Evening star., 1936-08-30

ST. GEORGES, Bermuda, August
29.-Whether tourists spend couple
Of days, a week or q month in Ber-
muda, few fail to visit historic St.
Georges. the beauty spot at the
northern end Of the islands, the place
where young Tom Moore, the Irish
poet, and Hester Louisa Tucker, the
"Nea" Of his Odes, lived their brief
romance love episode which led
Moore to write some of his most beau
tiful songs, one of them being BE
lieve Me If All Those Endearing
Young Charms"
Hester Louisa Tucker was 18, beau
tiful and married to a successful
young merchant, when Tom Moore
met her early in 1904. He was "a and
had arrived in the islands to serve as
registrar Of the admiralty court Of
Bermuda.
Because Of the fame attained
through his "Odes OF Anacreon" and
his Juvenile POEMS" Moore quickly
became a literary lion in the social
and military circles Of st. Georges,
which was then the capital Of the
Bermudas.
Meets "Nea" at Ball.
Admiral Sir Andrew Mitchell,
naval commandant of the station, and
his wife, Lady Mitchell. gave a ball
to introduce Moore to the Army and
Navy officers and also to the best
families in Bermuda. 1t was at this
social function that Moore met Mrs.
Tucker. the young woman who was
to become the "Nea" of history, the
perfect model for his future poems
and songs. She was the daughter OF
a retired British naval offlcer-whose
name was also Tucker-and because
of her fathers high standing and her
own personal charm, she was the most
popular young lady in the ball room.
Moore danced with her several
times. and with Lady Mitchell's help
had her seated near the head Of the
banquet table.
Mrs. fuckers husband. William
Tucker, had been called away soon
after the ball started, and his alb
sence offered Moore a chance to en-
gage Mrs. Tucker in conversation and
to accompany her home when the
dance was over. She lived in Cum
berland Lane, on the east side OF Rose
Hill, now capped by the new st.
George Hotel. which overlooks spa
cious Castle Harbor, as well as the
entire town of st. Georges.
Listens Through the Night.
Smitten by the rare charms Of the
lovely young Bermudian. Moore
poured out his alteration as they
walked along the narrow little road
way that led to the Tucker home. The
young woman reminded him she was
married. but she was so young and
fascinating that he could not seem
to realize it. She was readily swayed
by Moores eloquent compliments and
listened to him until the suns rays
began to show over the oceans rim.
It was during this meeting that
Moore first applied the name Of "Nea"
to Mrs Tucker. The word Is Greek.
A short phrase from Euripides, in
which the word occurs, carries the
meaning, "a new one is queen"
Moore became a frequent visitor IN
the home of Mr. and Mrs. William
Tucker, in the ALLEY of Lines" as he
termed Cumberland lane. 1t was here
that he first sang Believe Me" which
song he addressed to the lovely Nea.
who admired the poet for his talents
and good looks as well as for the nice
things he said about her-many of
these, however, to the discontinue OF
her husband.
Nea was an inspiration to Moore,
lifted him to new heights. He began
to write songs and poems in meter
that suggested music and here sprouted
the first seed that was to grow into his
master work, Irish Melodies" Nea
tuned his mind to the poetry OF song
and away from the stilted measures
that he had been in the habit OF
writing.
Gossips Separate Pair.
Soon the gossips began to link the
names of the Irish poet and the beau
tiful Bermudian. To silence these
tongues Moore resigned his post and
sailed for England four months after
his arrival at St. Georges. Within
two years he published his "Odes to
Nea," which glorified the young Ber-