In this book the author has endeavored to give to the reading public an
intimate presentation of one of the more famous of the literary giants
who made the beginning of the last century the most brilliant period in
the history of English Letters since the days of the Elizabethan
authors.
Of Tom Moore's rank and attainments as a poet of the finest gifts very
little need be said. Posterity has placed the seal of everlasting
approval upon the best of his work and in the main is admirably ignorant
of his few less worthy productions. So it need not be feared that the
memory of the author of "Lalla Rookh," "The Last Rose of Summer,"
"Love's Young Dream," and, lastly, the most tender and touching of all
love songs, "Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms," will ever
be less brightly preserved, less tenderly treasured, than it has been in
the years that have intervened since his death.
"_Moore has a peculiarity of talent, or rather talents--poetry, music,
voice, all his own; and an expression in each, which never was, nor will
be, possessed by another.... There is nothing Moore may not do, if he
will but seriously set about it.... To me some of his Irish Melodies
are worth all the epics that ever were composed,_" wrote the hapless
Lord Byron, who was one of the gifted Irishman's most intimate and
faithful friends.
"_The poet of all circles and the idol of his own._"
No other words could so fitly describe the position of Moore in the
esteem of the public. His ballads are sung by peer and peasant, in
drawing-room and below stairs, and long ago the world at large began to
rival the affection and admiration with which the life work and memory
of the sweetest singer of them all has been cherished by the little
green island which so proudly proclaims itself as the birthplace of
this, its favorite son. But of the brilliant poet's early struggles,
failures, successes and ambitions little is known. From his own
writings and those of Lord Byron, Sir Walter Scott, Leigh Hunt and
Captain Trelawney, it has been gleaned that there never was a more
faithful friend, a more patient or devoted lover, a truer husband and
fonder father than Thomas Moore. His married life was as sweet and
tender as one of his own poems. Much is known of the happy years that
followed his wedding, but till now no attempt has been made to picture
the days of love and doubt that preceded the union which was destined to
prove so splendid an example of true connubial content. In regard to
historical accuracy, it is admitted that a certain amount of license has
been used. For the sake of gaining continuity, events spread over a
space of years have been brought within the compass of months, but aside
from this concentration of action, if it may be so described, the
happenings are in the main not incorrect.
While it is true that Moore was never actually ejected from society by
the Prince of Wales, he did forfeit for a time the favor of that royal
gentleman until the authorship of certain offensive verses was
generously acknowledged by Lord Byron. The incident wherein Moore sells
his life-work to McDermot is pure fiction, but in truth he did succeed
in obtaining from Longmans an advance of L3,000 for "Lalla Rookh" before
it was even planned, an event which in this chronicle is supposed to
occur subsequent to his rescue from McDermot by Lord Brooking. Since
the advance really obtained was three times the amount he is made to
demand of the Scotch publisher the possibility of this particular part
of the occurrence is not to be questioned.
For certain definite and easily comprehended reasons the real degree of
Moore's poverty when he arrived in London and previous to his talent's
recognition by the Regent, who did accept the dedication and thus insure
the success of his first volume of verses, has been exaggerated, but in
regard to his possession of the Laureateship of England the story deals
with fact. Nevertheless the correctness of this bestowal of favor by the
Prince of Wales was publicly denied in the columns of an influential New
York newspaper at the time of the play's first presentation in the
metropolis. For the enlightenment of those who may have been led into
error by this misstatement, at the time overlooked by the author, they
are referred to letter No. 63, from Moore to his mother, dated Friday,
May 20th, 1803, in the first volume of the "Memoirs, Journal, and
Correspondence of Thomas Moore," edited by Lord John Russell, in which
the poet gives his exact reasons for having recently relinquished the
post in question.
It is also true that the first notable success of Bessie Dyke as an
actress was scored at Kilkenny, Ireland, instead of London. As her
elder sister, Mary, has no part in this story, she has been omitted
altogether, though her long and successful career upon the American
stage is a part of the national theatrical history.
So far as the characters herein set forth are concerned but little
explanation is required. Those historical have been sketched in
accordance with the accounts of their peculiarities furnished by the
literature of the times. Several of the most important people are
entirely imaginary, or have been constructed by combining a number of
single individuals into one personage.
In reply to the anticipated charge that the author cannot prove that the
incidents described in the progress of Moore's wooing ever happened, he
makes bold to answer that it is equally as impossible to prove that they
did not.
With this explanation, necessary or unnecessary, as the future will no
doubt prove, the book "Tom Moore" is confided to the mercy of the public
which has so generously welcomed the play.