The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-01
A Hero and o Poem.

Under this headline the Atlanta Con-
stitution, replying to correspondents
request to publish the poem on "a
British Soldier in China" with the cir
cumstance of its or rim, says:
The poem alluded to is by Sir Francis
Hastings Doyle. The circumstance CIV
| ing rise to it was about as follows: Dur
ing the war between Great Britain and
China, in Is57-5S, one day young fel-
low named Moyse, a private of the
"Kentish Buffs," having Jagged behind
on the march with some Sikh soldiers,
was taken prisoner by the enemy. The
fellows had been drinking, which was
the cause of their detention, as they
were hanging around the grog-train in
the hope of getting more liquor. But
this rough, drinking young Englishman
had the soul of a hero. The Chinese
officials demanded the kotow of the cap,
tives; that is, the ceremony of kneellng
and knocking the head upon the ground.
This the Indian soldiers willingly did,
and thus saved their lives, but the Eng
lishman regarding the fact as degrade
ton, positively refused in spite OF all
threats, and was finally beaten to death
and his body was thrown to the jackals.
The circumstance acquired peculiar in.
terest from the fact that the questions of
receiving the English and American en-
bassies at that time hinged upon the
question whether the ENJOYS could be al.
lowed to approach the sovereign without
performing the kotow. The Chinese re-
gard this oDeisance as due to all the
gods, to the emperor, who is the son Of
heaven and the messenger of the gods,
and in less degree to the officials who
represent the emperor. The extreme
obeisance, indeed, required by the EN-.
peror and heaven. is kneeling and knock
ing the head thrice, then standing up
right and again kneeling, this to be
performed three times. This obeisance
had been performed by the Dutch en-
bassadors and an envoy from Russia,
and the English and American embassa-
dors were the first who had dared to re-
fuse to accede to the ceremony.
AS the poem to which our queryrefers
is fine one, and comparatively little
known, we quote it as follows:
s'L1st night, among his fellow roughs,
He jested, quatfed and swore, =
A drunken private Of the Bluffs,
Who never looked before:
To-day, beneath the foreman's frown,
He stands in Elgin's place,
Ambassador from Britain's crown,
And type Of all her race. .-,..s
Poor, reckless, rude, low-born, untaught,
Bewildered and alone,
A heart with English instinct fraught,
He yet can call his own.
Ay! tear his Eody limb from limb!
Bring cord, or ak, or flame! >"~
He only knows that not through him
Shall England come to shame.
Fair Kentish hop-fields round him seemed
Like dreams to come and 60;
Bright leagues Of cherry blossom CLEANED,
One sheet Of living snow; .
The smoke above his fathers door
In gray soft eddyings hung
Must he then watch it rise no more,
Doomed by himself, 80 youngl
Yes! honor calls; with strength like steal
He put the vision by.
Let dusky Indians whine and kneel!
An English lad must die.
And thus with eyes that would not shrink,
With knee to man unbent.
Unfaltering on it's dreadful brink
To his red grave he went.
Vain mightiest fleets Of iron framed,
Vain those all-shattering guns,
Unless proud England keep untamed
The strong heart of her sonsl
So let his name through Europe ringl
A man Of mean estate,
Who died as firm as Sparta's king,
Because his soul was great"