EDGAR ALLAN POE ! FROM TH E LAST DAGUERREOTYPE KEN TA ) . ” OLO OH JOY C N EL J N A . CE

“ “ uthor of A Checkered Life Peculiar Poem s A . . “ ! “ ! “ Z igzag. Jewel s of Memory. Com p lete ! Poems. Oliver G old smith. and

Many Popu lar Songs. — Speak nothing of the living or the dead but TRUTH l j oyce.

NNYSON NEELY F. TE

NEW Y ORK LONDON

CONTE S NT .

HAP E C T R I .

e B i rth an d Li neag .

CHAP ER T II . Precocity an d Early School D ay s

CHAP TE R III . Col lege Days and Wan deri ngs

AP CH TER I V.

e t oi n Ex eri ence and B reak h Al l W s P t p , wi t an

AP CH TER V. — Driftin g About B al tim or e Li terary S u c cess

AP CH TER VI .

CHAP TER VI I . “ ”— Writing for Literary Messenger Remor se an d

CHAPTER VI II . — — Marriage Magazine Writings M igration to New

o n . e e e e e e e e e o o o o Q Q Q O Q Q - q qqi C ontents.

I . CHAPTER X m ar: — Life in Phi l adelphi a Cri ti ci sm s of Authors

CHAPTER X. — H ome at Spring Garden Family F elicity “ ’ ” Graham s M agazi n e

E CHAP T R XI . — Remo val to New York Work on the D ail y Mi r

ror —E rrati c N ature

AP E CH T R XII . Compositi on of The Raven

AP CH TER XIII . — Praise f or The R aven Wom en Adm irers

H APT R C E XI V. — E itor B roa w a Jou rn al erson al a ar d d y P V g i es .

A P X CH TER V.

i r r - — L te a y Scorings Life About N ew York At Fordham

AP X CH TER VI .

G rievi n f or hi s l ost l a ” g U l um e Eurek a. — “ Prose Poem i s Laun ched Cri ti ci sm s—A

Doll ar or Two

AP CH TER XVII .

i s — F r t Vi sit to New York Ups and Downs With NOWBPGPGI ‘ B Contents. vii

CHAPTER XVIII . p ‘ g g

’ “ — e s — Poe Mi serabl e M rs . Sh w Frien dship The

B ell s

CHAPTER XI X. — — Drifting S earchi ng f or a Wi fe Thom as Dunn Eng l ish

CHAP TER XX.

’ Poe s Criticism of A uthors

AP E CH T R XXI . ’ — — Poe s Wan der i ngs Wi fe H u n ti ng Pi cture of Poe

CHAPTER XXII . — Cl osing D ays D eath and B uri al

AP E CH T R XXIII . — Vi sit to the G rave an d H ospital of Poe Mrs

Cl emm

A P CH TER XXIV. “ ” Penzoni and Poe- The Parrot

PROEM .

Matchless i n san e vol canic child , , ; A lighthou se in the gl oom ; A en u s l o t weird and wi ld g i , f y, , ’ Tr um han t o er h i p t e tomb.

Un born ages yet shall kneel Aroun d th eerl es l i h y p s g t, And other l ofty m in ds shall feel Th in ll e ua y te ct l might.

A m eteor flashing through the sky A phan tom shi p at sea ;

The sorrow of a l ove- felt sigh F athoml ess an d free ! P EFA E R C .

I N boiling down the l ife of Poe into one han dy v l um e I bl ow off the oam an d scum of en com o , f i um s an d en deavor to et to the bed- rock Of a , g character that m ay be misun derstood through the comi n a es— ah errat c chi l d of en u s di sa g g i g i , p pointed an d tortured by earthly environ ments that his proud an d untam ed spirit coul d n ot u nder “ ” “ oor ll ow l i s own stand Or control . P fe H ” w orst enemy l I DU I NTRO CT ON.

EDGAR ALLAN POE possessed by n ature the three h n u n o great el ements that con stitute t e ge i e p et. Truth r de an d l un ac were his atten dant com , p i y n Poe had truth en ou h to revent him pan io s. g p rom comm ittin a l ow or m ean act when sober f g , ride en ou h to S u rn the wron an d l un ac p g p g, y en ou h to l t him be on d the w r ters of his a e g if y i g , who could n ot appreciate the cel estial flights of H was a s chi ni im a in ation . c his vol ca c g e p y ,

phen om en al specimen of hum an ity. The true oet ro oun d or ethereal i s like a p , p f , wan derin s r t shot out of a cel est al orb g pi i , i i nto a stran e l an et where his soarin an d sen g p , g i n ature wears out his wear w n s battl n sit ve y i g , i g against the sordid creatures that stare in am aze

ment at the brilliant col ors of hi s pl um age. Some day he i s foun d dead in a littl e corner of the l obe with hi s bri ht win s olded f or g , g g f n r i x I t oduct on.

v r his im ul sive warm heart and cl assic ace e e , p , f furrowed wi th the wrinkl es of uncongen ial el e m ents that have l eft hi m a wreck on the shores of

v r h ashes of the dead oet the time. O e t e cold p worl d will gather wi th m ourn ful mien an d sigh h r e ni at t e grave of bu i d ge us. Y esterda he suff ered f or s m ath an d bread y y p y , to- da a un eral tra n hon ors his m em or to- m or y f i y, row a monument will poin t posterity to a prodigy of cel estial aspiration s whose songs shall w arm and thrill the heart of mankind adown the crowd i ng ages.

When I am dead let n o vain om dis la , p p p y ’ A sur ace sorrow o er m u lsel ess cla f y p y, B u t all the dear old fri en ds I loved in life Ma shed a tear con sol e m chi ld an wi e y , y d f .

When I am dead l et stran ers ass m e b , g p y, N or ask a reason or the h ow or wh f y, That brought my wan dering life to praise

shame,

Or marked m e or the adin o r o am f f g fl we s f f e.

When I am dead the vi le assassin ton ue , g Wi ll tr an d banish all the li es i t un y fl g, An d make amen ds for all i ts cruel wrong I n ulsome ros and eul o istic son f p e g g. Intro ucti d on.

When I am dea ha tt d, w t ma ers to the crowd ?

The world wi ll rattl e on as lon an d l o d g u , An d each on e in the game of life shall plod Th eld to lor an the a t e fi g y d w y o God.

When I am dead som e sa e or sel - ren own , g , f f , Ma urn m ashes i n som e ark or town y y p , An d give when I am cold an d lost an d dead A mar ble shaft where on ce I n eeded br ead !

The gl ory of the orator i s con soling and im m ediate ; but whil e his el oquent peri ods an d m ag netic mien thr ll the heart m ank n d his sen i Of i , tenti ous sentences are often forgotten before the

a l aus the el cit has ceased to ho hi pp e y i ec s praise. The fam e of the warrior i s as bright an d flash in as hi s sword et the vi ctor es he m a have g , y i y achieved in a l ifetim e are varn ished over by n eg l an d or otten in the a l u res an d de eats of ect, f g f i f a day. B ut the son of th oet on ce l aunched on the g e p , ocean of hum an hearts i s n ever or otten sound , f g , in rom a e to a e an d llin the world wi th the g f g g , fi g l ove an d beauty Of hi s rhythmi c n umbers. We ma or et th sin er but we cann ot or et the y f g e g , f g song ! “ ” “ Th Marseill a se mn Star S an l ed B an e i Hy , p g ” “ “ La Ros of Summ er an ome Sw ner, st e , d H , eet xii Introduction.

ome will continu o in s ire the world wi th a H , e t p p trioti sm and l ove when the authors of the songs are wrapped in the mummy cl othes of forgetful

ness. The poet en deavors to gl orify and embl azon the rude materialism s of l ife by hi s burni ng im agin a ion an d wh l e scatter n the sweet owers of t , i i g fl thou ht l ends a ra rance to ster l e n ature and g , f g i r ad er um over the ashes rem em r n sp e s a p f e Of b a ce.

’ ! The mu sic of the poet s soul i s coined into words an d phrases of truth an d l ove that outl asts ramids an d d nm ties s n n m ellifluous m py y , i gi g elo d es with the entran cin m uses that ever con i g , tinue to circl e aroun d the Olympian heights of

o e beaut and w sdom . h p , y i The true poet en joys the present hour an d i s ever carel ess an d m rovident of the utur i p f e, an d whi l e hi s conversation i s generally that of a bril liant and ente rta n n hil oso her hi i i g p p , s actions are re uentl those a att r f qy Of fl e ed fool . “ I could m ention several nstan ces i , over the ” win e an d the wal nuts rov n h , p i g t e truth of thi s assert on but m readers m a o their i , y y j g m emory or llu f i stration s.

oets are d rect descen dants rom the o P i f g ds, mal e an d emal e an d the ni n f , e muses who have been sporting aroun d the moun tain - tops of Par xiv Introduction. an d m onum ent them in m arble an d bronze after dea th. The poets have always been the true pioneers m a u urers of creeds an d rel on s an d the and n fact igi ,

an d l o uence i n r est or reacher more poetry e q a p i p , the greater will be hi s success. ha n r r sen hi her than m an an d the Man s eve i g , real em hat c ecstat c an d l unat c oet is the p i , i i p hi ghest type of the rac e. omer the mmortal bard of Greece wandered H , i , over the world wi thout a home or r end wi th f i , onl sta f an d scr an d son f or hel m ates and y f ip g p , when n earl n net ears of a e l am e an d bl n d y i y y g , i , compil ed an d finished hi s glorious I liad an d Odys se m oun ta n eaks of oet c truth as ion an d y, i p p i , p philosophy that shine through the ages as l ight houses in the l uminous ocean of lite rature.

orace the heaven - lit l r c m onarch V r il H , y i , i g , v d Tasso an d Dante shall l ve as l on as l an O i , , i g ua e an d side b s de with Ra hae l an d An elo g g , , y i p g , these I talian artists shall thrill an d ennobl e the soul s of m an kin d forever . The div ne Shakes eare Milton Goethe u o i p , , , H g , B urn s Goldsm th B ron Moore Gra , i , y , , y, Howard

a n e B r ant L on ell ow an d Ed ar All an P y , y , gf , g Poe have l eft the in delibl e imprint of their genius in the l brar es of m ank n d an d in our i i i , daily and nightly wanderi ngs over this bleak and sin - cursed ntro u tion I d c . xv earth w are cheered a d encoura ed to ersi st , e n g p in l ove an d duty by their poetic periods an d seraphic songs.

The tru e poet i s ever a discerning phil osopher, con stantl cumm un in w th n ature see n in the y g i , i g ower fields roar n orests dash n cataracts fl y , i g f , i g , moun tain cra s storm seas ash n sun s an d g , y , fl i g twin klin stars em bl em s of a m ster ous omn i g , y i p m em r al otence but sure o i s of the Creator . Shakes eare the m amm oth m n d all the a es p , i Of g , characterizes the poetic spirit i n the foll owing in oi sive decl arati on :

“ The lun atic the l over an d the oet are of , p , ’ im a n at on all com act ! The o e e gi i p p et s y , i n a fin e fren zy roll ing doth gl an ce from heaven to earth rom earth to heaven and as m a n ation , f ; i gi odies orth the orm s of th n s u nkn own the b f f i g , ’ oet s en turn s them to sha e an d ives to air p p p , g y ” a n othing a l ocal h bitation a n am e.

There never was a school or coll ege that m ade or graduated a poet. I t is an old an d true saying that poets are born an d n ot m ade ; an d the axiom is as true to- day as when it was first con ceived an d

uttered .

Th w orld wi th all its m llion s of m ortal s has e , i , ot rodu ed mor than a s ore of reat oe n p c e c g p ts. Introduction.

Rh m es are as thi k as bl ackberries in ul an d y c J y, bal l ad- m akers are foun d in every coun try ; but the l o t m er al subl m e soul - lit oet who f y, i p i , i , p , “ ’ ” bathes hi s lum a e in the thun der s hom e ir p g , rad ates his cours with the l ur d l ht of eni us i e i ig g , and circl es i n a cel estial sphere where sun s an d stars shi ne orever is onl roduced once or tw ce f , y p i in a centur l . A . y J . J ED A A LA E G R L N PO .

CH PTER I A .

I AN D B RTH LI NEAGE .

EDGA L POE was born in B oston Mass R A LAN , , on the 20th of an uar in 1 809 an d d ed sud J y, , i denl i n B altim ore Md . on the 7th of ctober in y , , O ,

1 849 . B iographers of Poe have disputed as to the tim e an d pl ace of his birth an d the cau se an d manner of his death ; but the world cares little f or the lineage or l ocati on of the birth of a gen ius. The thou ht an d matter th at the oet a nter or g p , p i sculptor gives to mankin d i s the only point at i ssue. The world cares n othing f or the an cestors or he h r h w posterity of a gen ius. W t e t ey ere n aked Arabs rom th hot san ds of the desert or sava es f e , g , who wore skin s rom the headwaters of the P0 , f be is of no on se u en ce to the re d or Danu c a er. , q Adam such as e was stan ds s onsor f or all o , h , p f us ! llan o 2 Edgar A P e.

h l a n unvarnished truth The world seeks t e p i , al though in the practical aff airs of life it often “ substitutes policy f or prin ciple an d tolerates White ” l e ut in dealin w th a en ius i s in business. B g i g , an d ar i ul arl a true oet m ankin d i s an ious p t c y p , x hol e truth an d nothin but the f or the truth, the w , g ell it even when a ai n st truth. I t i s better to t g

you.

’ h o e ds n d wor urvive T e p et s d e a ds s , When ston e an d bronze decay ’ ’ F or when he s dead he s still alive! I mmortal in his clay !

