SOME ACCOUNT OF ENGLAND'S HERO.
An excuse need hardly be offered for giving here a few details as to
the past history of General Moore, if only in explanation of Denham
Ivor's supreme devotion to the man, and of Jack Keene's more outspoken
admiration. Though Moore's name is inscribed in letters of blood upon
the deathless roll of our national heroes, not so much is known about
him by people in general as ought to be known. Ninety years ago a
common mode of referring to him in the country, and still more in the
Army, seems to have been simply as "Our Hero." And of this tale John
Moore is the real centre.
In those times of perpetual warfare, officers often reached high rank
early. In the year 1803 he was still in the prime of manhood, having
been born in 1761.
His father, a Scotch physician of eminence, and also a very successful
author,[1] must have occupied a different position from that of the
average medical man of those days. He was appointed to be the guardian
and the travelling companion of the young Duke of Hamilton, and he
showed himself well fitted for the trust; while his son from the first
shone as a star in whatever circle he might be placed. The doctor's
wife was a daughter of Professor Simpson, of Glasgow University. When
the doctor started on a lengthy Continental tour with his charge,
he took also his eldest son John, then about ten years old, and the
absence lasted nearly five years. No small trial this to members of a
most affectionate family, but heavy money losses made it impossible for
Dr. Moore to give up his charge, even had he wished to do so.
From boyhood John showed a conscientious devotion to duty, and a
marked dislike to aught in the shape of fashionable foppery. Although
he early learnt self-control, he was as a child very impulsive and
hasty-tempered, and addicted to fighting. At the age of eleven he
narrowly escaped killing a servant girl through meddling with loaded
pistols; and soon after he received his accidental injury from the
sword of the Duke, in careless play. Before this wound was healed,
he managed to get into a smart quarrel with some French boys in the
gardens of the Tuileries. They, being formally powdered, frizzled,
and attired like grown men, were disposed to jeer at Jack Moore's
boyish simplicity of dress, and Jack proceeded promptly to knock them
all down, one upon the top of another. Since he could box, and they
had not learnt that noble art, they had no chance against him, and a
great outcry was raised. Dr. Moore, hurrying to the spot, picked up
the fallen, did his best to comfort them, and severely blamed his son
for lack of politeness, which little incident gives one a clue to the
perfection of Moore's manners in later life.
By the age of fourteen he was a singularly fascinating young fellow,
with a face of manly beauty, a daring temper, and a growing passion for
the Army. Already he had become a good linguist, and was an adept at
both riding and fencing. About this time when, in the course of their
travels, the three went to Vienna, the Emperor of Austria definitely
offered to take the brilliant boy into his service, promising rapid
promotion. But Moore was even then far too ardent a patriot to serve in
any other Army than that of his own country. The idea was never for a
moment entertained.
It is curious to find him at this date, a mere lad of fourteen, writing
home to his next brother, Graham, in the style of a grown man to one
far his junior.
"I am pleased, my dear boy, that you wish to be a sailor, for I am sure
you will be a brave one. I hope that in some years after this you and
I will thresh the Monsieurs, both by sea and land; but I hope that we
won't make war with the Spaniards, for the Spanish ambassador is the
best and kindest man I ever saw."
In 1774 Dr. Moore wrote home to his wife:--
"I was happy to find that you do not disapprove of Jack's going into
the army. I hope this may turn out well, because he chooses it, has
a turn for it, and I believe is of a character to make a good figure
as a soldier. He is attentive, active, and brave; he has great good
sense, will have many accomplishments, and is the most beautiful and
graceful boy imaginable. It is a very disputable case whether the Duke
of Hamilton or Jack is the handsomest. Jack does not stoop as the Duke,
but will have a good carriage, and though he is so very pretty, he has
not the least tendency to be a coxcomb."
And in another letter, two years later, occurs a characteristic
description of the boy.
"Jack was as fond as the Duke of returning to Geneva, and he is much
too strong for me when the Duke is his second. We were received by our
friends with infinite kindness, and have been wonderfully feasted.
Jack quitted Geneva a boy, and has returned a man. Though he has been
caressed by all the high and mighty of the Republic, and is always
invited with the Duke and me, yet if, at the same time, he has an
invitation from any of his old acquaintances of a much humbler class,
he always prefers the latter. I pressed him one day to go with us,
because the people had insisted particularly on his coming. It was
to a fine villa, and a most brilliant party. I could not prevail; he
silenced me with this sentence: 'They who have invited me are poor;
they were kind to me when the others did not think me worth their
notice.' Never was a creature less spoiled than your son by all the
great people who have caressed him, nor by all the uncommon fine
situations[2] he has been in. Though his manner is manly and noble, yet
it is simple, and he assumes no airs. He is a charming youth. I wish
you had him in your arms."
