Welcome to Celebrate Poe - My name is George Bartley, and this is episode 238 - Remains of a Friend.
Now I admit that examining Poe’s life - while certainly interesting and informative - can be a bit tedious at times. For a complete change of pace, I thought I would look at the pets of several famous writers for the next an episode or two - naturally ending with Edgar Allan Poe.
First - in absolutely no particular order - let’s start with one of the young Poe’s favorite writers - Lord Byron. Better known as George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron, is one of the greatest British poets of all times and was a key figure in the Romantic movement.
Born into an aristocratic family on 22 January 1788, in London, Lord Byron lived an unusual life and followed no rules, with controversy and notoriety following him everywhere he went. The writer definitely had a troubled childhood. Being abandoned by his father, he was raised by a schizophrenic mother and an abusing maid. It is safe to say that these events were key to his flamboyant, devil-may-care attitude and undisciplined behavior evident in his later life.He received the title Lord in 1798, when he was 10 years old - I mean, what is a 10 year old going to do with the title of Lord.
The story goes that Trinity College, in Cambridge, where he studied from 1805 to 1808, did not allow dogs to be kept on the college grounds. Angry at the rules, Byron reportedly bought a tame bear at a fair, and took him to live at the college with him. Since there was no mention of pet bears in the statutes, the college authorities had no legal right to expel the bear or its owner. Byron walked the bear on a chain and treated it like a dog, and when he left Cambridge he took the bear to his estate in London.
Byron was to become a well-known figure in the world of literature. He was known for many things, among them were his gambling and promiscuous nature. However, there is one characteristic for which he was quite famous, and that was his love of animals. During his life, Byron kept a countless number of dogs and cats, but he also kept a variety of exotic animals, such as a monkey, a crocodile, a fox, peacocks, a bear, and a number of badgers.
His favorite pet was a Newfoundland dog named Boatswain, which Byron had for 5 years. The dog became ill from rabies, but that did not stop the poet from nursing the dog, without any fear of becoming infected himself.
I can’t imagine him fearlessly holding and trying to comfort a rabid dog who was foaming at the mouth. They must have developed quite a relationship.
I guess it was easier for Lord Byron to relate to animals that humans.
Now a boatswain on a ship oversees the crew and ensures the work gets done. And Newfoundland dogs like Boatswain were known for their abilities as water rescue dogs. This parallels the boatswain's role in managing the ship's equipment and operations, including the rigging and anchors. In fact, Byron held his beloved dog in very high regard.
In essence, Boatswain served as a loyal, trusted companion to Byron in a manner akin to how a ship's boatswain serves as a senior officer responsible for the vessel's operations and crew.
Unfortunately, the dog Boatswain died in 1808, and Byron had the dog buried on the family estate, with a grandiose tombstone that’s bigger than Lord Byron’s. In 1811, the poet even put a request in his will to be buried beside the dog when he died.
One of Lord Byron’s friends by the name of John Hobhouse wrote the stanza that introduces the poem that Byron wrote to be inscribed on the tomb. A letter of 1830 by Hobhouse suggests that Byron had planned to use these last two lines of his poem as an introductory inscription -
To mark a friend's remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one — and here he lies. But byron preferred Hobhouse’s introction comparing the attributes of dogs and people - Now Hobhouse had written -
Near this Spot
are deposited the Remains of one
who possessed Beauty without Vanity,
Strength without Insolence,
Courage without Ferosity,
and all the virtues of Man without his Vices.
This praise, which would be unmeaning Flattery
if inscribed over human Ashes,
is but a just tribute to the Memory of
Boatswain, a Dog
who was born in Newfoundland May 1803
and died at Newstead November 18th 1808
And Lord Byron wrote an extremely moving poem consisting of two stanzas that was inscribed on the dog’s tomb below the introduction. And I really think it is one of the most moving things I have ever read.
When some proud Son of Man returns to Earth,
Unknown to Glory but upheld by Birth,
The sculptor's art exhausts the pomp of woe,
And storied urns record who rests below.
When all is done, upon the Tomb is seen
Not what he was, but what he should have been.
But the poor Dog, in life the firmest friend,
The first to welcome, foremost to defend,
Whose honest heart is still his Masters own,
Who labours, fights, lives, breathes for him alone,
Unhonour'd falls, unnotic'd all his worth,
Deny'd in heaven the Soul he held on earth.
While man, vain insect! hopes to be forgiven,
And claims himself a sole exclusive heaven.
Oh man! thou feeble tenant of an hour,
Debas'd by slavery, or corrupt by power,
Who knows thee well, must quit thee with disgust,
Degraded mass of animated dust!
Thy love is lust, thy friendship all a cheat,
Thy tongue hypocrisy, thy heart deceit,
By nature vile, ennobled but by name,
Each kindred brute might bid thee blush for shame.
Ye! who behold perchance this simple urn,
Pass on, it honours none you wish to mourn.
To mark a friend's remains these stones arise;
I never knew but one — and here he lies.[5
But getting back to Lord Byron himself. The famous poet lived in several states around Europe, including Switzerland, Italy, and Greece. Everywhere he lived, the animals he kept lived in-house, all except his horses. - I’m glad to see that Lord Byron DID have limits. In 1823, while living in Genoa, Lord Byron decided to join the Greek resistance movement in their fight against the Ottoman occupation. He left for Greece, where he became sick with malaria and died on 19 April 1824.
I’d like to end this episode with an observation and decision about this podcast.
While I write this, I can hear the news in the background talking about Kristi Rheim - a governor said to be on the short list of Donald Trump’s choice for vice-president. This individual is actually PROUD of shooting a puppy in a gravel pit because it did not do what she wanted. And some people call Lord Byron troubled?