Sir Ro er de la Poe of I tal accom anied g , y, p rin ce ohn into I rel an d in the ear 1 1 85 and P J y , th l r Po or ower am l n nu e a Poe , e P f i y co ti ed to flouri sh in the Em erald I sl e until a Roundhead Rou h Rider n am ed l ver Cromwell in 1 649 g , O i , ripped up the rebell iou s I rish Catholics and crushed their civil an d religiou s rights under the iron heel of des oti sm m urder an d rob er in p , b y the nam e od. I t st ll reva l s of G i p i . ohn Poe th ather of L ad B lessin t n an d J , e f y g o

reat- ran d ather of Ed ar Allan Poe su fered b g g f g , f y Dav th uritan inun dat on . d Poe born in L on e P i i , don derr he r an d ather of the o t m rri y, t g f p e , a ed the dau hter of ohn MacB ride Scotch- I ri sh Adm ral g J , i o H e em rated to nn lvan f the B lue. ig Pe sy ia be ore our Revol ut on ar War and was a terwards f i y , f a wheelwright by trade an d worked at hi s busi n ess in B altimore be n a l eader amon the , i g g labor a i f r ternities in that c ty. B irt an i h d L neage. 3

David Poe was appointed Deputy Quarterm as

ter- General f or B alt m ore an d du rin th ar i , g e W f or I n depen den ce he aided very m aterial ly i n sup l i n the troo w v p y g ps ith ictual s an d cl othes. H e w as an in tim ate frien d of Washington an d L a F a ette an d when th l atter vi e h n y , e sit d t e U ited States ’ in 1 824 he m ade a special vi sit to Gen eral Poe s widow in B altim ore and aid the w e of his old , p if fri en d m arked attention whil e being entertained h n e in t e Mo um ntal City. n era L a F a e a m n Po Ge l y tte cco pa ied Mrs. e to the First Presbyterian Church gr aveyard an d pl aced a bun ch of forget - m e- n ots on the l owly m ound that covered the dust of his Revolution ary com atriot an d kissed the rass above him e cl a m p g , x i “ ” ing : Here lies a n obl e heart.

eneral Poe d ed n hi s sevent - ourth ear G i i y f y , l eavi n behin d as a l e ac to his Wife the un set g g y — tl ed debts due an d n ever paid by Un cl e Sam an d

six children .

D av d P oe r . the ather of our oet was the i , J , f p ,

first- born an d had all the advan ta es of education , g that could be obtain ed in B altim ore at that time. As the son of the old warrior an d dry goods merchant he was l au ded an d toasted n o doubt , , “ ” H stu d ed l aw o n by the boys of that city. e i t o art cul ar ur ose as his n ature ran to show an d p i p p , theatrical s be n a m ember of the Thes ian Cl ub , —i g p of B altim ore fi ne of the chival ric bl ades foun d at that tim e in every sou thern city. During hi s young m an hood he becam e en am ored of a charmi ng youn g English actress nam ed Eliza d h l eadin l ad in a com an of beth Arnol , t e g y p y 4 Edgar Allan Poe.

strolling pl ayers that were circuiting the coun

ry. Eliza eth Arnold the brilli ant oun actress b , y g , who la ed e uall well in com e an d tra ed had p y qy dy g y, been Mrs o kins but that did not revent her a . H p , p rom m arr in the l aw student David Poe in the f y g , , s rin of 1 806 an d dr ll n him into her theatri p g , i i g cal company as a m ember of the wandering pl ay

era. I n Charleston Nor olk B al tim ore New Y ork , f , , an d B oston M ss A rn old l a ed as Mrs Poe , i p y . “ ” and s eme be the star of the com an whil e e d to p y, her liege and l ord rem ain ed as an amateur attach m ent becomin in the m eant m the ather of hre , g i e f t e bri ht an d l ovel chi ldren— W lliam Ed ar and g — y i , g Rosalie who were l eft pennil ess orphan s at Rich mond Va b the death of their beauti ul and , , y f accom l shed mother on the l oth of Decemb r p i , e , “ 1 81 1 h a d th a . S e pl ye e p rt of Mari a in The ” ’ ” S oiled Child and Prisci lla in F ortune s ol p , Fo , with the same facility an d en thu siasm as she acted the Shakes earean arts of helia and t p p Op Julie . Old General Poe the B al t m ore tr , i adesman, seems to have di sown ed his son f or marrying a strollin orei n actress and of co g f g , urse the inn o cent progeny of the theatrical pair were l eft to the charit of a cold but o ten k n d y , f i world. The ather of the children Dav d Poe seeme f , i , d to have hea r h been l ost in the t t ical s uffle. The youn gsters were ado ted b busin ess m erchants W lliam y ; i , four years 0 1p fell to the l ot of Henry Didier of B al timore Rosalie the irl bab ot a h ; , g y, g ome with

Mr. Mc inzi of Richmond while Ed K e , gar was

a l n Edg r A la Poe.

An d thus withou t a ri en or hom e , f d , destiny was still to roam Where ri e beset him ni ht an d da g f g y, Al on his trou bl ed thorn wa g , y y, ‘ An d N ature with a fatal gloom

Pursu ed him to the si len t tomb. E IZ B E H POE L A T ,

MOTH ER OF EDG AR AL LAN POE .

recocit and arl l a P y E y S choo D ys. 7

PT I I CH A ER .

P E I Y AND E Y H R COC T ARL SC OOL DAYS.

WH EN Master Poe was about six years of age he was pl aced at a private school kept by a widow Th s l ad it seem s had a ve eta i n R chm on d . i i y, , g arden attached o her schol ast c k n der arten ble g t i i g , an d gave the young scholars to un derstan d that they were n ot un der any circum stan ces to romp or n pl ay in her private dom ai . I f b m ulsive act on an of the ch ldren , y i p i , y i viol ated the inj un ction of the m istress of the in stitution the en alt w as wear n aroun d the n eck , p y i g i n school hours a s ec m en of the otato carrot p i p , , r ab e ra ted r m th k tch ard n beet o c bage xt c f o e i en g e . The children were often decorated with these hor i ul ural adornm en ts an d it ell to the l ot t c t , f Of young Poe to w ear a specim en of early Y ork cab a on one occas on whi ch caused him to run b ge i , out of the school an d m ake hi s way to the All an n on as u ck as hi s l e s coul d carr hi m cr ma si qi g y , y ll n in eal to his ado ted a an d e a ther. i ng y i g, pp p f All an w terribl in di nant at the tr Mr. as y g eat 8 n Edgar Alla Poe.

“ ” m ent of his child aid off the schoolm arm an d , p

ke t the bo at hom e where Mrs. All an who loved p y , , him devotedl ass sted in teach n him to read y, i i g and wr te whi ch he m astered in a ver short tim e i , y , and devoured the thoughts of an cient poets an d

phil osophers with avidity. Poe had a m arvel ous m emor an d all outward y, obj ects in n ature m ade a sudden and l asting im r han dsom bo ess on on hi s m n d . H e was a e p i i y, wi th br ht ra sh l ar e blue e es dark brown ig , g yi , g y , curl s an d beam n ace show n a breadth an i g f , i g d he ht f or h a l ig o f e e d se dom seen in one of his age. ictures an d oetr were his da l stud es and P p y i y i , when the neighbors called of an evening it was the r de and del ht old Mr All an an d his ood p i ig Of . g ” “ ” natured Wife to show off their spoiled chi ld e r to th pa l or audien ce. ’ The child s recitation s were cheered an d ap l auded b the n e hbors an d his l ttl e bo an d p y ig , i y rl r en ds were asc n ated an d erha s envi ous gi f i f i , p p of their brilliant pl aym ate who comm an ded m arked atten t on b hi s m an l an d amus n a a n i y y i g tt i m ents. I n the ear 1 81 6 when Poe w as about h y , eig t f a e Mr Al l ears o . an and am l went to Euro e y g , f i y p an d took hi s child al on l ac n th g, p i g e boy at the Man or ouse School at Stoke N ewin ton n H , g , ear

L on don .

r B ran sb wa h D . y s t e dictatori al master of thi s school an d the m in ister of the vill age church n ear b oscill atin in his dut es betw en h y, g i e t e tyrant teacher on week da s to the ol shed san y , p i , ctim oni ous d v n o i i e n Sun day. The school an d grounds where the boys were recocit and arl c ool a 9 P y E y S h D ys. corralled and tortured in to L atin verbs and Greek roots bore more of the appearan ce of a pen al in stitution than a n ur sery for the educati on of youth . Deathobo all as ictu red b Charl es Dickens y H , p y , was a mild sam l e of the Man or ou se hool p H Sc , “ ” an d in th stor of W ll am W l son an auto e y i i i , bio ra hi cal rem embran ce P oe told som e of the g p , ’ hi h cial esca ades of D r . B ran sb s in st tut on w c so p y i i , were life pictures of the private religious school s of that day. The foll owing memory of hi s somber school sur roun dings con veys an i dea of the pl ace of hi s in carceration

’ Th mornin s wakenin the ni h l summons e g a g, g t y to bed the conn in s the rec tat on s the eriodi , g , i i , p cal hal —hol da s an d erambul ations the l a f i y p , p y round with its bro l s its astim es its intri ues g , i , p , g ; —these b a mental sorcer l on or otten were , y y g f g , v a l rn e s of sensa i n worl made to in ol ve wi de s t o , a d h incident a un verse of varied em otion of of ric , i , excitement the m ost passion ate and spirit stir

Th oun ds were e tensive an d a hi h an d e gr x , g li brick wal l to ed with a bed of m ortar and so d , pp broken lass en com assed the whol e. Thi s rison g , p p like rampart form ed the l im it of our—domai n ; be yond it we saw but thri ce a week on ce every urda a tern oon when atten ded b two ushers Sat y f , , y , we were permitted to take brief walks in a body me of the n e hborin elds and twi ce through so ig g fi , un da when we were araded in the same during S y, p ‘ ll n Po l o Edgar A a e.

form al m anner to the m orning and eveni ng serv

i ces in the church of the vill age. At an angl e of the pon derou s wall frown ed a m ore r I t was r veted an d stu dded w th pon de ou s gate. i i i ron bolts an d su rm ounted w th a ed ron , i j gg i hat m ress on of ee awe did spikes. W i p i d p it in spire ' The exten sive en cl osure was

rre ul ar i n orm hav n m an ca ac ou s recesses. i g f , i g y p i these three or our of the l ar est con st tuted Of , f g i

- d w th the l a round . I t w as l evel an d covere p y g , i l h n o fine hard ravel . I we l remember it ad , g trees n or benches n or an th n s m l ar w th n , y i g i i , i i

it course it was in the rear of the hou se. . Of I n ron t l a a sm all arterre l an ted w th box f y p , p i an d other shrubs but through this sacred division , — we passed only on rare occasion s in deed such as a rst advent to school or nal de arture then ce fi , fi p , or perhaps when a parent or frien d having call ed f or u s we j oyfully took ou r way hom e f or the u h l Chri stmas or m ids mm er o idays.

The real character of a wr iter can be sol ved an d ascerta n ed rom hi s var ous w orks an d thi s i f i , eature i s art cularl shown in the oet whose f p i y p , sighin g an d soarin g soul is alm ost autobi ographi cal of his nner l e d s u sed thou h i t m a be i if , i g i g y in an enl istm en t of the gods an d goddesses of mythol ogy who represen t only hum an passi on s The oet m a tr to bamboozl e m st an d de p y y , y ify ceive the w orl d but in o fhan d u n uarded m o , f , g m ents he l ts the ve l of m ster an d betra s the , if i y y, y tallow d s sm ud e fire an d broken urni tu ip , g f re of hi s arre establi hm en g t s t.

1 2 a llan Edg r A Poe.

words of l ove and en couragem ent to the orphan

chi ld. H e n ever or ot her s m ath an d when f g y p y, she died Poe woul d v s t her reen rave n htl , i i g g ig y, when the dreary wi n ds of autum n scattered the withered leaves an d the rains an d frosts pattered

against the gl eamin g gravestones. an n ar l n ered in th The m emory of Mrs. St d i g e ’ poet s soul thr ough all the vicissitu des of hi s w an h tm an on e of hi s affec der n l e an d Mrs. W i g if ; i , “ tion ate r en ds an d b o ra hers states that the f i i g p , ” on e dol atrous an d urel deal l ove hi s m th i p y i , y i cal L en ore w as the l ad in uest on mm ortalized , y qi , i in the foll owi ng poem :

H ELEN TO . — — I saw thee on ce on ce on ly g ears ago! I must n ot sa how m an — bu t n ot man y y y. I t was a Ju ly mi dn ight; an d fr om ou t

A ull - orbed m oon that like thin e own sou l oa f , , , s r i n g, ou ht a reci itate athwa u throu h he e S g p p p y p g av n, her e el l a si lver —silken vei l o li ht T f y f g , Wi th ui etu de an d su ltri n ess an d slum ber q , , , ’ Upon the upturn d faces of a thousan d R oses that r ew i n an en chan ted arden g g , Wher e n o win ds dar ed to stir u n l ess on ti , ptoe ’ F ell on the upturn d faces of these roses hat ave ou t in r etur n or the love li ht T g , f g , Their odorous sou ls i n an ecstati c death ’ F el l on the u pturn d faces of these roses t smiled and di ed in this arterre en Tha p , chanted recocit and arl c ool P y E y S h Days. 13

B thee an d b the oetr o th res y , y p y f y p ence. Clad al l in whi te u on a vi olet ban k , p I saw thee half reclining; whi l e the moon ’ ell on th e u turn d aces o the roses F p f f , ’ An d on thin e own u turn d—alas in so o , p , rr w ! Was i t n ot F ate whose nam e is also Sorrow ! ) , That bade m e ause be ore that ate p f g , To breathe the in cense of those slum bering roses ? N o ootste stirred : the hated wor ld all sl e t f p p , h e h — Save on l t ee an d m . O H eaven ! oh Go y ! , , d ! H ow my heart beats i n coupli ng those two words ! ) on l the n m e I aused— I looke Save y e a d . p d An d in an i nstan t all thin s disa eared g pp . Ah bear in min d this arden was en chan ted ! ! , g ) The pearly luster of the m oon wen t out : The m oss ban ks an d the m ean derin aths y g p , The ha owers an d the re inin trees ppy fl p g , ’ Were seen n o m or e : the very roses odors Di ed i n the arms o the adori n ai rs f . — — g All a ll expi red save thee save l ess than thou : Save on ly the divin e light i n thin e eyes Save but the soul in thin e u li ted e e p f y s. I saw but them—the wer the worl t y e d o m e. — I saw but them saw on ly them for hours Saw them on l un til the m oon w en t do n y w .