At the age of fifteen he was made Ensign in the 51st Regiment, though
he did not actually join till some months later. Among the many dangers
in his career was one in those few months, when paying a visit to
Mount Vesuvius. "Jack" ventured perilously near to the crater, and in
hurrying away he fell and damaged his knee. A shower of lava and hot
stones poured directly afterwards upon the spot he had just quitted.
Had Jack Moore's retreat that day been less prompt, another most famous
and masterly retreat, followed by a never-to-be-forgotten battle, would
not have been inscribed upon the pages of English history.
His great friend, Douglas, Duke of Hamilton, was seized by a passing
fit of military enthusiasm, a few months after John Moore had joined
the 51st, which in a letter at that date he described as "one of the
best regiments in the service; as to officers, I never knew such a
number of fine gentlemanly lads. General Murray told me he did not
believe there was such a corps of officers in the army; there is no
such thing as either drinking or gambling going on." However, in 1777
a fresh regiment was raised for the express purpose that the Duke of
Hamilton might have the pleasure of commanding it; and though he soon
grew tired of his new vocation, and resigned his commission, he sent
first for his friend and made him lieutenant and paymaster. Moore went
with the "Hamilton Regiment" to Nova Scotia, and had some hard fighting
out there, gaining great credit for personal prowess.
Peace was proclaimed before the close of 1783 between Great Britain
and her then four enemies: France and Spain, Holland and the United
States. Though Britain in those days had much less than half her
present population, she was wont most cheerfully to engage in war with
three or four nations at one and the same time, apparently without any
serious misgivings as to results.
The "Hamilton Regiment" being disbanded, Captain Moore, then aged only
twenty-three, went home to live with his parents in London. He studied
hard, and was much in society, being a universal favourite. Through the
influence of the Duke of Hamilton, with whom when possible he always
spent two autumn months, he was chosen to represent in Parliament four
Scottish boroughs, but it was with the express stipulation on his part
that he should be in all cases free to follow his own judgment. He
never had been, and he never became in the true sense a party-man, but
had friends on all sides, friends who held every variety of political
opinion. Moore fought for country, not for party.
In 1787 he was appointed Major of a new battalion at Chatham, and he
gladly forsook civil for military duties. During the following year
he rejoined his first regiment, the 51st, at Cork, and soon became
Lieutenant-General. While he was there young Anderson, an Ensign in his
regiment, became one of his most devotedly-attached friends, and was
ever after his inseparable companion.
By this time he was known as a disciplinarian of unusual power,
indulgent when he might safely be so, but inflexible in enforcing
strict obedience. In an age when hard drinking was the fashion, he set
his face like a flint against habits of intemperance, alike in the
ranks and among officers, from most of whom he had steady support.
One young lieutenant, who ventured to appear on parade in a state of
intoxication, was forced by him to resign the service, and from that
time Moore had no further trouble. His regiment became widely known for
its exceptional sobriety and dependableness.
In 1792 he was ordered to Malta, and two years later he was fighting
with the French in Corsica, the peace having already come to an end.
On the 10th of July ended successfully the siege of Calvi, that being
the last spot in the island which the French had managed so far to
keep. As Moore was gallantly storming the breach he had a severe wound,
a fragment of shell striking him on the head. For an instant he was
stunned; but regaining sense, he once more sprang up the breach. Sir
Charles Stuart, chief-in-command, looking anxiously on, was alarmed
at the bursting of shells among the assailants. He rushed forward
and dashed over intervening obstacles, to find Moore in the midst of
shouting grenadiers, his face streaming with blood. Apparently the
great dread of Sir Charles had been that he was killed, for in the
excitement of the moment he caught him in his arms, hardly able to
utter his thankfulness, not only that the breach was won, but that John
Moore still lived.
Two years later a collision between the English viceroy of Corsica,
Sir Gilbert Elliot, and Sir Charles Stuart, made the latter resign his
command and return to England; and later Moore was sharply ordered home
by Elliot, who seems to have been annoyed with the friendship between
him and the leading Corsican patriots. Moore, on reaching England,
protested with much heat against the way in which he had been treated.
