigmon
Of n diseased Imagination had been di
vulgcd. Surely, however, IL ought no
10 DO considered mysterious that Byron,
poetry IL often sad. The best poetry o.
all the poets In touched with sadness
Hamlet has never been mistaken Tor
merry production. Macbeth" aud "kinl
Lear do not commonly produce laughter
Shelley aud Keats sing as near 10 heaven,
gate ~ anybody, and beth Of them are o.
scniially sad. Scott was IA brave anC
manly and CHEEKY M any poet that eve
lived, and Sfotts poetry IL nj IL best IL
his dirgrs. The "ElCgy" and eth,
Ancient Mariner" certainly are grca
poems, but neither Of them is festive
byron often wrote sadly because hc was
naturally, man Of melancholy temper
amcnt, and because he deeply felt th,
palhos VI mortal life. the awful mysler,
with which II II surrounded, the pain Will
which IL Is usually attended, the TRACED,
with which Il commonly Is accompanied
the luil tenure With which it, loves ant
hopes are held, and the memorable death
with which IL II continually envirOnc,
and NJ last oNtingn,,hcd. And Byron va,
m unhappy man Tor the reason that, pos
scssing every elemental natural quality IL
excess, his exquisite goodness WIS con
siantly outraged and tortured 10y his inor
dinute evil The tempest, the Clangor
and the agony Of his writings are denote
mcnis Of the struggle between good ant
evil that WIS pCtpciually aiiliciing hi
soul. Had he been the wicked man dc
pictcd by his dctmci0r he would hny,
lived lie Of comfortable dcpmyity ant
never would have written at all. Monster
do not sullcr.
The iruo appreciation of Byron "a no
that Of youth. hut that Of manhood
Youth Il captured by his pictorial an,
continental attributes Youth bchold
him ~ u nautical AdOnis. standing lionel,
upon q barren clih, and gazing nj u storm,
sunset oyct the AEGEAN sca. Eycryb0d,
knows that familiar piCtnp-with the wid,
turnover collar, the great eyes, the vii,
hair and the ample ncckcloih flowing ~
the bUcze. II Il very pn'tty, hut u u no
q bit like the real man. II ever nj am
time ho swas that sentimental guy III
speedily ouigrcw that condition. lust ~
those observers ot him who truly under
stand Byron have hong oulgrown thci
juvenile sympathy with that frail and pun,
ideal NJ n great poet Manhood perceive
a very different individual and II capturr,
by very different attraction. II i onl,
when the iirst cxtravagant and ELUSIVE en-
lhusinsm has run III course, aud per
haps ended In rcyulsion. that We come I,
know Byron ior what hc Is really worth
aud 10 feel the trcni cnaous power OF hi
genius. Scntimcnlaliiolly has commcmor
aicd him ON the mnnin Of Hyde park Il
London, a. In the inia'y 81 many n callov
youth and green rirl. with the statue o
/ a u,sftV a.flnr.laI Waaiyf, Coz N eua,l fr,n