What wild hear t- hi stori es seem ed to li e enwritten U on those cr stallin e celestial heres ! p y , sp H ow dar k a w oe ! yet how sublime a hope! H ow si l en tly seren e a sea of pride! H ow darin g an am bi ti on ! yet how deep H ow fathoml ess a capacity for love! B u t n ow at len th dear Dian san k rom si ht , g , f g , I n to a western couch of thunder - cloud; 4 r llan o 1 Edga A P e.

An d thou a host ami the en tombin trees , g , d g Didst li de w a n l thin e e es r emain ed g a y. O y y . he o — r T y w ou ld n t go they n eve yet have gon e. Li htin m lon el athwa hom e that ni ht g g y y p y g , They have n ot l eft m e ! as my hop es have) sin ce The ollow m e— the l ead m e throu h the e r y f y g y a s. The ar e m mi ni t rs— I th ir la y y s e y et e s ve. Their office is to i llumin e an d en ki n dl e M dut to be saved b their bri ht li ht y y, y g g , An d uri ed i n their electri c re p fi fi , An d san cti ed i n their el sian r fi y fi e. The ll m soul wi th beau t whi ch is H o e y fi y y ! p ) , ' — An d are far up i n H eaven the stars I kn eel to I n the sad si len t watches o m n i ht , f y g ; Whi le even i n the m eridian glar e of day — I see them still two sweetly scin tillant Vera/uses un extin uished b th n ! , g y e su olle e Da s and an rin C g y W de gs. 15

A TE CH P R I I I .

COL LEGE D AN D W N DE N AYS A RI GS .

AFTER spen ding about five years abroad Poe re turned to R chm on d when he was l aced at i , p the L at n Academ of Mr h Cl ark . ose . e a i y J p H , radu ate of Tr n t Coll e e Dubl n where he g i i y g , i , rem a ned un t l he was seven teen ears of a e i i y g , an d then en tered the Un iversity of Virgin ia at Charl o t l e t esvi l . H e had read su cessfully an d i ntelligently v d Caesar V r l C cero orace en o hon O i , , i gi , i , H , X p d om r n an e a d was a assabl e F ren ch schol ar . H , p H i s m n d ran alm ost entirel to m tholo his i y y gy, tor oetr an d el o uen ce n ot ras n the in y, p y q, g pi g tri cate robl em of m athem at cs wh ch are un p s i , i congen ial an d tiresom e to person s who live i n the realm s of m a i nat on where stars an d dewdro s i g i , p become d am on ds an d m oun tain ran es ossam er i , g g threads of Omn ipoten ce ! Ru us W lm ot Gr s old the m a az n Mr . w e f i i , g i owner an d literar e ecutor of Poe sa s that y x , y whi le he was a student at the Un iversity of 6 o 1 Edgar Allan P e.

Virginia he l ed a very dissipated life an d that he was kn own as the wil dest an d m ost reckl ess student of hi s cl as s ; he w oul d have gradu ated w h h hes hon ors had n ot his am bl n ith t e ig t g i g, ntem eran ce an d other v ces nduced his ex i p , i i ” pul sion from the Uni versity . Gri s To off set this bl un t biography of Mr. wol d th r en d of our oet— the Secretar of the , e f i p y

Uni vers t of V r n a Mr . W ll am Werten i y i gi i , i i baker i n Ma 1 860 ave the ol ow n o c al , y, , g f i g ffi i statem ent :

Ed ar A P oe was a student of the Universit g . y cf V r n a dur n the secon d sess on wh ch com i gi i i g i , i m en ced F ebru ar l st 1 82 6 an d termi n ated De y , , h r H n d h cember 1 5th of t e sam e yea . e sig e t e r ul at on ook on the 1 4th of F ebruar an d m at ic i b y, rem ain ed in good stan ding as a stu den t till the H e was born on the 2oth of session cl osed . F ebruar 1 809 be n a l ttle un der seven teen y, , i g i l n o when he entered the in stitution . H e be o ged t the school s of an c ent an d m odern l an u a es i g g , an d as I wa m sel a m ember of the l atter I can s y f , testify that he was tol erably regul ar i n atten d an ce an d a ver success ul stu den t hav n ob , y f , i g tain ed distin ction i n it at the fin al exam ina t on th h hest hon or a stu den t coul d then o i , e ig b ta n the resent re u l at on in re ard to de rees i , p g i g g e h m d d O n ot h avin g b en at t e ti e a opte . n one occasion Professor B l atterm an requested his I tal ian cl ass to ren der into En glish verse a portion of th e l esson in Tasso ass ned f or the n e t l e u , ig x ct re. Poe was th onl one who com lied Mr. e y p with the Colle e a s and an erin s g D y W d g . 17

H request. e was highly complim ented by the ro essor f or hi s er orm an e p f p f c . “ Al though I had a passing acqu aintance with

Mr . Poe rom an earl er od o the sess on it f y p i f i , was n ot u ntil n ear its cl ose that I had any social u A r interco rse with him . fte spen ding an even ing to ether at a r vate house he nvited m e to his g p i , i room . I t w as a col d n ht in December an d his ig , fire havi n on e n earl out b the aid of some g g y , y can dl e en ds an d the wre k of a a l e he n c t b , soo rek n dled it an d b its com ortabl e bl aze I s ent i , y f p a ver l an hour On hi y p eas t with hi m . t s occa sion he spoke with regret of the am ount of m oney he had asted an d h de w t e bts he had contracted . I n a bi o ra hi cal sketch of e Poe I have seen g p . it stated that he was at one tim e expell ed from the Un vers t but that he a terw ards return ed i i y, f , an d radu ated w h h hi h Thi i s g it t e g est hon ors. s n irel a m s ak H en u e t y i t e. e sp t b t one session at the Un vers t an d at o tim e did h all un d i i y, n e f er the cen sure of the faculty. H e was n ot at that t m e add cted to dr nk n but h ad an un overn i i i i g, g

l a on f r ard l a n . Poe w a ev ab e p ssi o c p yi g Mr. s s eral years ol der than hi s biographer represents him . H i s a e I have n o doubt was correctl g , , y ” entered on the m atri cul ation book .

I t i s a n otorious an d ackn owl edged fact that coll e e bo s all over the world sin ce t m e be an g y , i g , m ore or l es add cted to the w n e cu have been s i i p, am es of chance an d the ascin ation of Ven us g , f

an d her train . utra eous esca ades drun ken riots and even O g p , 18 Edgar Allan Poe. m urderou s assaults are practiced to the present day in m any of our best coll eges an d Govern m en t “ ” “ ” school s ; an d so it will be un til boys an d girl s are tran sl ated in to sain ts an d an gel s ! P o was a robu st athl et c bra n stu den t e , i , i y n ot on e of our o m u dd sou r- l u ored l ads y s ggy, y, iq , ture wh ere ferm en tation n ever takes pl ace. N a “ ” fur n ished him w ith wild oats an d he con tin u ed H e w as to sow them to the day of hi s death . given by hi s adopted father all the cl othes an d “ ” m on e that he dem an ded an d the old m an y , an d the dra n roud to have hi s seem ed to st i , p “ ” boy l in e up w ith the other chival ric bloods of n the Ol d D om in io . To sa that P oe who served on l on e sessi on y , y in he nivers t w as kn own as the wi ldest an d t U i y, n a ex m ost r eckl ess stu den t of hi s cl ass, a d w s ell ed rom the Un i versi t i s a al sehood an d p f y, f , Griswol d m u st have known it when he promul gated the scan dal ! Hyen as of l iterature are still prowl in g th rough n f u the l an d rooting i to the graves o b ried gen ius. They live on the dead carcasses of ambition an d

ren own.

I n the s r n of 1 826 P oe f or som e unkn own p i g , reason determ in ed to seek his fortun e in foreign l an ds an d as it w as the er od when cl ass c , p i i Greece w as in a death stru ggl e to gain her l iberty an d throw off the tyran t yoke of the u n speakabl e Tu rk his r en ds m a n ed that he was red , f i i gi fi with “ ” the fever of gl oriou s w ar an d ran away from hom e to aid i n the liberation of the heroic son s o h f t e I onian isles.

20 Edgar Allan Poe.

ne of a am l of or han s The said Perry is o f i y p , whose un fortun ate paren ts w ere the victim s of the con flagration of the Richmon d Theatre in 1 809 . The subj ect of this l etter was taken under th e ll an a entlem an wealth rotect on of a Mr. A p i , g Of an d a l t of that c t who as I under respect bi i y i y, , stan d ado ted hi s roté é as hi s son an d he r , p p g i ; with the intention of giving him a liberal educa tion he had him pl aced at the Un iversity Of Vir

n a rom wh ch a ter con s der-abl e ro ress in gi i , f i , f i p g i ud es in a mom en t of outh ul n discreti on h s st i , y f i h n ed an wa n ot heard rom b his e absco d , d s f y patron f or several years ; in the m ean tim e he be came reduced to the n ecessity of en listing in the serv ce an d accord n l en tered as a sol dier in i , i g y

m Re m ent at F ort I n de en den ce in 1 827 . y gi , p , Sin ce the arrival of his com pany at this pl ace he has m ade hi s tuat on known to his atron at si i p , whose request the young m an has been perm itted to visit him ; the resu lt i s an entire reconcilia All an wh r n ta e t on on the art of Mr. o e s t s i p , i hi m into hi s amil an d avor an d who in a l etter f y f , I have received from him requests that his son m ay be discharged on procuring a substitute ; an experien ced soldier an d approved sergeant i s ready to take the pl ace of Perry so soon as hi s dis r d f h cha e can be obta ned . The oo o t e serv ce g i g i , there ore cann ot be m ater all in ured b h f , i y j y t e dis har c ge. “ I have the honor to be with reat res ect , g p , “ Y u obedient servan o r t, “

as . E J HOUS , “ ol on el First Artiller C y. olle e a s and an eri C g D y W d ngs. 2 1

‘ To the Gen eral o C mman din th De t. g e E . p ” N Y o ew rk.

As a set Off to this army story of Poe I give the f oll owing facts : I n the s rin of 1 867 I m an ld bat er d p g et O , t e sailor n am ed Will am W l son in a restaurant at , i i ,

N or olk Va. H e told m e he had been a school f , m Th h ate an d frien d of Edgar All an Poe. at e was the son of a wealthy flou r m erchant of Rich m on d an d thr u ome wild reak in the s rin , o gh s f p g of 1 826 he conclu ded to run away from the re straints of hom e an d try hi s fortun e on the open e s a an d test fate in foreign l an ds. H e said that he an d Poe shipped on a fast sail er from the port of N orfolk f or adventure am ong Grecian i sl es an d through the Mediterra nean Sea rst l an d n at N a l es an d a terwards , fi i g p , f vi sitin F l oren ce M l an an d Rome nall turn g , i , , fi y n u i n Marse ll es an ar s the reat ob ec i g p i d P i , g j

tive point of their wan derings. Am on a r settes ca é l oun ers L atin uar g g y g i , f g , Q ter students antast c studios m obil e dan cers , f i , , demi m on de an d en darm es the becam e u ckl g , y qi y acqu ainted with the eccentricities of that gay an d n li ce tious capital . Wil son said he had been provi ded by a bachelor n h all h m on e he n eeded an d whil e the u cl e wit t e y , “ ” filthy l u cre l asted he divided his fun ds an d f un w th Poe who was shar n the hos talit i , i g pi y Of hi en erou choolm ate as a matter of course s g s s , having been pressed an d invited to w an der in foreign l an ds by a rich companion . 22 ar llan Edg A Poe.

I t seem s a ter the air did u aris the f p p P , y threw their caster into the whirlpool of L ondon l e an d there u on som e r vol ous u arrel be if , p f i q “ ” tween the chum s Poe in a m oment of des era , , p t on sh ed be or the m ast f or a tour throu h i , ipp f e g the sh n roun ds of the B alt c Sea reach n fi i g g i , i g r ur in hi l un r m St. Pete sb g s atic a bles. W l son n ever saw P oe a a n but heard rom i g i , f him often as he climbed the l adder of l iterary re n own wh ch seem ed to reatl l ease th s old , i g y p i ” battered sea do who woul d boast b the hour g, y “ about Eddie P oe whil e harboring continuous “ ” rounds of grog ! I becam e very m u ch in terested in the n arrative of the ol d sa l or an d ocean roam er an d com osed i , p r him here an d then the ollow n oem on f o t f i g p ,

TH E SEA.

’ H ow I lon to roam o er the boun din sea g g , Where the waters an d wi nds are fier ce an d free Wher the wi ld bir d sai ls i n his tirel ess i ht e fl g , As the sunrise scatters the shades of n ight; Wher e the porpois e an d dolphin spor t at play r en n ra I n their li quid r ealm of g e a d g y. ther I o ld l ove to be Ah, m e ! I t is e w u E ngulfed in the tomb of etern ity !

I n the midnight hour when the m oon hangs law An d the stars beam orth with a m sti c low f y g , ’ When the m erm aids float o er the rolling tide An d N eptun e en tangles his beaming bride olle e a an n 23 C g D ys d Wanderi gs.