He had, however, no need to disquiet himself. The King and the Duke of
York took the matter up, promoted him to the rank of Brigadier-General,
and sent him out to the West Indies, there to serve under Abercrombie.
Both the Duke of York and Pitt had been, from the time of his seat in
Parliament, his personal friends. Wherever he went he made friends for
life.
While he was in the West Indies, Denham Ivor, then a young subaltern of
eighteen, was first thrown under the fascinating influence of Moore,
having been for years one of his warmest admirers. As usual, numberless
opportunities occurred for the display of personal bravery, in which
Moore always shone. On one occasion he had a most narrow escape. At the
storming of the all but impregnable fortification of Morne Fortuné in
St. Lucia, as he led a desperate charge against the French, shouting
till nearly voiceless, "Forward, forward! We have almost gained the
heights!" a musket was aimed point-blank at him. One half second more,
and Moore's career would have been ended; but a private grenadier,
seeing his peril, flung himself between, received the bullet meant for
him, and was caught in Moore's arms as he fell dead.
Ivor too had won laurels and promotion in those days of hard fighting.
Moore's influence over the younger officers was unrivalled; and many a
one besides Ivor could look back, long years after, with the knowledge
that John Moore had been the making of him, not only as a soldier, but
as a man. Moore shaped the characters of those with whom he had to do.
Somewhat later, when St. Lucia had been wrested from the French, he was
appointed Commandant and Governor of the island; no easy post, for the
negroes had revolted, in imitation of the recent French Revolution, and
they were fearfully cruel and barbarous in their methods of warfare.
Abercrombie kept Moore there, long after the latter had, on account of
illness, begged to be released from the charge, because he knew of no
other man capable of taking his place.
While striving to put down the rebels, or "brigands," as they were
called, Moore had a dangerous attack of fever. On his recovery from it
and from a severe relapse, he was again hard at work, rising at six in
the morning and often undertaking a thirty-miles march in the day, till
again laid low with a desperate attack of yellow fever, which all but
carried him off. But for the devotion of Anderson and of his own French
servant François,[3] he could not possibly have struggled through.
Then, with broken health, he was ordered home; and he reached London a
mere wreck of his old self.
(_To be continued._)
FOOTNOTES:
[1] His novel, _Zeluco_, was an inspiration to Byron.
[2] He had been received freely at the Courts of Vienna, Berlin,
Hanover, Brunswick, etc.
[3] François was with him to the close of his life.
OUR PUZZLE POEMS.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
We propose to publish Three Puzzle Poems in succession dealing with
accidents and the way to meet them. The lines should be carefully
committed to memory for the sake of the valuable instruction they
contain.
In addition to the ordinary monthly prizes THREE SPECIAL PRIZES are
offered for the best solutions of the whole series.
The first Special Prize will be THREE GUINEAS; the second Special
Prize, TWO GUINEAS, and the third Special Prize, ONE GUINEA.
A careful record of mistakes will be kept, and these prizes will be
awarded to those competitors who perpetrate the fewest in all three
puzzles.
If a winner of one of these prizes has already received an ordinary
prize in the series, the amount of the smaller prize will be deducted.
This will then be sent to the most deserving non-prize-winner in the
list relating to the puzzle for which the prize in question was awarded.
[Illustration: OUR NEW PUZZLE POEM.]
⁂ Prizes to the amount of six guineas (one of which will be reserved
for competitors living abroad) are offered for the best solutions of
the above Puzzle Poem. The following conditions must be observed:--
1. Solutions to be written on one side of the paper only.
2. Each paper to be headed with the name and address of the competitor.
3. Attention must be paid to spelling, punctuation, and neatness.
4. Send by post to Editor, GIRL'S OWN PAPER, 56, Paternoster Row,
London. "Puzzle Poem" to be written on the top left-hand corner of the
envelope.
5. The last day for receiving solutions from Great Britain and Ireland
will be January 17, 1899; from Abroad, March 16, 1899.
The competition is open to all without any restrictions as to sex or
age.
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
STUDY AND STUDIO.
M. S. C.--It was a printer's error; read _lithos_ a stone.
F. L. B. B.--We cannot give you any address, but have seen
advertisements in _The Bazaar_, _Exchange and Mart_ of the class you
describe. To write sermons for remuneration for others to preach, is
not a very satisfactory sort of occupation; for clergymen are not
supposed to buy their sermons ready made, and if they do it, it is
"under the rose."
OUR OPEN LETTER BOX.
