THK BYKONS. * 89- 



In order to faithfully embody the beau-ideal of the poet ever 

 present to the imagination of his followers, a severe and perpetual 

 training is imperiously demanded, and it is greatly to be regretted 

 that there is no talented personage of acknowledged ability to 

 superintend the initiatory studies of Byronists, and be to them 

 what Captain Barclay is to the members of that most dignified 

 and rational of circles, the P. R. That this lamentable vacuum 

 may ere long be adequately supplied, must be the desire of the 

 discriminating worthies who are anxious for the growth of By- 

 ronism ; and to such it will probably occur that a petition to 

 government touching the foundation of a college with suitable 

 professorships, &c. &c. might have due weight. In the mean time, 

 and in the absence, or more properly the non-existence of this 

 invaluable establishment, a few suggestions, based upon the prac- 

 tical experience of several genuine Byrons, may prove encourage- 

 ment to, and prevent those inadvertencies which have occasionally 

 stopped many a promising aspirant in his career, or exhibited a 

 melancholy ignorance of the whole art of appearing miserable 

 with success. 



First impressions are usually, and probably with justice, deemed 

 of lasting importance, and as such are, generally, deduced from 

 the appearance of the individual or outward man, it is of conse- 

 quence to commence with those hints which relate to the personal 

 aspect, and, first of all, to the head. It can be scarcely requisite 

 to premise that the hair should be invariably dressed a la Byron; 

 and that this may be effected with mathematical accuracy it is 

 advisable to have two or three of the best engravings, together 

 with an accredited bust of his lordship, deposited in your dressing- 

 room, by which you can direct the movements of your own or 

 hairdresser's hand. If you confide the important office to a deputy, 

 remember that your selection must be made with the most scru- 

 pulous reference to the natural taste, and scientific acquirement 

 of the professor. Trufiit, Ball, or D'lmond, are Artistes worthy of 

 your confidence. Beware how you venture upon a trial of un- 

 known or equivocal talent. Should you, however, fall into a 

 patronising fit, let the tyro whom you would assist up the steeps 

 of fame exhibit on the pericranium of your most particular friend, 

 before you entrust your own to his unfledged abilities. By this 

 you will gain the eclat of eliciting genius in the event of success j 

 and, on the other hand, should your friend's tresses be utterly 

 destroyed, and his appearance be rendered ridiculous, you will 

 have escaped a Charybdis. If the locks with which nature has 

 invested you, curl crisply as " Hyperion's," and be black or ches- 

 nut, be grateful to the stars, you are to be envied, and the illusion 

 of the caput, so far as the exterior is concerned, may, with at- 

 tention, be perfected. Should they however be light flaxen or 

 flame-coloured, it will be difficult to produce the effect, and the 

 ** Turkish dye" may be found a useful auxiliary, the purple tinge 

 which may possibly accrue, not being unpleasantly discernible by 

 candle-light. Submitting your chevelurc to a daily ablution of 