I t is ther e i n that phosphorescen t wave I would gladly sin k i n an ocean grave To rise an d all wit the son s o th sea f h g f e , n d i e A l v in the chan t of its m em ory.

Around the wor ld my form should sweep P ar t o the lori ous limi tless dee f g , p; E n m eshed b ate i n som e coral cave y f , An d risin a ain to the to m ost wave g g p , That cur ls i n beau ty i ts sn owy spray An d kisses the light of the garish day; ’ Ah ! there l et m e dri t when this li e is o er f f , To be tossed an tum l e rom hor to hore d b d f s e s . 24 Edgar Allan Poe.

I CHAPTER V.

P N EXPE EN E AN D B RE K W OI T RI C , A ITH

ALLAN .

TH E return of Poe a ter his w l d an d m s , f i y terious wan der n s to his Ol d home at R chm on d i g , i , w as n ot cal cul ated to m ake him self or Ol d Mr . Th l h that ver shone i n the All an happy. e ig t e ” win dow f or her brillian t boy had been sn uff ed ou t l e b the l oom of the rave ard an d the Of if y g g y , “ ” A l onl m other he kn ew Mrs. l an was n o y , , l on ger n igh to excuse his fail ings an d soothe hi s sorrows. What to do with a young m an of twenty years of a e was a uzzl e to hi s ado ted ather but g p p f , after several m on ths Of cogitation it was deter m in ed to sen d hi m to the Military Academy at e W st Point. I n the m eant m e Mr Allan had ubl shed r i . p i f o private distribution a sm all volum e of j uven ile oem s com osed at var ous tim es b hi s al n p , p i y t e ted son an d m an of them have been ron oun d , y p ce very ood cons der n that som e were wr t g , i i g i ten when Poe was onl th rteen ears of a y i y ge. I f ever a boy had good endorsers f or West in x eri n 5 West Po t E p e ce. 2

oint Poe had f or his recomm en dation s were P , , si n ed b Ch e ustice Marshall General Scott g y i f J , , d an John Ran dolph . utt n a race horse to the l ou h a watch P i g p g , maker to the bl acksm th trade or an ocul st to i , i the butcher bu s ness was about as reason able as i , to sen d a boy of ethereal im agin ation to a strictly m athem atical school where schol ars are tau ht , g an d drilled in to the rudiments of killin g their fell ow m an according to n ation al vengeance or ’ l aw —Offici al murder the f cer s uture trade , O fi f

and ambition . P oe w as admitted into the Academy on the l st of ul 1 830 an d wa d sm ssed rom the sam e J y, , s i i f u on on the 6th of March 1 83 1 havin in stit ti , , g been con victed b court m artial of di sobed en ce y , i of orders an d n egl ect Of duty. H l asted but on e session bein ron ounced e , g p “ by the other boys on his entran ce as a Jan u ary ’ colt one that kicked in the traces an d d dn t , i “ ” give a continental whether school kept or n ot.

Mil itary rul es cann ot curb or harness im agination . Whil e at West Point he w as continually writ atiri cal verses l am oonin those that cam e ing s , p g of his d s l easu re an d was a un der the scope i p , “ “ ” h the bo s who attered hi s oetical toast wit y , fl p gen ius H e hits off hi s I n specting Officer as fol l ows

r reat n am e John L ocke was a ve y g , Joe L ocke was a gr eater in short; The former was well kn own to F ame The latter well known to Report! 26 Edgar Allan Poe.

R chard enr Stoddard in a recen t cumber i H y , ’ som e and prej udiced compil ation of Poe s varied l e ves to the world th s account of hi s West if , gi i Point con duct :

Poe wa idle he was l awl ess an d he drank . s , , H e had n ot profited by hi s experien ce at the Uni vers t of V r nia e ce t that he had ven u i y i gi , x p gi p gam ing an d exchan ged champagn e f or brandy . — H is room was sel dom without a bottl e in it a circum stan ce which w as kn own to his bibul ous ell ow cadets an d of wh ch the u sed to avail f , i y them sel ves ; f or when their Own bottles were emptied they stol e into the room between tattoo I t was and taps an d sampl ed the ebbin g supply. ’ sm u l ed in rom B enn aven s a eat whi ch gg f y H , f dem an ded address in that it had to be accom , pli shed without detection an d the possession of certa n m one s or the r e u valent in salabl e i y , i qi ” - l dl n ha n commod t es b ankets can es a d w t ot. i i , ,

d n u hes l H ow did Mr . Stod ard fi d o t t e b un t ’ detail s of the dead poet s life ? Were they true ? Stoddard himsel a oet in orms us urther , f p , f f , that :

’ The whol e bent Of Poe s min d at that time seem ed to be towards criticism —or m ore ro erl , , p p y s eak n cav ll n . Wh ether it was Sh k p i g, i i g a e s eare or B ron Add son or ohn son p y , i J , the ao — kn owl edged cl assic or the poetaster all cam e in l k r h n u H m a i e f o is critical ce s re. e see ed to take especi al delight in cavilling at passages that had

2 l n o 8 Edgar A la P e.

The ship of Old acquaintances an d schoolmates. sting of his dismi ssal from West Poin t n o doubt rankled in his sen sitive heart ; but he could con sol e him self with the thought that hundreds of bright and brave m en had been expelled before

‘ from military service f or disobedience of orders east it w as n o han n an d n egl ect of duty. At l gi g m atter an d in a short tim e he was recon cil ed to

hi s fate. B ut the hou sehold of his adopted father was ent rel chan ed as the Old m an had taken unto i y g , him self a second wife forty years hi s j un ior

a Miss L oui se Patterson . P w hed t m arr his school irl sweetheart oe is o y g , M ss Ro ster about seventeen ears Old our i y , y , f years hi s j un ior ; but the passion ate Old m erchant went nto a ur abou t the m atter an d the re i f y , sul t w as that h e an d P oe quarrell ed an d broke the l ast tie that bound the poet to home an d f or

tune. Even his irl sweetheart throu h h g , g t e con nivan ce of her ather m arried a wealth m an f , y l “ ” named She ton . I t n ever ra n s but it ours i p , an d certainly this seem s to have been the forl orn “ s tuation of Poe w om unm erci ul d saster f i , h f i ol ” l owed as t an d oll w f f o ed faster . Ol d m an All an uif ed u in his r de ro ert , p p p i , p p y an d assion could take unto hi msel a oun an d p , f y g beaut ul dam sel to re l ace his devoted old w e if p if , before the ann u al snow fell upon h er l onely grave ; but he woul d n ot tol erate the happin ess of his brill ant son and ast him adri u on th wor i , c ft p e ld 29 West Point Experience. without a penny in hi s pocket or a roof to shel hi e ter s w ary head . After three years All an followed his first wife to the grave an d l eft hi s whol e estate an d three children to his second s ouse cutt n off eu p , i g tirely poor Poe from inheritin g a sin gle doll ar n der al he c rcum an i of hi s fortune. U l t i st ces t wa a rue n a tard a toward n d s c l a d d s ct s a son , a deserves th severes re robation e t p . Roche ou cauld the F ren ch h l oso her must f , p i p , have had such a character as Allen in his m in d when he uttered this epigram :

Our virtues disappear when put in competition ur nterests a r1 ver l o h with o i , s s se t emsel ves in ” the ocean .

All an with all hi s wealth an d power was com pell ed by F ate to go down to the col d an d silent rave to be a brother to the cl od an d a m eal g , h a f or the worm ; poor as t e mean est p uper.

The rin ce an d the easan t the ser an d the p p , f slave Are equal at last i n the dust of the grave!

TH ERE’S N O P OCKE T I N A SH RO UD ’

Y ou must l eave your m any mi lli ons An d the gay an d festi ve crowd; h ro n ro al billi ons T ough you ll i y , ’ h r o ket in a shroud T e e s n o p c . 30 Edgar Allan Poe.

Whether au er rin ce or easan t p p , p , p Whether ri ch or poor or prou d ’ R em em ber that ther e i sn t

Any p ocket i n a shroud .

’ You ll have all this world of glory Wi th a r ecord l on an d l oud g , An d a nam e i n on an d stor s g y, B ut n o ocket i n our shrou d p y .

’ o be en rous with our riches S g y , N ei ther vain n or cold n or r oud , , p , ’ An d you ll gain the golden n i ches I n a clim e withou t a cl oud ! riftin l D g About Ba timore. 3 1

CHAPTER V.

R N B M E— ER R e D IFTI G AB OUT ALTI OR LIT A Y succ ss.

WHEN the rude worl d turn s its back on a poor but br ll ant w an der n m ortal an d art cul arl i i i g , p i y a sen s tiv bard he n aturall turn s as a l ast re i e , y , sort to the hom e of his bl ood- rel at ves to athom , i f — the depths of their frien dship a very risky an d u u l do btf venture. So Poe turn ed hi s footsteps in the summ er of 1 833 to B altim ore where hi s brother W lliam , i f a n r en r an d his a ection te Ol d au t Mrs. Ma isa H y, f ,

l emm re id d. C , s e I t i s presum ed that he foun d shelter at l east on his rst arrival althou h hi s brother was con fi , g “ sidered a kin d ch valr c in d v dual who run Of i i i i , ” u m el the town to s it hi s f . B u r l mm who live on St l es Street t M s. C e d , y , cam e to his rescue as a guardian angel an d con overt an d er tinn ed so to the en d of his days. P y p secuti on on ly m ade him dearer to her affection ate heart an d she fin ally bestow ed u pon the w an der i ng m in strel her beautiful young daughter Vir

inia hi s first cousin . g , 2 l n 3 Edgar A la Poe.

ilm r editor of the at r isitor Mr . W e S u da V , y , offered a prize of one hun dred doll ars in gol d f or the best story an d best poem . Poe saw the n otice i n the paper an d sent in “ ” six Tal es of the F olio Club an d a short poem “ ” Th n am e he au call ed the Coliseum . e s of t thors wer l aced in a seal ed envel o e wh l e the e p p , i stories an d poem s were subm itted w ithout n am es. After three well - kn own promin ent men of B a] imore amin ed the var ous m anuscri ts the t ex i p , y l ’ un an im ou s y decided f or Poe s tal es. The exam in ing com m ittee even went so f ar as to issue the oll ow n statem ent wh ch m ust f i g , i have been ver atter n to the oor or han bo y fl i g p p y, who had been but recen tly cast adrift by a sel f i sh ol d curm ud eon a kin d re li ca of a g , Of p

- self con stituted father.

Amongst the prose articl es were many of various an d distingu ished m erit ; but the singul ar force an d beauty of those sent by the author of ‘ ’ The Tal es of the F olio Club l eave us n o room

r hesitation in that de artm ent We hav a f o p . e c cordingly awarded the prem ium to ta tale entitl ed ‘ the Manuscript F oun d in a B ottle I t woul d hardly be doing justice to the writer of this collection to say that the tal e we have chosen i s he b st of he ix f ered hi t e t s O f by m . We cann ot refrain from saying that the au thor owes it to hi s own r e utat on as w ell as to the ra p i , g tification of the comm un t to ubl sh the en r i y, p i ti e vol ume ‘ ! Tal es Of the F olio These tal es are eminentl distin uished b a wild vi orous an y g y , g , d riftin u altim r D g Abo t B o e. 33

oetical im a nation a rich st l e a ertil e inven p gi , y , f t1 on an d vari ed an d uriou s learn n , c i g. “ N EN N ED JOH P . K Y,

B . L B E J. H . ATRO , “ ” M ER JAME S H . ILL .

Griswol d the literar e ecutor of Poe inti , y x , mates that the comm ittee decided in favor of our poet when they were en j oyin g the fum es of cigars and l ush n down w n e an d that it w as the rett i g i , p y wr in f Po ha n l han d it g o e t t fi al y did the business. Hear the j eal ou s editor

Such m atters are usually disposed of in a ver offhan d wa Comm tte to aw ar i erar y y. i es d l t y ’ prizes drink to the payer s heal th in good win es over un e ami n ed m an uscr ts whi ch the submit to x ip , y the di scretion of ubl shers w th ermi ssion p i , i p to u se their n am es in such a way as to prom ote the h ’ ubl s er s advan ta e. SO erha s it would p i g , p p , have een in his ase u b t c , b t that one of the com mittee takin g up a littl e book rem arkably beau ti ul an d d stinct in cali ra h was tem ted to f i g p y, p read several a es an d becomi n interested he p g ; g , summ oned the attention of the com pany to the al z m I h f do en co positi on s it contained . t was un an im ou sly decided that the prizes should be ‘ paid to the first of the geniu ses who had written i ’ l e bl . N o an oth r an ri w un o g y t e m u sc pt as f lded . ‘ ’ I mm ediately the con fidential envel ope was ened an d the success ul com et tor was oun d Op , f p i f ” o b ar ar l o f P e t e the sc ce y kn wn n ame o o . lan 34 Edgar Al Poe.

d one of he ommi ttee Mr. o . enn e t J hn P K y, c , “ ” “ an d author of The R ed B ook an d Swall ow ” B arn an d afterwards Postm aster - Gen eral of th e n te Sta s becam ver m uch n tere ted in U i d te , e y i s P oe and invited him to his hom e to share the

- w ell kn own hospitality of hi s m an sion . I t must have been heartren din g f or the poor ell ow when he rece ved the n v tat on to d nner f , i i i i i , as his cl othes an d person al appearance were nu su ited to the occasion . P oe says in his reply : Y ou r invitation to dinner has woun ded m e to the qu ick . I cannot com e f or reason of th m ost hum l at n na , s e i i i g ur g m rson a e Y ou m a m a ne t c y pe l appearanc . y i gi my m ortification in m aking this discl osure to ”

ou but it is n ecessar . y , y n n d u h u n Mr . Ke e y so g t o t Poe a d foun d him in overt u arters threadbare cl othes an d hal p y q , f

h d ar of Mr . h starved . I n t e enn ed e sa s : i y K y, y

I ave him cl othin ree access to m tabl e an d g g, f y the u se of a horse f or exercise whenever he chose ; i n act brou ht him u rom the ver ver e of f , g p f y g despair .