Can any of our readers kindly inform "Stanmore" who is the author of
the following lines:--
"When to the flow'rs so beautiful
Our Father gave a name,
Back came a little blue-eyed one,
All tremblingly it came.
'Dear God, the name thou gavest me,
Alas, I have forgot!'
Kindly the Father looked Him down,
And said, 'Forget-Me-not!'"
INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENCE.
"UGLY DUCKLING," Hungary, has two offers of correspondence--from
Mildred E. Davis, just nineteen, passionately fond of music and
painting, address, 70, Broad Street, Blaenarvon, Monmouthshire, and
"FAITH," Glasgow, who gives no address, but sends us a letter, which we
regret we cannot forward. We must repeat that we undertake no postal
communication, direct or indirect, in connection with this column.
MADEMOISELLE LUCILE FELTZ, aged twenty, 92, Grande Rue, Chantilly
(Oise), France, wishes for an English correspondent of about the same
age, of good education, who desires to learn French. Mademoiselle Feltz
reads English well, but cannot write it fluently. Each would write in
the other's language. Perhaps this offer would suit "Harebell," of
about the same age, of good family. She reads French with ease and
would like to improve herself by correspondence. Address, Oak Villa,
Whiskham, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
NELLIE ANDERSON, aged nineteen, of 2, Royston, Bangor, co. Down,
Ireland, would like to correspond with Miss F. A. Jeffery, 848,
Columbus Avenue, New York City, U.S.A.
MISS ZEILA BAWEN, aged seventeen, The Lodge, Stoke St. Milburgha,
Ludlow, wishes to correspond with a French girl, of about her own age.
MRS. HASTINGS OGILVIE, Bolareen, Deccan, India, sends her address with
great pleasure for "Friend Studio." She is a "married girl," and hopes
"Friend Studio" will not suppose she is too old.
MISS ANICE CRESS, Mysore, South India, would be delighted to correspond
with "Erica," "Budapesth," "Hungary," or any of our girl readers, in
English or French. She is sorry she does not understand German. We
quote a sentence from her letter, apropos of another correspondent she
has found through THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER--
"If people in Europe could only see the pleasure it gives us out
here to receive European letters, I think they would not consider
the trouble they have taken in writing to be in vain. Mail day is
such a 'red letter day' to us."
MISS ELSPETH DUCKETT, Orange Fountain, Malmesbury, Cape Colony, South
Africa, would also be pleased to correspond with Erica.
MARGUERITE RAHIER (sister of a recent prize-winner) just sixteen, would
like a well-educated English correspondent. Address, Rue de la Rampe 5,
Brest.
* * * * *
⁂ The photograph from which our illustration on page 81 of this volume
was taken was the work of Mr. C. READ WINESHAW.
OUR SUPPLEMENT STORY COMPETITION.
A PENNILESS PAIR.
A STORY IN MINIATURE.
FIRST PRIZE (£2 2s.).
Ethel Mary Wake Cleveland, Bedford.
SECOND PRIZE (£1 1s.).
Mary Adèle Venn, W. Kensington Park, W. London.
THIRD PRIZE (10s. 6d.).
Annie Birks, W. Hartlepool.
HONOURABLE MENTION.
Edith Coates, Kington; Kate Kelsey, Bristol; Rebecca Judge, Banbury;
H. Cope, Liverpool; E. H. G. Bowden, Worthing; Letitia E. May, Alton,
Hants; Margaret Christina Haynes, Clifton; Letitia Cullen, Dulwich,
S.E.; J. E. Jones, Bannister Park, Southampton; N. Wade, Wandsworth;
Edith Alice White, Balham, S.W.; Mabel Wilson, Bedford Park, W.; Ida
M. Green, Forest Gate, E.; M. Y. Hethrington, Walthamstow, E.; May
Maile, Provost Road, N.W.; "Espérance," Thornton Heath, Surrey; Hettie
Higginson, Edgbaston, Birmingham; Louie Pearson, Dublin; Theodora
Willoughby, Montagu Square, W.; Edith Francis Sellers, Ramsgate; Agnes
Lichfield, Lewisham Park, S.E.; Winifred Page, York.; Cécile Rahier,
France; Mary Curatós, Roumania.
TO THE COMPETITORS.
