The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29

time adventure, and, because or
$,&xI the multiplicity of such books.
little regretful that 1t is so, will
be treated to a great surprise. 1t is not
derelict ship that gives the title TO the
tale. but derelict soul over whose bril-
liant and erratic passage through the world
men wondered nearly a century ago.
The chief figure of the book is introduced
on the first page-George Gordon, asleep
under an olive tree in Greece; his compan-
ion. John HobhOuse. The names sound IA
rniliar. In the early dawn Gordon, reused
from his slumber, sat on the beach with
pencil and paper in his hand. his knee for
a desk The spell OF the place and the
hour was upon him. Lines flowed from his
pencil:
. The isles OF Greece. the isles of Greece!
Where burning Sappho loved and sung
No need to guess further. 1t is Lord By
ron George Gordon) of whom the author,
Miss Halle Erminie Rives. has taken for
the hero of her novel. 1t is daring VEN
ture- She resorts to no DISCUSSES, no new
situations. All the characters OF the book
are men and women who were associated
with Byron in actual life. She goes TO
Biography for her incidents. What, then,
makes the novel? Mainly the manner
IN which she presents the incidents
Byron was denounced in his day as
man defiant of the moralitieS and social
conventions. His political satires made him
bitter enemies and his disregard OF public
opinion, the fact that he law unto
himself in many ways, caused him TO be
seriously criticised and condemned. in other
circles. While the bitterness OF this crltl-
cisnn long since passed away and Byrons
genius has been recognized to the full
perhaps overestimated as a sort OF reaction
IRON the early condemnation-the general
frr1n
fish voluptuary and was lacking in many
of the normal moral attributes 1t Is TO
rehabiiitate him in the estimation OF the
world that Miss Rives has undertaken this
story. IL is case of special pleading, but
IL Is an ingenious one Whether IL is worth
while is a question. since. in the long run,
the verdict OF the public on a mans char
acter is usually just; whether she succeeds
Is matter for each reader TO determine
for himself What Miss Rives has done is
10 tell the story OF an unusual life, a ro-
mantle life I'm a fresh and entertaining
way: give a new version of events to which
only one explanation has attached before.
In short. she takes the poets side and sets
forth motives for his conduct that put a
different face upon them. In order TO do
this, she adopts the expedient of allowing
him TO speak for himself, sometimes in con-
versation with his intimates, often-rather
too often-in soliloquy. All through life he
finds somebody who opposes him. but that
somebody IS always in the wrong accord
ing TO this presentation and he an in
frrad and prosecuted creature who is driven
at times 70 excuses in sheer self-defense-
ESTIMATE OF LADY BYRON
1t is doubtful if many people read
Byron nowadays. though there is talk of a
REVIVAL" of his poems. but the poets
vivid personality created an impression
that still survives and makes any writing
concerning him of interest TO all persons
OF even limited literary knowledge. The
portraits drawn in this case have the at
fraction OF novelty The author feels an
especial luminosity toward Lady Byron and
depicts her AS a cold, narrow. 'unsympathet-
&c person. incapable OF understanding or
appreciating her husbands genius. brief
conversation between the two indicates
this. He had crept into the nursery and
sitting by the side of his infant child, had
written the lines beginning:
Ada. my one sweet daughter; if a
Dearer and purer were, II should be thine!'
when Lady Byron entered.
Her critical eye had wandered to the
book and pencil in his hand The look was
cold-glactally so-and disappearing as she
asked with quiet point:
My lord. when do you intend to give up
your Iiresome habit of versifying?
"He stared az her In all her lack of
this. Yet this was really what she thought
At heart she despised him for the only
thing that TO him made life endurable. She
took pride in his poetry, wished him a
man like others OF her circle-a dulk
church going. speech-reading. tea-drink-
ing. partridge-huntlng clod- A flush
blurred his vision.
{" Surely thin edge OF contempt cut
ting in her words, you do intend
always 10 do this? You are a peer YOU
have a seat in the Lords. You might be
anything you choose
But II ! what choose?' - he said
a chill anger lay behind her constrained
manner Her lips were pressed tight to-
xether During the whole time of their
marriage he had never seen her display
more feeling than in that brief moment on
e the terrace at Newstead. when he had nut
her mothers ring upon her finger For a
long time he had watched for some sign
each day feeling his heart. so savage OF VII
tslity. contract and harden under that col
orless restraint-till he had come 10 realize
that the untroubIed gentleness was only
passfvity, the calm strength but compla-
cency as cold as the golden guinea he had
treasured. that the flower he had chosen
for its white fragrance was a sculptural
Why do you choose not to live like
Other mem she broke out. There is some
thing so selfish. so unnatural I'm your en-
crossed silence, your changeable moods
yoIr disregard of ordinary customs. You
believe nothing that other men believe.
His face had grown weirdly white The
sudden outburst had startled him. He was
struggling with resentment.
=" 'Cassidys dOctrinal tracts, for instance
The query had a tinge of sarcasm.
She hit her lips. You have no idea OF
reverence for, anything. / might have
guessed IL that night at Nowstead and
how you treated. hint You speak your
Views on religiQn-views that | hate-open-
~. anywhere. You write and print them,
too.s IN your verses
You are frank he said; let me be the
same. What my brain concelves my hand
shall write. IL valued fame. 1 should fat
ter received opinions. That / have never