The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-27
TOM MOORE IN BERMUDA.
His Early ROmances in the Island ana
in This Country.
Chicago News.

chicago NEWS.
Not every one knows, and many that
know have forgotten, that Tom Moore was
for many years an official of the Island or
Bermuda, one of the nearest neighbors OF
the United States, and that he afterward
made a tour of this country-after visiting
the scene of his office-holding that is. When
the young Irishman was but twenty-one
years old he had already made himself SO
popular in London society that the Earl or
MORA. Irish nobeman, was able to pro-
cure for him the position of register OF the
court of Vice-Admiralty the beautiful
American island. He left England soon aft
er and arrived in Norfolk, Va. in the early
part Of November, 1903. that being the most
expeditions and most comfortable means or
reaching his destination. He had a good
time in Norfolk for two months, in the lelS-
urely fashion of those days, getting to Ber-
muda somewhere about the middle of Janu-
airy, 1904.
little enough to do, describing his duties az
''overhauling the accounts OF shippers and
their mates" but his income was small In
war times the fees of the office had run as
high as $4,000 a year. In the piping times
of peace he saw before and about him 1t was
hardly the tenth CT that. AS he plaintively
wrote his mother, within day or two OF
his arrival: Even Spanish war would
make my income by no me means wort worth G STAY
ell, divided between interest in the viva
cious young man himself and sorrow at his
disappointment, opened his home to him,
and there in the old house at Walsingham
Moore practically lived during his stay on
the island. It is shown to the occasional
rapidly falling into decay.
The author OF the lines that Tennyson so
mained until the end of April, but he kept
himself busy falling in love during his stay.
He writes to q friend in England during
the third month of his sojourn that the
women of Bermuda, though not generally
handsome have an affectionate languor
which Is always Inter ntsrestngE what the
seems very much the character of the young
Eernhudan grls-that predisposition to low
ing which, without being awakened by any
EaIt crlar object, diffuses itself throughout
their general manner in tone of tender
ness that never fails to fascinate. Moore
was young, romantic, poet and suscepti-
BILE, so he proceeded to prove the truth or
this. He became acquainted with Miss Hes
thcr Louisa Tucker, the Rose of the Isles,
a girl who answers his generic description
very well, being not so beautiful as she was
fortunate in the possession OF great personal
charm and easy grace of manner. She was
Only eighteen years old at the time, but was
already affianced to q young gentleman or
her own name, William Tucker This did not
interfere with the enjoyment of the viva
cious young Irishman in the least, but APP
parently added to the zest of the. pursuit,
Mr. William being Jealous to the point OF os-
tentation. Moore gave her the pretty nam5
of ''Nea and wrote some sentimental odes
to her which We're published to the num-
Other Poems" in 1906. He succeeded In get
ting what less romantic age would call
decidedly spoony, as this verse VIII
prove:
I stopped to Gull, with faltering hand,
A shell that the golden sand
Before us family gleamed
| raised it to your lips of dew,
You kissed the shell, kissed it too
Good heavens! How sweet 1t seemedl
This and the others-none of them quite
soft as this-came out not long after
William and Hetty Tucker We're married;
but the happy husband was not masnani-
NOUS enough to forgive his unsuccessful
rival refusing to permit his works inside
his house, though he lived until 1871 BY
that irony of fate which so often comes to
those who cross the path of men OF letters,
two of this unamable genteman's own
grandchildren have been named Naa, AZ
If to perDetuate the memory OF that COM
mencement de steele firta ton.
Moore came TO New York in May-and
promptly wrote home that he liked Bermuda
better. He saw Niagara, travelled about the
United States and Canada and reached Eng
land in November, having been absent
about year. third of which he devoted To
his duties as register He never returned 70
the island yet he held his position for full
forty years longer, being superseded az last
for continued nonresidence. These facts
and many others pertaining TO The brief
period of Tom Moores visit TO the ''oft
vexed Bermoothes'' were brought together
by Mr.. j. c. Lawrence Clark during jour-
ney to Bermuda and published by MIN ds
an attractive pamphlet not long Ago.