’ Through all the shifting scenes of Poe s poverty he continued to compose stories an d poetry and n deavored to fin d sal e f or hi m en e s tal w ares. Al thou h his tal es were we rd houl sh an d terri l e g i , g i b , re ect on s n o doubt of hi s tortured m n d he fl i , , i , kn ew that inten se an d desperate narratives w ould “ ” comm an d the atten t on of the rabbl e world i , when the refined and beautiful emanations of his

n o 36 Edgar Alla P e.

I n the gi lded sal oon an d gli ttering crowd m the roud I deaden the sen ses an d hu ble p , n tear rom the n obl e the ood an d the reat A d f , g , g

h n e oti on o home church an d state. T e l ove a d d v f , ,

I blast all the hon or that man hood holds dear; I smi le wi th delight at the sight of a tear; An d laugh i n the r evel an d rout of a night r n to li ht My missi on on ear th is to blu a d b g .

I ruin the homes of the high and the l ow; I blast every hope of the fri en d an d the foe; The or l I ear with m blister in breath w d s y g , An milli on a to th ortal o eath d s I le d e p s f d .

I n the parlor an d dan ce- hou se I sparkl e an d roar Like bill ows that br eak on a wi ld r ock shore , y ; I crush ever virtue destro ever truth y , y y , That blossoms i n beaut or blushes in outh y y .

My power is mighty for sin an d despair I ro h th a t c u c , like a li on at w i s i n his lair, To m an l e the li e o the ure an d the brave g f f p , An d dra them i n sorrow to ham and the ra e g s e g v . B altimore Sidelights. 37

A TER VI CH P .

B M E DE G ALTI OR SI LI HTS .

’ I N Poe s wild wan derings over the earth his heart alwa s turned to B altim ore the c t of y , i y beautiful bell es an d gall an t beaux an d the pl ace of ’ ’ his ather s soc al eccen tr c t es hi s m other s f i i i i , ’ theatrical tr um hs hi ran d ather atr otism i p , s g f s p i , an d above all the s ot where he had marr ed Vir , , p i i n a h s an el c wi e. gi i , g i f Althou h hiladel hi a N ew Y ork an d Ri h g P p , , c mon d had given him Opportun ity to displ ay hi s literar m erit B alt m ore ave him the rst y , i g fi han wi n a rize H e re arded that atriotic c ce to p . g p city ! which kept the Star Spangl ed B an ner fly i ng over F ort McH en ry in the very teeth an d ace m on arch as his hom e an d mi ht well f Of y) , g have exclaim ed with poor Goldsmith :

“ An d as a hare whom houn ds an d horns ursue p , P an ts to th e lace rom when ce at rst he ew p f fi fl , I still had hopes my l on g veaati ous past H ere to return—and di e at hom e at last! 38 Edgar Allan Poe.

Ol d citizen s of B al tim ore even to- day w ill dis cou rse w th l easure an d r de of the r acquam t i p p i i an ce w th Poe an d run over rem n scen ces of h 1 s i , i i erra tic career . r ew tt was one of the edi P ofessor John H . H i or n d r f he B altim ore aturda Visitor t s a c itics o t S y , wh n i ff r hun dred doll ar r ze an d al so e t o e ed a p i , a t doll ar r ze f or the best tal e an d oem . fif y p i , p ew tt d ed a f ew ears s n ce but l e t beh n d H i i y i , f i a wr tten autob o ra h wh ch i s n ow i n the i i g p y, i Mar ne l ate Coll ector of ossess on of W l l am M . p i i i i , u to f B alt m ore an d a l aw er w th oet c C s m s o i , y i p i rocl v t es nterested in the rel cs an d remem p i i i , i i

bran ce of Poe.

Mar ne ives thus a few I n a recent l etter Mr . i g of his own m em ory m il eston es :

Y ears previou s to the pl acing of a m onum ent ’ over oe s rem a n s I was in the hab t of v s t n P i , i i i i g i n l r v The l ot was on e in wh ch h s eg ected g a e. i hi s ancestors were buried in the rear of the , church i n Westm n ster burial roun d hal wa , i g , f y d between it an d the south wall . I o n ot recall that any of the graves w ere m arked in the l ot. A sl en der ran te ston e octa on al sha ed stan d g i , g p , ’ in o osite Ed ar All an oe s su osed rave g pp g P pp g , a few eet out of the roun d a arentl a l ot f g , pp y m arker w as the onl m em or al . I t was subse , y i uentl ossessed b a Westerner who resented qy p y , p a m u seum in hi s sect on as the sent l it to i , ine ’ ston e whi ch f or twenty- six years stood at Poe s grave. “ ’ A ter the su osed removal of oe s rem i f pp P a ns, altimore i eli B S d ghts. 39

octor Moran hi s attendin h si ian in hi la t D , g p y c s s illn ess tol m P e had n e m h , d e o ot b en re oved ; t at be rocu red a o l ar cofli n sta n ed to resembl e p p p , i l wa nut in whi ch hi rem ain s were buried. Poe , s was said to have been exhum ed in a m ahogany coffin ieces of whi ch wer e osed for sal e b , p e xp y h ha u h a hi h ro t e se ton . I ve s c ece w c was x pi , p ’ u num en tan ds c red from him mysel f. Poe s m o t s in a l ot at the corn er of F ayette an d Green Streets to wh ch hi s su osed rem a n s were re , i pp i d a ar a o h l t ra ion of move . Sever l e s on t e ob e t y g , i the Dutch Cem eter near F ordham where hi s y, , w e had been buried her rem ain s llin a ver if , , fi g y sm all sized box were rem oved an d reinterred , in h u t e Poe m on m ent l ot. “ Poe resided but a f ew years in B altim ore after the comm en cem en t of his literary career ; he w as en a ed in R chm on d h ladel hia an d New g g i , P i p den hi it were Y ork . Two o hi s res ces i n t s c f i y , on of them on St l es Street n orth side n ear e y , , u h tre t the other was on Eastern Avenu e Go g S e , hen at h u h de wes of Central Avenue. W c so t si , t H an d Dunn in r nters w ere en a ed in utt n g, p i , g g p i g in type the B altim ore copy of his published

oem s Poe then resided on Eastern Avenue. I n p , of atch an d Dun n n was a l ad the employ H i g , Robert Sherwood a terwards a m ember of a well , f

kn own firm of printers of hi s n am e in B al timore. herwood told m e of his re eated visits to Mr . S p ’ Th r Poe s residen ce with poem proof. ey we e usuall rece ve b a l ad who took them an d on y i d y y, , herwood she han ded them the return of Mr . S — in in invisi l e rarel a back to him Poe rema g b , y p 40 Edgar Allan Poe.

’ Durin oe s pearing at the printing office. g P residen ce in B al tim ore he had his m ail l eft at an apothecary ' store on B altim ore Street n ear in that store stated Charl es. A cl erk who was , to m e that he saw him daily when he would call f o hi a l he was a u et un obtrus ve m odest r s m i ; qi , i ,

erson who did n ot orm all address others. H e p , f y u ed f w words onl enou h to nd cate his s e , y g i i wishes ; when he received his m ail it was hi s in variable custom to l eave the store ; he did n ot stan d aroun d an d chat ; he woul d bow politely to those whom he knew an d walk off . H e was descr bed as of serious m en ven to re ection i i , gi fl ; n eat in a earan ce cl othes l oss rom wear an d pp , g y f , l n e a w th scrupul ously tidy. Clean i ss was habit i H e n e er hi m wh ch he n ever tran s ressed. was v , i g seen wi th any in dication s showi ng i n dulgen ce in l n ha h me a cohol c otat o s. T t ar e at the ti i p i c g , , a n o ra s d a ain st im w s t i e g h . “ I was present at the cerem on i al of unveiling ’ th m onum ent to oe s m em or N ovember 1 7th e P y, , hel in h e tern F mal 1 8 75 d t e W s e e h S chool . , Hig ’ The au ditor um was crowded W lli am Winter s i . i ‘ ’ ’ oem At oe s Grave an e ui site on e was p , P , xq , read in a m as erl m ann R t y er by Miss ice. “ When at the m onument the h lharm o i , P i n c ‘ ’ S ocie ren dered th d r e Slee and Re ty e i g p st. “ The m onument was unveiled when William , ‘ ’ F . Gil l of B oston rec ted Ann abel L ee an d Mi i , ss ‘ ’ Dil l N 0 ur h e lihunt The B el s. f t er xerci ses took pl ace at the monum ent ; whil e they were in prog ress a keen cuttin win d shar and vi l , g , p o ent, swe t an ho e in urious renz p d wl d f f y. So gr eat altimore i eli B S d ghts. 4 1 was the urr an d dis uietin the si hin w n d fl y qg g g i , that eo l had to r s i h l h p p e esi t t to o d t eir groun d. The cold w as bitter ; the bystan ders shivered an d crouched be ore uch a B orean f s bl ast. “ B esides those n am ed by Professor Hewitt as resent were ro essor Cl ark at hos sch p , P f , w e ool Poe attended in Richm on d ro essor N ; P f . C. B rooks who had ed ted the Am erican Ma azin e , i g , to which P oe con tributed som e of his earliest writ n s. B rooks was h m sel a am ou s oet i g i f f p . “ Th B altim or book ubl h e e p is ed in 1 838 by W.

d T . Ar hur d Car enter an . t conta ne oem s H . p H , i p B r k L ll ohn e b oo s S . . Wa s . w tt E . T. y , i , J H H i , l n Arthu r an d r n Reese Mc to Ca e ter. Poe , , , p ‘ ’ r i A F a l cont ibuted S ope : b e. “ thers who were nv ted and were no r nt O i i t p ese , re Tenn son Swinburn e Wh tt er B r an t we y , , i i , y , L n ellow olm es an d others the res on ded o gf , H ; y p

b l etters. Walt Whitm an with hi s s lver y , i y, tream n l ocks was the m ost romin ent erson s i g , p p don en l en h alit there. orn e of L on s t a t y H , , g y ’

n n o D . tr bute as l on as Te s n s was short . S . i , g y

reston w r eul o i ti . L ewi s an d Margaret J . P e e g s c Saxe said The occasion w as to perform a patri ‘ oti ce el en Whitm an e ressed her warm c Offi , H xp est sym pathies an d m ost grateful appreciation ‘ ohn N eal said avi n ven him hi s first ush J , H g gi p i n hi s u ward career he was boun d to kee him p , p ’ ‘ I n ram aid H e had l ttl e a th in m ovin . s g g , i f i hea s of ston es as m em or al s the reat but p i Of g , must con fess that a publ ic expression of admira tion f or an ill ustrious son whose m em ory has been so l ong overcl ouded by unmerited obl oquy l o 42 Edgar A lan P e.

’ Ald does seem fitting on the part of Am eri ca. rich an d Davidson were equally as favorabl e. Mall ari n e a ne an d F awcett sent oet cal , H y p i

wreaths. “ A contrast were the l etters of B ryant an d n ll w Poe had unmerc ull cr t c sed the Lo gfe o . if y i i i B r ant wrote a l et l atter i n hi s literati papers. y l L on ellow sent one ter n ot at a l creditabl e. gf beaut ul as his oetr an d w thout the sl ht if p y, i ig est t n e of the hum an in it artakin of the i g , p g ” sw e es h e tn s of t e divine.

ro essor ew tt ed tor an d oet the ersonal P f H i , i p , p ac ua n tan ce of Poe s eaks as oll ows a out he qi , p f b t pecul iarities of our great story- teller

So much has been written an d said of l ate ears con cernin Ed ar All an Poe an d m sel y g g y f, that I feel di sposed to dil ate on that part of his history and min e which rel ates to our acquaint an ce. I n the ear 1 875 N ovem er 1 7 h m l y , b t , a s a l m emorial stone was pl aced over the bones of the avor te oet of Am erica an d ded cated t th f i p , i o e m em or of tha oet wh a l a n y t p , o h d i under the sod of old Westmin ster Church graveyard f or twen ty six ears unhon ored an d scarcel n ot ced save y , y i , b curious stran ers who were an iou l y g , x s to ook at the rave of a oor schol ar who wh l e l v n g p , i i i g, oun d it hard work to kee rom starvin Th s f p f g. i ‘ dead oet a ter he had shu ff h p , f flied o is m ortal ’ coil was n ot ced b som e of th l adin , i y e e g English ournal sts who discoursed that j i , Am erica had at len th roduced a oet worth o i g p p y f not ce.