I have much pleasure in stating that I have found the mass of the
"Miniature Tales" good. They show an intimate and intelligent
acquaintance with the incidents of "A Penniless Pair," and have, for
the most part, a distinct perception of its salient points. Indeed,
the general merit of the papers has rendered it difficult to award the
prizes and to note the instances where the writer deserves special
commendation. I should like to praise everybody and to thank each and
all for proving themselves (with hardly an exception) free from erratic
spelling and bad grammar. May I call their attention to the fact that
the rule of the competition is to summarise the story within a certain
compass, and that any infringement of the rule ought to disqualify the
competitors. Now it is not abiding by the rule to unfold the sheet of
paper so as to represent one sheet which in reality makes two; neither
is it in strict accordance with the spirit of the rule to write in
such very small characters as to squeeze into one page the material for
two.
I cannot finish these brief remarks without drawing attention to
the three papers from foreign sources--two from France and one from
Roumania. One of these papers exceeds the space allowed, but in other
respects, as the work of non-English students, the whole three deserve
cordial praise.
SARAH TYTLER.
OUR NEXT STORY COMPETITION.
STORIES IN MINIATURE.
_Subject:_--"THE G. O. P. SUPPLEMENT FOR DECEMBER."
A LITTLE EXILE; THE STORY OF AN ENGLISH GIRL IN A GERMAN HOME.
BY LESLIE KEITH.
We offer three prizes of TWO GUINEAS, ONE GUINEA, and HALF-A-GUINEA
for the three best papers on our "Story Supplement" for this month.
The essays are to give a brief account of the plot and action of the
story in the Competitor's own words; in fact, each paper should be a
carefully-constructed _Story in Miniature_, telling the reader in a few
bright words what THE GIRL'S OWN STORY SUPPLEMENT for the month is all
about.
One page of foolscap only is to be written upon, and is to be signed
by the writer, followed by her full address, and posted to The Editor,
GIRL'S OWN PAPER, in an unsealed envelope, with the words "Stories in
Miniature" written on the left-hand top corner.
The last day for receiving the papers is December 20th; and no papers
can in any case be returned.
_Examiners:_--The Author of the Story (Leslie Keith), and the Editor of
THE GIRL'S OWN PAPER.
* * * * *
_Now Ready._ _Price Sixpence._
WINTER SWEET[4]
BEING THE
Extra Christmas Part
OF THE
GIRL'S OWN PAPER, 1898.
[4] Winter Sweet is a lovely shrub with a delightful perfume, and is
most useful for room decoration as it lasts a long time without fading.
Its botanical name is _Chimenanthus fragans_.
CONTENTS.
_Frontispiece: "The Carpenter's Shop at Nazareth."_
From the Painting by P. A. J. DAGNAN-BOUVERET.
=The Old Maids' Christmas.= A Story. By DARLEY DALE.
=A Christmas Carol.= By NORA HOPPER.
=A Christmas Letter to my Lassies.= By "MEDICUS."
=My Grand-Dame's Old Sedan.= A Poem. By HELEN MARION BURNSIDE.
=Miss Prissie.= A Story in Twelve Chapters. By AMY IRVINE.
=The Great Java Eruption.= By Lady MARY WOOD.
=Can she make a Pie?= A Poem. By the Rev. FREDERICK LANGBRIDGE, M.A.
="The Frog who would a-wooing go."= By G. D. LYNCH.
=Christmas Wishes.=
=Some Christmas Lore.= By NORA HOPPER.
=Jemima's Trousseau.= A Story. By IDA LEMON.
=Two Christmas Days in a Girl's Life.= A Story. By EGLANTON THORNE.
=Christmas Fare.= By "THE NEW DOCTOR."
=Adelé.= A Poem. By the Rev. W. T. SAWARD, B.A.
="Honesty's the Best Policy."= A Child's Story. By the late MARY COWDEN
CLARKE, hitherto unpublished.
=Eight Christmas Presents from a Yard of Canvas.= By LEIRION CLIFFORD.
=Santa Claus.=
=The Gladness of Winter.= Cantata for Girls' Voices. Words by HELEN
MARION BURNSIDE. Music by MARY AUGUSTA SALMOND.
=Winter Tea-Cakes.=
="Helping Along."= A Short Story. By GRACE STEBBING.
=Astray.= A Poem. By E. NESBIT. Illustrated by PERCY TARRANT.
=Only a Joke; or, How Madge kept her Promise.= A Short Story. By Mrs.
J. F. B. FIRTH.
=A Triple Acrostic.=
=From Our Note Book.=
=New Puzzle for our Extra Christmas Part.=
_Copies should be ordered at once, as the Part will not be Reprinted._