The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

In "'Ostler Joe" George r. Sims has
woven most pathetic story Of young
woman, lowly bred but fair Of face, who
was married to an honest man, but was
lured away from home and family with
the promise Of the gay life Of a city. In
London she reveled for awhile, until
broken down In health and forsaken by
those who had led her there, she became
Ill. The honest 'ostler heard Of her fate
and went to her assistance.
In his arms death found her lying
From his arms her spirit fed
And his tears came down In torrents
As he knelt beside his dead.
On account of the great length Of the
poem only seven verses are printed but
they are the most striking Of the twenty
two and give a good idea Of the story and
the character of the poem.
"'Ostler Joe" was written some time in
the '70s, when Sims was one of the writ
ers on the Circle, a newspaper with q
short life in London. The poem had been
given considerable publicity, but 1t did
not become famous until Mrs. Brown-Pot-
ter. the actress, recited II in Washington,
and was very severely criticised for CIV
ing poem Of this character at a notable
social function.
OF the many hundreds OF thousands whc
few heretofore have known anything Of
the story that inspired It. Whether or
not the subject OF this poem Is still liv-
ing, but 1t is only IN justice to him, II liv-
ing. that he shall be known as Mr.. NJ.
Mr.. NJ. was born in the north of Eng
land OF a sturdy yeoman family Of much
means After course at one of the uni
versities he entered business in one Of the
large manufacturing towns OF Lancashire,
prospering beyond his most ardent hopes
Mr.. MS marriage to an accomplished
and beautiful woman in his native city
followed later, Several happy and har-
monious years were passed in quiet do
mesticity, when in an unlucky hour he
had the evil fortune to introduce to his
home a strikingly handsome infantry off,
Ger, whose regiment was then stationed
within few miles Of where he lived.
This man proved to be a roue Of the
vilest character, as NJ. discovered when IL
was too late.
The officer was a younger, handsomer,
and wealthier man than NJ, and his per-
that he soon made an impression on his
perhaps too conhding victim, who, after
few months acquaintance, was per-
suaded to elope with him. It Is but Just
to say that NJ. always believed that his
wife had been the victim Of hypnosis and
not at all through her want Of affection
for himself.
However, his home life was shattered.
After a futile EFFORT to trace the guilty
ones on the Continent, the broken-hearted
man obtained the civil service appoint
ment which took him to India, where he
stayed for many years in a brave effort
to forget the past which had unexpected
ly wrecked his life.
1t was at first Mr.. Ms purpose to stay
in India, but that heart-longfng to see the
homeland once more proved too power
full a magnet There might also have
been something else in his soul, an un-
uttered hope to see the woman who had
wronged him, but who, in spite of her
frailty. he still loved. He bore her no
feeling whatever but that of tender pity.
One day Mr.. NJ. found himself in Liver
pool, and here he stayed for several
weeks, wandering listlessly and aimlessly
through the streets, finding no peace and
in some mysterious way expecting to see
his lost love OF long, bitter years ago.
This thought, always uppermost in his
mind, delayed his. departure from day to
day and from week to week.