As you probably know, Governor Kristi Noem's decision to euthanize her 14-month-old puppy named Cricket is highly controversial and has drawn significant criticism from politicians, dog experts, and the public.
The incident occurred when Noem took Cricket, a wirehaired pointer, on a pheasant hunting trip with older dogs. Instead of settling down, Cricket became overly excited, chased the pheasants, and attacked a family's chickens, killing them. In other words, the puppy was basically doing things that might be expected from a puppy. If she had not been trained yet, then it would be entirely expected for her to run around aimlessly.Noem then decided to euthanize Cricket, which she described as a "dangerous working dog" that was untrainable.
Experts in handling hunting dogs argue that Noem should have considered alternative solutions, such as training or rehoming the puppy, before resorting to euthanasia.
They contend that Cricket was too young to be taken on a hunt with adult dogs and that Noem should have sought help from a breeder or rescue organization.
The National German Wirehaired Pointer Rescue has even called on Noem to take accountability for her "horrific decision" and educate the public about more humane solutions.
Killing a puppy for simply exhibiting normal puppy behavior, such as chasing and biting, is an extremely cruel and unjustified act. Puppies require patience, training, and proper socialization, not euthanasia. I believe that Noem's decision to end Cricket's life demonstrates a lack of compassion and responsibility as a dog owner.
This incident raises serious concerns about Noem's suitability for higher political office, as it suggests a willingness to resort to drastic measures rather than exploring more ethical and humane options. As I am writing this, I do not know if Trump has made a decision to keep her on his list of potential vice-presidential candidate, but I believe her conduct smacks of cruelty.
I believe that this incident raises serious concerns about Noem's suitability for higher political office, as it suggests a willingness to resort to drastic measures rather than exploring more ethical and humane options.
Now I know this is a hypothetical, but it seems that anyone who can kill an innocent puppy would have not problem with "kids in cages" or separating babies from their mothers.
The willingness to kill a young, innocent puppy over relatively minor behavioral issues could suggest a lack of empathy and disregard for vulnerable living beings.
This callousness towards an animal's life could potentially extend to a disregard for the wellbeing of human children. I believe that separating immigrant children from their parents is an example of prioritizing political agendas over basic human compassion and the rights of the vulnerable.
Leaders who demonstrate a lack of empathy and an unwillingness to explore humane solutions are concerning, as it may indicate a broader pattern of prioritizing selfish ideology over the wellbeing of those in their care.
Ethical governance requires decision-makers to approach issues with nuance, compassion, and a commitment to protecting the vulnerable, whether they are animals or human beings.
The public deserves leaders who will thoughtfully consider all options and choose the most ethical path forward, rather than resorting to cruel or heavy-handed measures. In other words, responsible leadership requires a deep respect for life and a commitment to upholding the highest ethical standards.
Pets can be one of the deepest blessings of life, and I know there are unfortunately pet owners who are struggling with their pets, and need resources.
But there are many sources out there who understand, and I would like to list some of them (don’t worry about copying them down - just check the transcript for this episode for a list.)
Financial Assistance and Pet Retention Programs
The Banfield Foundation's HOPE Funds program provides financial assistance for income-qualified pet owners whose pet is suffering from an immediately life-threatening condition.
Animal Friends' Pet Retention programs, including the Chow Wagon Pet Food Bank and Friends for Life program, provide veterinary care, pet food, and other resources to financially struggling families to help them keep their pets.
Organizations like RedRover, The Brown Dog Foundation, and Paws 4 A Cure offer financial assistance grants for pets in need of emergency or life-saving veterinary care.
Local shelters, rescues, churches, and veterinary hospitals may also have programs to help pet owners in crisis situations.
Housing and Disability Resources
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, including those with service or assistance animals. Landlords cannot refuse housing or impose breed/size restrictions on these animals.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public accommodations to allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities.
Other Support Services
Temporary foster care programs, like those offered by PAWS Chicago and the Naperville Humane Society, can provide short-term care for pets when owners are facing a crisis.
Pet food pantries, such as Bruno's Pro-Bone-O Pet Pantry, provide free pet food to those in need.
Resources are available for pet owners dealing with domestic violence, military deployment, medical emergencies, and natural disasters.
The key is for struggling pet owners to reach out to local and national organizations that specialize in providing the financial, housing, and other support services needed to help keep pets with their families during difficult times.
I’d like to conclude this episode by saying that this podcast is very important to me, and my purpose is to deal with the life, works, and times of Edgar Allan Poe. But I began to realize that one of the reasons we study history is to understand the present. I certainly am not in the category of a great writer like Lord Byron or Poe, but I am concerned about what is going on all around me. To remain silent and live in the past would be allowing others to establish their own version of a dictatorship. I personally never served in the military - at the time I had quite a few epileptic seizures that were not under control at all - fortunately now those seizures are. But I feel I can do something for my country - make a real contribution - by doing my part to help the United States remain a democracy and NOT a dictatorship from day one. Celebrate Poe has had well over 2,000 downloads - according to my stats, half of them are from the United States, and I hope that I can somehow influence just a few people - I do not want to say that I sat back and said nothing.
In conclusion, I want to say that Oh I am not going to spend all my time with political propaganda and forget Poe’s life and works - all all, this podcast is Poecentric.
Join Celebrate Poe for episode 238 - More Pets of Famous Writers
Sources include: Epitaph to a Dog by Lord Byron, perplexity.ai, Edgar Allan Poe, Edgar Allan Poe: A Critical Biography by Arthur Hobson Quinn, The Poe Log: A Documentary Life of Edgar Allan Poe by Dwight Thomas and David K. Jackson, and The Reason for the Darkness of the Night by John Tresch.
Thank you for listening to Celebrate Poe.
