New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03
LEIGH HUNTS DOCTOR.
RecoIiections of the Late George Bird.
From The Pail Mall Magazine.

From The Pail Mall Magazine
n London physician who had known and doc
tored Leigh Hunt, fenced with Captain Burton
before he was Sir Richard. and outived
younger friends like William Black and Grant
Allen, might for their sakes ask to be remem-
b"red. But DIR. George Bird deserved, if ever
man did, TO be known for his own sake. Lady
Burton, who was married from his house. called
him AN unbaptzed angel" and another ac-
quantance, considering medicine perhaps kind
OF divinity, the angelic doctor"
The author of the farthng epic Orion"
HenGist Horne was in his later days a familiar
guest IN this doctors circle. ON his return from
Australia Horne settling in poor quarters in
Marylcbuue, appears to have found himself i'll
at ease in London after his active life abroad.
III health seized on him, and one of his symp-
toms was melancholy increase of weight. In
deed, he had been reduced to the neccss lty-like
Balzac. If We can trust Paris gossip-of having
VS. tor shaped insertions) put in his bracchie.
And then he consulted Or. Bird, with such re-
suits that in term or more the VS. had all
10 be taken out again This suggests that Horne
had not come back from Australia with fort
unc; and 1t is clear could not afford clothes
FOR his double.
But now. thanks to the physician the veteran
renewed his youth. one day two ladies'
tcriuc the house in WelbeCk-st. where Dr. Bird
practised. were startled to see an old gentle
man sliding, head first down the banisters.
This Mr. Horne celebrating his return to
health 1t must have been about the time
that ne was prompted, by some casual reference
to his health, TO ask lady after dinner in the
drawing room the question: Il hope you do
not think | wear wig?" The lady dis
claiming. when, to the sensation of the behold
ers. HeuEist Horne suatched "A wig indeed from
his head, and waved it triumphantly in air
!, must have been before his acquaintance
with Horne that Leigh Hunt first found the way
to his door. Loyal to Hunts memory, ne consti-
tutcd himself his answering champion, and as
severated the popular view of the man as
"Skimpoie" airy sybarite. a professional
prodiEal to be mOnstrously unjust. He would
have rejoiced in his friend Mr.. Swinburne's re-
pointing out that Incidence the essential
quality Of the character and conduct and philoS-
uphy Of Sknpole.' while Leigh Hunt "one
OF the hardest and steadlest workers on record
throughout long. Checkered life. at the toll
some trade of letters" When it was near the
end of his own history Or. Bird drew up signed
testimony, drawn out of the knowledge he had
gained as friend and friendly physician of the
poet and his house: which throws a startling
new light on Leigh Hunts predcament, and
painfully explains the persistent calumnies that
pursue his reputation" Il believe" said Or.
Bird, II the only contemporary of Leigh
Hunts who could testify to these facts
and l put ii record before / pass away"
The Burtons friendship dated from the earlier
days when he was still comparatively obscure
and living in Osnaburg-st.; and it was from his
house there that they were married. And many
a symposium, in the intervals of Italy and the
East, and in still earlier days found DR. Bind
among Captain Burtons guests. On such
night it was. when Burton had been telling of
Arab attack which ended fatally for his as
sailant. that the doctor provoked from him one
of the most perfect retorts ever made at doc
tors expense.
How DO you feel captain, when you kill
MANI
Il don't know. doctor How do you?"
These Burton evenings devoted some
times to ali the philosophy and poetry of the
Orient: but they had their sequels One night
the doctor was called away to a patient, leav-
ing his host at the mercy of some famous guests
well seasoned travellers, and a wit or two.
Next morning the doctor called to inquire for
Burton who was on the point of going abroad
again. James, the factotum. said his master
still abed
please, sir" he explained. 1.-The last gent went
at a. m"
Who he, James?''
please, sir, he said he the Lord Al.
mighty"
What next. James?
please. sir he tumbled downstairs"