44 Edgar Allan Poe.

’ Teacher Asso iat on held ou ctober 7th 1 865 s c i , O , , ff er d a number of r . ohn B as l a r n c al o e M J i , p i ip , resol ut on s wh ch resu lted i n the a o n t n of a i , i pp i i g comm ittee of six to work u p the obj ect of erectin g ’ F un ds were a m onum ent over the poet s rem ain s. raised am ong the teachers an d pupil s of the vari ous school s the collect on s be n un der the su er , i i g p h u m raised R ce. T e s inten dence of Miss S . S . i — was scarcely sufficien t so the l arge hearted George hi d h l adel h a w as a l ed to who at W. C l s of , P i p i , pp i , on ce m ade u the de c en c wh ch was est m ated p fi i y, i i The m emor al ston w as ch sel ed at the at $6 50 . i e i f r u h S sson an d l a e i n establishm ent o M . c d H g i , p it t n Much was due to the ener of s posi io . gy R ce an d when resented to the M ss S ara S . i i , p audien ce she was received with rounds of ap l aus p e. B L a robe li red an ora h . t d o n . Es e ve tio J H , q, n, which was almost en tirely m ade up of remi ni s H be n on the comm ttee that cences of Poe. e i g i awarded Poe an d m sel rem um s o fered b y f p i , f y the ro r etors of the Visitor hon estl ave his p p i , y g H tated as n arl experien ce in that l abor. e s e y a he could recoll ect the acts an d when he s f , ann oun ced that the comm ittee a ter much con , f s derat on awarded to m e the rem ium f or the i i , p best oem the au d en ce sh ook the bu l d n w th p , i i i g i au I w a ea n their l on g an d l ou d appl se. s s ted o h tman in ro m the l at orm Walt W nt of e Dr . p f , i f , nod rass on m r ht an d m el dest son S g y ig , y ,

orat o on m l e t. I w as so taken b su r r se H i , y f y p i I id m head but m n am e be n call ed that h y , y i g by hun dreds of mouths I arose and bowed my ao al im r i li B t o e S de ghts. 45 knowledgments- f or I have always been a poor offhan d orator. “ r L atrobe said : The o tr o M . e ered al p y ff , thou h better than the rose was bad enou h and g p , g , when we had gon e m ore or l ess thoroughly over the ile of m an uscr ts two eces onl wer on p ip , pi y e c Th l sidered worthy of con sideration . e tit e of on e ‘ ’ ’ as Th Coli seu m which was oe w e s. Th titl e , P e of the other I have or otten but u on o enin f g , p p g the accompanyi ng envel opes we foun d that the i n i author was Mr . ohn . ew tt st ll l vi n J H H , i i g B altim ore an d well known I li n h mu , , be eve, i t e si l m cal wor d both as a poet an d a com poser. I a n ot prepared to say that the com mittee m ay n ot have been biased in awarding the fifty doll ar rize to Mr ewitt b the act that the had al p . H , y f y ready given the on e hun dred doll ar prize to Mr.

Poe. I recollect however we a reed un der the , , g , ’ circum stances that the e cellen ce of Mr . ewitt s , x H oem deserved a reward an d we ave the sm aller p , g ’ prize to him with cl ear con scien ces. About the tim e of the dedication of the me m ori al stone there appeared i n the papers of the day a number of sketches of the life and char I ave a an acter of Edgar All an Poe. ! h s m y om as I can rake together in my scrap book . ) S e were unbecom in l b tter an d others ul som e an d g y i , — f alm ost si ckening in their tone whil e others again I n order to show m readers were m ere fiction . y “ how m uch confiden ce i s to be pl aced in the rec ” n f hes hem eral enn - a- liners I ollecti o s o t e ep p y , will quote a passage from an articl e written by 46 Edgar Allan Poe.

ddard a ver o ul ar contr butor to R . . Sto H , y p p i several of the l eading m agazines :

l autumn of 1 833 I t is in the summ er or ear y , an d the proprietors of the Saturday Visi tor have off ered two prizes to the aspiri ng literati of Am er — m a be sent them ica on e f or the best tal e that y , m Amon those who the other f or the best poe . g com eted was Poe who submi tted a oem an d p , p Th el e an c of his enm 'an six prose sketches. e g e p ship tempted one of the comm ittee who was to make the award to read several pages of the m an uscript volum e in whi ch the sketches w ere written . H e was interested in them as wer al so the others , e ; so much so that the decided to read n o m ore of , y the m an uscripts but to give the prize to the first h en of the gen iu ses who had written l egibly. W the confidential envel ope was Open ed it was foun d ’ r m n d Poe ha he wr te s n a e was P oe a Mr. t t t i , was accordingly n otified by advertisem ent of his H e ru hed at on ce be ore the ubl sher success. s f p i of the aturda Visi tor who was m oved b his a S y , y p

n hn . K en earan ce an d cam e to see the H o . o p , ! J P n edy) j ust as he was ! the prize m oney not having been a d him th n al e w th the m arks of p i ) , i , p , i u h H i s seed sickness an d destit tion in i s face. y coat button ed u t ht to hi s ch n con ceal ed the , p ig i , Le u ul a n of a shirt. ss ccess wer hi h bse ce s f e s s oes. u h l ow s as he was the entl m O t at t e e b , g e an w as a ar nt i n his bear n and the m an of eni pp e i g, g us ” in his conversation .

This is all sheer nonsense. To show that it is altimore i eli B S d ghts. 47 so I will mere , ly m ake an abstract from an articl e written by mysel f at the request of the editor of the B al tim orean a weekl l terar ou rnal f or , y i y j which I hav wr e itten m uch .

The ign is- fatuus prosperity of the Saturday Visi tor ubl she ! p i d by Messrs. Cl ou d an d Pon der an d edited by m yself) in duced the proprietors to off er two premium s f or two of the best l iter — ary produ ction s by B altim orean s a tal e f or which one hun dred doll ars was o fered an d a f , oem the valu f e o wh ch was ed at t doll ars. p , i fix fif y Som e t or si t roduct on s in both rose an d fif y x y p i , p oetr were sent in— the n am es of the wr ters p y, i , accord n to arran em en t be n in e arate en i g g , i g s p v l o Th om m ttee a o n ed s r e es. M e c t b e s s. p i , pp i y L a ro e E Cloud an d on der were ohn B . b . t s P , J H , q,

H on ohn . en ned n d D r am e M ll er . a s . . J P K y . J H i “ A ter detain n the m anuscr ts several da s f i g ip y , these gentl em en reported th e resul t of their l abors. The first prem ium was awarded to Edgar All an ‘ Poe f or a wild stor in the st l e of the R m e , y y i ’ ‘ of the An cient Mar n er ent tled A Man u scr t i , i ip F oun d in a B ottle the secon d to a oem bear n , p i g ‘ the titl e of The Son g of the Win ds which cam e ’ ‘ in competition with Poe s Coliseum . The report of the gentl em en composin g the comm ittee stated that the contest f or the secon d prem ium was n ar row down to these two oem s an d in con sid ed p , erati on of Poe having received the award f or the stor the thou ht it n oth n m ore than r ht y, y g i g ig ‘ ’ that the writer of the Song of the Win ds should e iv h riz or he oem when the contest r ce e t e p e f t p , 48 Edgar Allan Poe.

Poe rece ved hi s m on e with m an was so cl osed . i y y oblet wh ch i s n ow than ks. I re erred a s l ver p f i g , i

i n the possession of my fam ily. “ The gl ory Of the achievem en t w as m erely e hem eral f or w th the ubl c the aff a r w as p , i p i i N o o w th m test com et soon forgotten . t s i y y p i ’ th u h h had oun d a m are s n est or . H o t e t e g f ,

an d determ ined to abstract the egg therefrom . “ A week or two a terw ards I m et the rr ta f , i i ff h ito Th s ble poet n ear the O ice of t e Vis r . i m eeting w as anythin g but pl easan t to both of H had taken it n to hi s head that I be n u s. e i , i g the kn ow n ed tor of the a er shoul d be debarred i p p ,

from bein g a competitor f or either of the prizes. I did n ot den the char e of be n the ed tor but y g i g i , I den ed u s n the n am e of the ed tor an d al so of i i g i , u sing u n derhan d m ean s to bias a comm ittee of gentl em en so well kn own to the public as m en of r Th comm ttee di n o kn hon or an d integ ity. e i d t ow the author of the su ccessful poem un til they had con sulte th seal d n vel o es wh n h id h d e e e p ; e t ey d t is, the oun d the nam e of H enr Wi l ton a n am e y f y , wh h I u n d wn wh c sed stea of m o an d en Mr . i i y , L atrobe asked who w as en r W lton I told him H y i , hat I re r s n ed h u t p e e t t at obsc re person age. “ Poe w as han dsome w th a broad orehead a , i f , l ar e m a n cen t e e dark brown an d rather g , g ifi y , curl ha r well orm ed about five eet seven in y i , f , f H dress n eatl in hi m height. e ed y s pal y days wore B ron coll ars an d a bl ack n eckerch e l ook y i f, h ing the poet all over . T e expression of hi s face was thou ht ul m el anchol an d rather stern g f , y, . I n disposition he was somewhat overbearing and B altimore i eli t 49 S d gh s.

s ite ul . I saw him drunk on ce or erha s un p f , p p der th n u e i fl ence of n arcotics. “ Som e years subsequently I m et Poe on Penn lvani a Aven ash n s ue W ton . H is a earan y , i g pp ce

w as woe- be one his eatu res ha ard an d his g , f gg , e r ssive s u I hou ht o xp e eye had l o t its l stre. t g n ‘ the in stant of four lines in hi s poem of Al ’ Araaf

‘ B eyon d that death n o i mm ortality B ut sl ee that on dereth an d is n ot to be p — p An d there oh ! may my w eary spirit dwell ’ — — Apar t from H eaven s etern ity an d yet how far ’ ro he l f m l .

H e o fered m e his han d an d asked if I would f , ‘ l et bygones be bygones Of course I did n ot turn m back on him but rel eved hi s wants to the best y , i

m I never saw him a terwards. of y ability. f

The ollowin lines rom the oem s Son of f g , f p , g ” “ the Win ds and Col seu m are submi tted f or , i , ’ the reader s poetic judgm ent :

I SON G OF TH E W NDS .

I have come pure an d fresh from the soft sunny l me c i s, Wi th the richest i n cen se of a thousand sweet flowers; I have froli cked i n man y a for est of lim es ro s r es a o r And stolen the dewd p f om j s mine b we s. 50 Edgar Allan Poe.

I have kissed the whi te crest of the m oon - silvered

wave, ’ An d bosom d the soil of the light skimming barque; ’ ’ I have su ng my m ad dirge o er the sailor boy s rave g , ’ ’ An d an n d u th blaz o the m teor s ark f p e e f e s p .

’ I have war bl ed m son b the sea s ebbl shor e y g y p y , ’ An d wan dered ar oun d youn g An dr om eda s orm f , I have played wi th the su rf when its froli c was ’

o er, An d bellowed alou d wi th the shou t of the tor m s .

I have wi ldly careered through the shi veri ng

shrou ds, An d ren t the broad sail of the corsair in

twain , I have screamed at the burst of the thun der charged o cl u ds, An d lau hed at the ra e o the etulan t m ai g g f p n .

TH E LI E CO S UM.

Type of the an tiqu e R om e ! Rich reliquary Of l ofty con tem plation l eft to Ti m e B y bu ri ed cen turi es of pomp an d power ! — — At len gth at len gth after so many days wear il rim a e an d burn in thirst Of y p g g g , Thirst or the s rin s o l ove that i n m e li e ! f p g f , )

52 Edgar Allan Poe.

CHAPTER VI I .

“ ”— WRITIN G F OB LI TERARY M E SSEN GER REM ORsE E E W AND R VI S .

r. l I N Au ust 1 834 M T. W. White a ent eman g , , , g w raver an d cash started a m a azine in Rich ith b y , g

- m ond Va. called the S ou thern Li terar M essen er , , y g , whi ch at that tim e w as considered a doubtful ’ ” a n an D venture south of M so d ixon s line. Although m any fine writers had com e from the south an d l ent ren own to the r sect on e i er i i , y t l t a ture did n ot seem to prosper in a l and where sl avery was an in stitution ; an d l iberty of thought like a oor rel at ve at a wedd n w as m p i i g, co pelled to take a back seat an d preserve a m odest silence ! Literature cannot prosper where slavery and a tyranny domin te. I n the March an d A ril numbers of the p , year 1 835 we fin d two stor es of Poe in the M es , i senger “ ” an d Morell a wh ch creat , i ed quite a n a ion an d l ted Poe out se s t , if of the comm on rut Whil e the stor es w r of authors. i e e un canny an d wild et there was a literar swee and beau y , y p ty iti r en 5 Wr ng for Litera y Mess ger. 3

about the l ofty lines that struck the reader wi th a ki n d of shudder at the m agnetic au dacity of the “ uth r h r an e bu n a Mr. hi e aid T e c b t o e o . t W s , e opin ion as to the force an d el egan ce of his style. H e discovers a superior capacity an d a highly cul ” tivated taste in composition . enn e h a th u l n d ri f Mr. d t e atron a end o K y, f i f p f hite ro Poe wrote the oll owin l etter to Mr . W , f g , p ri'etor of the M essen er wh ch resu lted in the re p g , i g u l ar em l o men our oet a ass tan edi or p y t of p s is t t ,

- at a sal ary of about forty three doll ars a m onth .

“ B M RE A ril 1 3 1 835. ALTI O , p , DE I di h n r r AR S R : Poe d ri t i efe rin to me. g — g H e i s very cl ever with hi s pen cl assical and d r schol arl ke. H e wants e er en ce an d ection i xp i i , but I have n o doubt he can be m ade very useful u An d oor ell o ! h i s ver oor I to o . w e . y , p f y p told hi m to write som ethi ng f or every n umber of your m agazine an d that you m ight fin d it to your advanta to ive hi m som e erm anent em l ge g p p oy. H e has a vol um e of very bizarre tales in the han ds of in h l adel h a who f or a ear ast has P i p i , y p h been promi sin g to publ ish them . T is young fel l ow i s h hl m a n at ve an d a littl ven o th ig y i gi i , e gi t e i a w ork u n ra ed u I terr c. H s t o a t b t hav ifi e p g y, e turn ed him to drudging upon wh atever m ay m ake m one an d I have n o doubt ou an d he w ll find y, y i ” your account in each other.

Poe wa u n der r eat restraint sociall wh l s g , y, i e ” root n aroun d R chm on d con u r n u tal e i g i , j i g p s and stori es f or the m agazine. I t was said that in 54 llan oe Edgar A P .

fits of mel ancholy or rem orse he would resort to the w n e cu w th old schoolm ates an d en deavor i p i , to drown the rem em bran ce of his early l ove an d

disappointed ambition . i c al Th s l etter to Mr. enn ed conta n n su d i K y, i i g i ’ thou hts betra s oe s state of m n d at that t m e. g , y P i i An y m ortal with a particl e of hum an pity m ust feel a sin cere sym pathy to kn ow that a God- given “ ” en u coul d be so wretched and di d n ot know g i s , “ ” that it i s at all n ecessary to live.

