The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-14

ally related how another upon q TINT
had come to Hucknall Tofkard hunting
Byron's grave, and was met by one Of
the inhabitants with the rejoinder,
"Byron2 All niver 'eerd OF i'm. Yer
means Ben Caunt." Ben Caunt was a
noted pugilist. Anybody in Noting
hsmshire can tell you where his grave
Is in St. Mary's Churchyard. A look OF
kindling intelligence and sympathy
came into the dTaper's face as he handed
me my change, while he told me that
very many came to drop tear on poor
old Ben's grave. But as the draper had
only been In Hucknall Torkard for the
matter OF eighteen months, he could not
tell me about "t'other un."
After this made my way in silence
to the churchyard. A high iron fence
surrounded it. The gate was locked, and
the grave-bordered path leading to the
church entrance seemed suggestive Of
disuse OF the place either for the solace
OF the living or care Of the dead. Dread.
ing further inquiries OF the villsgers, !
walked around the dark and drear old
spot, hoping to tind some way OF en-:
trance alone. This was unavailing. Re.
turning to the gate, l saw across the
open space b4loW the square q crowd OF
bedragRIed women and children watch
ing my movements atenively. One
with babe at her breast and three li.-
tie ones pulling at her ragged skirie,
held aloft some huge, jangling keys.
Then the crowd laughed at the signal
ing and my shameiaced nod OF acqui-
essence, and part oil It's hungry members
advanced TO the gate. They were scraw-
ny, savage creatures all, with bare feet,
breasts, heads and with troop OF wolf.
ish young tagging after. l bought them
all of save the one with the keys on
condition that the gate should be locked
after US; and by the time my guide and
her brood had effected this, every one
OF her former companions had disap.
peared with shrill.voiced raillery into
various dramshops OF the square below
That one could make such pilgrimage
in England to the shrine OF one any one
Of her mighty dead and find 1t within
such pitiably mean and AFFECT surround
ings is degrading reproach on the
whole English.speaking race. Only the
Vhouls who have censelessly besinirChGd
Byron's name and fame could come here
and not cry out with outraged pain and
grief ut the endless tauut aud shame oil
this Incredible bslittlement.
The sodden woman, dawdling her
keys beside me and staring vacuonsly at
the meager light above the chancel, was
fitting type ut the insensate forgetiul-
ness and oblivion to which these poor
relics OF one possessing sublims genius
nave been doomed. lasked her ialter.
ingly If great many visitors did not
come to ST. Mary's. She "'ad not 'eerd
il, IL itwere 30. But were there not in,
.ay, a years time, 1000 or 5000. She
laughed outright, and informed me that
not enough come to provide any decent
Iauily with "a pint day." This was a
new view Of it. Byron's grave not
worth, for income, pint OF beer day !;
Well, were there l,0O02 She shook her
head contemptuously. Did 500 come
zach year? Were there ESQ?
"Niver fluffy (titty), mon, only wen
,h' restoration do be-"
This restoration" occurred in 1888
Il is sounding, significant word. Tue
title old church was then a ruin With
he exception Of the tower. Apparently
rot 1000 was expended. The walls
ire up again. The roof is whole. A
place east window 10 standing
Ibove the altar. A tiny ChanCel was
dded, and little boxes Of TRANSCRIPTS were
nut in. At the right OF the chancel,
.bove the choir, is this memorial tablet:
In the vault beneath
ThcTe many Of his ancestors and his mother arc
buried
Lie the remains OF II
George Gordon Noel Byron, IL
Lord Byron, Of RochdaIe,
In the county Of Lancaster,
The Author Of Childe HArOlds Pilgrimage.
he was born IN London on the
22nd OF January. l7SS.
10 died at MlSSOlonghI, IN Western Greece, on
the 10th Of April, 1874,
.ngHged IN the glorious attempt u restore that !
country 10 her ancient freedom aud IcnoWn.