R M N D Se t m r e be 1 1 1 835. ICH O , p , “ DE R S I R : I rece ved a l etter rom Dr . M ll er A i f i , I in wh h he tell s m e ou are in town . hasten ic y , there ore to wr te ou an d e ress b l etter what f , i y , xp y I have alwa s foun d it im ossibl e to ex ress — y p p orally my deep sen se of gratitude f or your tre uen an d n eff ectu al as an e qt i si st c and kin dn ess. n h e h a Through your ki dness M r . W it s been i n duced to e mpl oy m e in assisting him with the ed tor al dut es of hi s m a az ne at a sal ar of i i i g i , y n r d an d twen t ll ar five hu d e y do s per an num . The s tuat on i s a r eeable to m e f or m an reason s but i i g y , , al as ! it appears to m e that n othing can give m e ur or the sl htest rat pl eas e ig g ification . Excuse m e m dear sir in thi s l etter ou fin d m u h , y , if y c M eel n s a h in coheren cy. y f i g t t is m om ent are d I am suf erin un d r pitiabl e indee . f g e a depression of s r ts su ch as I have n ever elt pi i f before. I have struggl ed i n vain again st the in fluen ce of thi s m el an choly ; you will believe me when I say that ' I am still miserabl e in spite of the great im rovement in m circumstan I sa p y ces. y you will “ ritin for Literar essen er 55 W g y M g . believe m e an d f or this s m l e reason that a m an , i p , who i s writing f or eff ect does n ot write thus. My heart i s en be ore ou i b worth read n Op f y ; if t e i g, r I m wr tched an d know n ot wh . Con ead it. a e y l e — u kl r so e m f or ou an . B ut l et it be c o y c qi y, i w Write m e immediatel con t ill be too l ate. y ; ’ v n ce m e that it i s worth one s wh l e that it i s i i , at all n ecessar to live an d ou will rove our y , y p y n ersu ad m to do what self i deed my friend . P e e h I I h t i . d n o m ean t a s rig t do m ean this. o t you should con sider what I n ow w rite you a h m ! f o I h t m w r re est. O t e r eel t a o ds a j , pi y f y Y u w ll n coheren t but I wi ll recover m sel . o i , y f i n ot fail to see that I am suffering un der a de pression of spirits which wil l ru in m e should u rit m e h n an d k it be l ong contin ed. W e t e quic ly ; urge m e to do what i s right. Y our words will have m ore weight wi th m e than the words of o her f or ou were m r en d when no one t s, y y f i F ail n ot as ou valu our ea e of el se was. e c , y y p ”

E . A . P E . mi n d hereafter . O

enned sen ds thi re l : Mr. K y s p y

I am sorry to see you in such a plight as your I is st an e that ust at letter shows you in . t r g j this t m e when ever bod i s ra s n ou an d i , y y p i i g y , when fortun e i s begin n in g to sm ile upon you r h therto wretched c rcu m stan ces ou should be i i , y I bel on s h w i n vaded b these bl ue dev l s. t o y i g , ever to our a e an d tem er to be thus bu feted , y g p f but be assured it on ly wants a littl e resol ution You w l ou to m aster the adversary forever . i l d bt r h in literature an d add to less do well hencefo t , 56 Edgar Allan Poe.

our com orts as w ell as to our re utation y f , y p , which it gi ves m e pl easure to assure you i s every where rising in popul ar esteem .

I n the December M essenger P oe took a fling f or the first tim e at authors in gen eral as a book revi ewer an d ever a ter ke t u hi s attack where , f p p ever hi s pen had free force. H e seem ed delighted to puncture m ediocre an d establ shed authors al ke an d con se uen tl ra sed i i , qy i a host of enemi es that fl ew a d buzzed about his , n ears like m osquitoes from the Dismal Sw amp . ’ Poe s criticism was as searching as a m odern

X- ra and althou h other tr od cr t cs m ht y, g ip i i ig miss the in ternal m i stakes an d m issil es of book wr ters Poe n ever a l ed to l ocate som e error i , f i , an d too often m agn ified it with hi s in tell ectual e r hl ht s a c ig . H e ridicul ed an d tore to pieces the authors ’ of his da an d wh l e m oan n over the w orl d s y, i i g n e lect he shoul d have kn own that a m an sel dom g , receives cou rtesy and kin dness if he does n ot ex

tend it to others. Poe swooped down upon the au thors of his tim e like a hawk into a country poultry yard ; an d the cooks hen s an d ch cken s of the l terar , i i y tribe ran to cover with a startl ed crow an d cackl e that even n ow echoes at the m ention of the crit ’ i c s n am e. Li e is too short to hate each other f , an d l ove i s too sweet to barter f or vengean ce ! H is n ature in l ater ears becam e saturn ne y i , as “ ” “ shown in his Murders of the Rue Mor ue The g , ” “ ” B l ack Cat The all of the H ouse of Usher , F , “ 57 Writing for Literary Messenger.

” “ ” “ The Gold B u Moon oa The Pit and g, H x, ” “ en dulum and A ventures f Sir Gordon P m . P , d o y Even the poetry he wrote breathes but the wail of bu ried hopes an d disappointed ambiti on . Poe revel ed in m steries an d hi tal es and y , s stories are fil led with surprises an d u nexpected dén ouem ents m st n the reader b hi s litera , y ifyi g y ture as well as hi s secretive life. “ H e ull nten ded to l et the w orld uess him f y i g , imi tat n a veil ed ro het whose n uen ce i s i g p p , i fl t m easured i n proporti on to the am oun of fan tas tic gl am ou r thrown aroun d the precin cts of hi s en chantin g san ctum . P oe ossessed the in du str cunnin an d a p y, g p ien ce of a s der an d et whil e weav n subtl e t pi , y i g webs of an c m an blu e- bottl e ies w as s an d f y, y fl , p horn ets Of practical l iterature tore to pieces his finest stru ctures an d l eft him often without food

and shelter . H e seem ed to regard the praise and fame of contemporary authors as a personal rebuke and ul o h m sel won der n at the resum tion i n s t t i f, i g p p and ignoran ce of a ru shing worl d that coul d ad mi re anything but the central sun of Ameri can ur I was however a l easant and literat e ! t , , p ha u sti ed conceit an d attered the ma som ew t j fi , fl i e otism of our enius who took rai se as jest c g g , p the pri ncipal emolum ents of hi s intell ectual l a

bors.

’ I t s human to err divin e to or ive , — f g , Our m otto shou ld be to live an d l et live, ’ h is P E i n sou l an d i n bone An d he w o UR , May throw if he dare a clad or a ston e! an 58 Edgar All Poe.

CHAPTER VI I I . — — M ARRIAGE M AGAZIN E WRITIN GS M IGRATION TO

N EW YORK .

POE sought f or sympathy an d praise from a At cold and cal cul at n world but oun d it n ot. i g , f l ast he turned to the t es of bl ood an d oun d i , f sweet l ove an d devotion in the heart an d soul of — hi s s teen - ear old cous n V r n a Clemm the ix y i , i gi i , ’ dau hter of Mar a P oe his ather s s ster . g i , f i At the age of twen ty- seven he was m arried to hi s con sum t ve rel at ve at Ol d Chr st Church p i i , i , B l m hn ohn s e emb r 2d a t ore b Rev. o S t e i , y J J , p , 1 83 5. A f ew days after this even t he went to Rich hi oun w e w r m h r m on d Va. l eav n s th he ot e , , i g y g if i in B altim ore ; but a f ew m on ths afterwards they were a a n un ted wh l e he was wr t n stor es g i i , i i i g i an d cuttin g reviews f or the S outhern L iterary Mes en er s g . Poe w arm ed over the col d meats of l iterature an d dished them up f or the del ectation of hi s “ A Manuscri t F ou southern readers. p nd in a

6 0 r llan Edga A Poe.

’ s ired r r an l at the p o afflicted my hea t d sou . Wh s u se of sneaking an d lying about a m atter of fact ? L et others in hom e church an d state l a the , , , p y h ocr te I shall n ot do it an d wh l e I l ve shall yp i , , i i never kn owin gly con sent to use a particl e of policy in my prin cipl e ! f r h l r u he The pl ain words o M . W ite c ea p t ’ mu rky atm osphere of Poe s comm en ders an d critics.

MY DEAR EDGAR : I cann ot address you in such l anguage as this occasion an d my feelings de m an d ; I m u st be content to speak to you in my l a n wa p i y. “ That you are sincere i n all your promi ses I B ut when ou on ce a a n tr a firmly bel ieve. y g i e d these street I have my fears that your resol ution s w ll a l an d that ou will a a n dr nk t ll our i f i , y g i i i y sen ses are l ost. “ I f ou rel on our own stren th ou are one y y y g y g . Unl ess you l ook to you r M aker f or help you will H ow m u h I re ret d n ot be safe. c g te in parting m ou i kn own to H im onl an d m l I had fro y s y yse f . becom e attached to ou I am st ll an d I would y ; i , ‘ ’ w ll n l sa return did n ot a kn owl e i i g y y , dge of your past life m ake m e dread a speedy ren ewal I f ou w u of our separation . y o l d m ake yoursel f contented w th u arters in m hou se or w th an i q y , i y r vate am l where l uor i s n ot used I h p i f i y iq , s ould think there was som e hope f or you . B ut if you o to a tavern or to an lace where it is u sed g , y p at tabl e ou are n ot sa e . , y f “ Y ou have fine tal ents Ed ar an d ou ou , g , y ght — Marriage Magaz ine Writings. 6 1

h l L earn to ave them respected as well as yourse f . to respect yoursel f an d you will soon fin d that you r u an and w ll do a e respected . Tell me if yo c i ; so . “ I f ou becom a ain an assi stan t in m office y e g y , it i s to be strictly un derstood that all engagem ents n m a a h u e drunk I o y p rt ce se t e m oment yo g t . am ou true r end , y r f i , T E . . W. WHIT

“ ” “ The oem s I srafel and The Cit of Sin p y ,

first- cl ass roducti on s a eared i n the Au ust p , pp g num ber of the M essen er an d in anuar an d g , J y “ F ebruar 1 837 hi s rst ch a ters of the Narra y, , fi p tive of Arthur Gordon P m ro essedl a er y , p f y p son al sea e erien ce was ven to the worl d an d xp , gi , created quite a stir am ong gen eral readers as well

as literary critics. “ ” Gordon Pym w as publi shed in book form by e l 3 the ar r B rothers in u 1 8 8 . H p J y,

- - Poe an d his w e an d m other in l aw Mrs. if ,

‘ Cl emm rem oved to N ew Y ork in the s r n of , p i g 1 837 an d rem ain e there un til the oll owin all , d f g f 1 8 of 38 . Whil e writing on the Revi ew Poe had full swin with hi s literar sc the an d cut nto the g y y , i rank m eadow of current periodical s an d books with a bol d an un s arin han d r ck n with the d p g , p i i g cambric n eedl e of hi s gen iu s the pimpl es an d warts of l ocal l terature or sl ashin nto the tall i , g i

timbers of n oted authors with a broadaxe. We fin d Poe an d his wife residing in m odest

uarters at 1 1 3 Carmin e Street where Mrs. Cl emm q , n 62 Edgar Alla Poe. kept a boarding- house to drive the wol f from the door as m an a nel reared w om an had done , y fi y e or h r b f e e . The fin ancial help that P oe gave to the support h am l coul d n ot have been m u ch as ten of t e f i y , doll ars a week seem ed to be the pay of n ewspaper h an d m agazin e wr iters of t at day. d wan a ot h A dealer in old books, n ame Go s, Sc c r hm an or h hen ated non descr t tell s the f ol I is , yp ip , l owing ful som e story of Poe and hi s beautiful Virgini a :

I will al so show you my opinion of this gifted r n ate n I t m a be est m ated as but un fo tu ge ius. y i worth l ttl e but it has th s m er t— it com es rom i , i i f an e an d ear witn ess an d th s it m ust be re ye ; i ,

m embered i s the ver h hest of l e al ev den ce. , y ig g i F or eight m onths or m ore on e house contain ed us on e tabl e f ed ! D ur n that t me I saw much , i g i him an d had an o ortun t of convers n w th of , pp i y i g i him o ten an d I m ust sa I n ever saw him the f , y l east af ected w th l u or n or even descen d to an f i iq, y e while he was on e of the most our known vi c , c te ous entl em an l an d intell ent com anion s I , g y, ig p have met with during my j ourneyings an d haltings throu h d vers divi s on s of the l obe bes des he g i i g ; i , had an extra in ducem ent to be a good m an as well as a ood hu sban d for he had a w e of g , if l H m atchl ess beauty an d l ove iness. er eyes could m atch that of an h ou r an d her ace de the y i, f fy gen ius of a Can ova to im itate a temper an d dis os t on of sur assin sweetn ess besides h p i i p g ; , s e seemed as much devoted to him and hi s every in rr — az ine rit n s 63 M a iage M ag W i g .

- terest as a young m other i s to her first born . Poe had a rem arkabl l easing and — y p prepossessing coun ten an ce what the l adies would ” l a call decided y h ndsome.

L O VE .

n aut ver lin er L ove a d be y e g s, k the blush u on the owers Li e p fl , Spr eadin g hop e with fairy fin gers

Throu h the darkest lon eli est hours. g , An d when every earthly pl easure Takes i ts reeli n li htn in i ht g g g fl g ,

L ove is still our radian t treasure, itterin t r o ni ht b ike the gl g s a s f g . t r nn o chi l l i ts l or Win e ca t g y, I t can all the wor ld de fy, ’ n d twill shin e in son an d tor A g s y, F or true l ove can n ever die! n 64 Edgar Alla Poe.

PTER CHA I X.

LI F E I N L DE P —0 111 131 0 1 811 8 or UT RS PHI A L HIA A HO .

WE find Poe an d hi s fam ily in Philadelphi a in the all of 1 839 wr t n occas on all f or the N orth f , i i g i y Am eri can Ma azin e of B alt m ore ubl shed b g i , p i y n l N athan 0 . B rooks ; a d a so an assistant editor f or ’ the Gen tleman s Ma azin e of hil adel h a own ed g P p i , b Willi am E B urton a ormer En lish ome y . , f g c

Mr . B rooks of B altim ore was an ious tha Poe , , x t shoul d write a review of the works of Washington I rv n who was the most n ot d Am i i g, e er can author of hi s da . Poe it seem s had other wo k y , , r on hand u t a hat time an d decl n e s t t d the ro fe d . j , i p f re job H e had time enou h however to sa to B roo : g , , y ks “ 1 can hardly say that I am conversant with I r ’ ri in hav n read n hi vi ng s w t gs, i g ot ng of hi s since ” “ I rv n i s m uch rr I w as a bo . ove ated y i g , and a n ice distinction might be drawn between hi s j ust ” an d hi rre titious an d adventitious re u s su p p tati on . “ I f you would del ay the Revi ew I would be happy to do my bes I t seems that Poe never di d undertake to root ife in ila l ia 6 5 L Ph de ph . an d pl ough up the works of I rving ; yet he was ” willing to assail the best cl assical write r of our countr con clud n t the s art that the auth r y, i g a t o “ ” “ ” “ of the Cra on a ers Gran ada B ra y P p , , ce “ ” “ brid e all an d Alham ra wa a mu g H b , s ch over

rated m an . “ I n the spring an d summ er of 1 840 The F all ” “ of the ou se of Usher an d the stor of Will am H , y i ” ’ Wil son a eared in the Gen tleman s Ma azin e pp g , and created a m arked sen sation in the reading rld Poe e m ed t b a n wo . s e o e ag i sailing on the high t de of ros erit but as usual his restless n atur i p p y ; , , e “ ” n ever knew when to l et well en ou h al on e an d g , break ook l a e w en hi an B ur on a t ce b t e m d Mr . t p , h r t e p oprietor of the m agaz in e. letter of con ess on an d remorse eriodical A f i , p e ullitio o was w r n B urton n b n s of P e tte to Mr. a , i , d h a n l m an w th a or v n n u t t e t e at re l ke Mr . g , i f gi i g , i White of R chm on d an swered the wa l of our oet i , i p , wi in out the old score of in d screti on s but at p g i , the sam e tim e warn in g his brilliant empl oyee in the foll owing l an guage. ! The world has a very forgiving spirit f or a gen ius. )

I am sorry that you thought it n ecessary to sen d Y our troubl es hav iven m e such a l etter . e g a m or bid tone to ou r eel n s wh ch it i s our dut to y f i g , i y y I m sel have been as severel ha e discourage. y f y n dl d b the world as ou can ossibl have been but y y p y , my suff erings have n ot tin ged my m in d with m el anchol n or aun diced m views of societ y, j y y. “ Y ou m ust rouse ou r en er ies an d if car a y g , e s sail ou con uer it. I w ll ladl overlook the y , q i g y 66 All oe Edgar an P .

a I h u wi ll as easil ul ll our led es p st. ope yo y f fi y p g f or h u We shal l a ree ver well thou h t e f ture. g y , g I cann ot perm it the magazin e to be m ade a vehicl e ‘ f or that sort of severity which you think i s so su c ’ I am trul m uch l ess anx cessf ul with the m ob. y ‘ ’ i ou s about m aking a m on thly sensation than I am u n f a rn es pon the poi t o f i s. “ Y ou m u st m dear sir et rid of our avow ed , y , g y l n u o h r u h Y ou see I fee i g towar ds yo r br t e a t ors. speak plain ly ; I cann ot do otherwise u pon such a h ‘h ’ Y ou sa t e eo l e l ov avoc . I h n k subj ect. y p p e t i h h n k u u r l l t e l ove ust ce. I t o o se wou d y j i i y , y f, n hav wr e h l n r D ot e itt n t e artic e o M . awes in a r e am n tram m l d m o e h althy state of m in d . I ot e e by any vulgar con sideration of expe dien cy ; I w ould rather l ose m on ey than by such un due severity woun d the feelings of a kin d - hearted hon orabl e

m an . “ Now I am sat s ed that D aw es has someth n , i fi i g f h ru fi in im I re re tted our o t e t e re h . g y word h u I catc in s r t. B t w an der rom m des n g pi i f y ig . I accept your proposition to recom m en ce your in terru ted avocat on s on the m a azi n e L et us p i g . m eet as we had n ot e han e m if xc g d l etters. Use ore e erc se wr te when eel n rom ts an d b x i , i f i g p p , e as n h Y u w l sur ed of my frie ds ip . o i l soon regain a healthy activity of mi n d an d l augh at your past ” vagaries.

Mr Ru us Dawes re erred to b Mr . . B urton f , f y , was con sidered by the public on e of the best poets “ of hi s da an d m an re arded hi s Gerald y, y g ine an d “ Athen a of Dam ascus as first- class i .

68 Edgar Allan Poe. sity ! A beautiful an d brilliant flower exhal es its sweetest perfum e on ly when cru shed ; so the im pul sive product of genius thril l s an d enl ighten s m an n ki d . R chard enr Stoddard a erson al ac ua nt i H y , p qi “ ’ an ce an com l er of the l e of Poe sa s : oe s d pi if , y P n arrow but acute min d enabl ed him to detect the verbal ault ho Whom he cr t c sed but it f s of t se i i i , di squalified him from perceiving their m en tal qual

t es. H e m astered the l etter but the s rit es i i , pi ca ed him H e advan ced n o cr ti al r n ci l e p . i c p i p which he established ; he attacked n o critical prin i l wh h h rthr H e brok a f ew butter c p e ic e ove ew . e

es on his wheel but he destro ed n o re utation . fli , y p ” H e w as a powerl ess iconocl ast ! “ ” Y et thi s narrow but acute mind produced this soul - sigh

M WI TH I N A DRE DREA AM.

Take this kiss upon thy brow! An d i n ar ti n rom ou n o , p g f y w, Thus much l et m e avow Y ou are n ot wron who de g, em That my days have been a dream; Yet if hope has flown away I n a ni ht or in a da g , y, I n a vi i on or i n n o s , n e, I s i t therefor e the l ess gone ?! All that we see or seem I s but dream th a wi in a dream. 69 Life in Philadelphia.

I stan d amid the r oar

a sur - torm en ted shore Of f , And I hold with my han d Grains of the golden san d H ow few! yet how they cr eep Throu h m n ers to the dee g y —fi g p, While I weep w hi l e I weep ! O God ! can I n ot grasp Them with a tighter clasp ? O God ! can I n ot save On e from the pitil ess wave ? I s all that we see or seem B ut a dream withi n a dream 9 70 ar llan Poe Edg A .

CHAPTER X . — AT SPRI NG GARDEN FAM ILY FELICITY “ ’ ” G N E RAHAM S M AGAZI .

TH E re- established rel ations with B urton seemed to give a temporary sol ace an d profitabl e occupa e fin him l v n in a neat an d tion to Poe. W d i i g com ortabl e cotta e at S r n Garden a suburb f g p i g , of h l adel h a surroun ded b the l ovin in flu P i p i , y g en ce of hi s delicate w ife an d en ergetic m other- in ’ l aw Mr l hr u h ll h oet s v c s s. C emm who t o a t e , , g p i i situdes acted the con stant part of guardian angel . The literary atm osphere of Phil adelphia was sunn an d con en al an d its roverb al hos ital t y g i , p i p i y and loyalty was exten ded to Poe by n eighbors an d n ewm ade frien ds. Ca ta n Ma n e Re d the I rish n ovelist seem ed p i y i , , to be on r en dl term s w th Poe an re uentl f i y i , d f qy r h H e d scri he vi sited him at hi s ru al ome. e bes t house as n eat an d snu surrounded b trees tra l g, y , i in v nes an d bl oomin owers m ade m u s cal b g i g fl , i y the songs of variegated birds an d cool ed by the vagrant zephyrs that skipped across the waters of ome at rin r n H Sp g G a de . 7 1 the Schu lkill when sunset ra s ur led the ath y , y p p g ering shadows of the dying day ! ’ S eak n of oe s oun w e Re d sa s : N p i g P y g if , i y o one who remembers that dark- eyed daughter of the south her ace so e uisitel l ovel her en tl e , f xq y y ; g , graceful dem ean or ; n o on e who has ever spent an hour in her societ but w ll en dorse what I have y, i said of this l ad who was the m ost del cate real za y, i i ’ tion of h B ut he bl oom u on her t e poet s idea] . t p heck w s r h a on u c a too b ight f or eart . I t w s c s mp ’ — tion s col or that sadly beautiful light that beck on s to an early grave. M Cl m d h a ri rs. e m i s escribed by t e s m e flo d author as foll ows :

She was the ever vigi l ant guardian of the house watchin over the com ort of her two ch l , g f i dren kee in ever thin n eat an d cl ean so as to , p g y g , pl ease the fastidious eyes of the poet ; going to market an d bringing home the l ittl e delicacies that their limited m ean s would allow ; going to ubl shers with a oem a criti ue or stor an d p i p , q y, often returning without the much n eeded m oney.

What a faithful sl ave to l ove an d duty ; an d how s an d atheti c the si ht to see a oor ractical ad p g p , p fem al e hou sekeeper trudging the streets of a great c t searchi n rom office to of ce f or som e ub i y, g f fi p lisher or editor who would listen to her story an d deign to l ook over an d purchase the m ental pro “ ” ducti on s of her darling Eddie ! F ew poets have ever been bl essed with such a n d on e who in the dee est val e of ad faithful frie , , p versit woul d ersisten tl overl ook an d e cuse y, p y x 72 n Edgar Alla Poe.

the aults o en ius an d m antle w th kin d words f f g , i an d flowers the pall et of poverty or the dungeon of di s grace. I f God is good H e must certainly have a sn ug corn u of m an m an s ons where er in H i s ho se y i ,

- such l ove lit ure sou l s as those of Mrs. Cl em m , p are cheered an d cherished with everl asting happi ness as a sl ht recom en se f or the un sel sh tri al s , ig p fi they have en dured on this sin - cursed an d sordid u f su h l ovel an d eaut ul r ure earth . O t o c y b if c eat s angel s are m ade ! Where i s the m an l iving who w ll su fer in s l en ce in sorrow or in overt as i f i , p y, l ong as a true wom an ? ’ The Gen tl eman s Magazin e an d The Casket ’ were m erged into Graham s Magazi n e in N ovem

R . raha m h ber 1 840 Mr . Geor e G m beco n t e , , g i g

ro r etor . P oe cont nued as ed tor and i n his p p i i i , “ ” “ ” m onthly reviews m ade it red hot f or the stru l n authors of his da sl ash n r ht an d gg i g y, i g ig l e t w th his m erc l ess ad ect ves v c ous verbs f i i j i , i i “ ” an d naked n oun s ! I n the interval of hi s m agazine hack work he foun d tim e to com pose an d publish a l ot of b orri “ bl e an d im ossible stories su ch as The Murders p , ” “ of the Rue Mor ue The M ster of Mar Ro g , y y y ”

et an d The u rl oined L etter . These were g , P sen sation al to the h hest de ree an d even now ig g , “ ” h iv the sen s t ve reader the sh vers in t ey g e i i i , peru sing their compl icated an d unearthly plots.

B ut the sold an d l eased the m ob. y , p I n the spring of 1 841 P oe becam e acqu ainted i h u us Wilmot Gri swold a ul tl ess w t Rev. R f , p pi i her who betra ed an itchin f or B apt st preac , y g ome a rin ar H t Sp g G den. 73

literature an d preten ded to a critical knowledge of oetr H e m p y . co pil ed The Poets an d Poetry of Am er ca rom the earl ol on al da s down to i , f y c i y 1 855—m ore than a hun dred ver tabl e atriots i p , who n o doubt all im a in ed that the m antl of , , g e om er orace D ante an d Shakes eare would H , H , p , n ot m ake a respectabl e vest for their greatn ess ! B o ra hical sketches were iven m ostl in l auda i g p g , y tor atter n l an u a e to tickl e the vanit of y, fl i g g g , y the authors an d at the sam e tim e enl ist their ef forts in the sal e of the book ! Griswol d seem ed to be a bu sin ess fell ow ; an d whil e he cared n ot a straw f or all the poets in creation he kn ew how to make him self sol id with the proprietor of Gra ’ ham s Ma azin e an d n all succeeded i n l an din g , fi y g “ ” Poe outside the breastworks of that m aterial “ ” ’ P e kn d r s old o r ook periodi cal . o ife G i w s p et y b an d that broke the frien dship . After floun deri ng about Phil adelphia a coupl e of ears Poe as usual became restl ess an d si hed y , , , , g e h a f or n ew scenes an d stran ge avocation s. H ad literar r n d n am ed F reder ck W ll am Thom as y f ie i i i , who had secured a Governm en t cl erkship in Wash i n on Cit an d Poe as a l ast resort a l ed f or a gt y, pp i Government ob where the w ork would be eas j , y d h m ol um ents su re while to in amon the an t e e , y g g pigeonhol es of cl erical circuml ocution . I t seem s that he kn ew Presiden t Tyl er an d hi s ” “ ” son B ob an d be n a son of Old V r nia an d a , i g i gi

- r é f ostm aster General ohn . enned p otég o P J P K y, i s ll n cl ear he thought he saw h ca i g . Po sa s in l etter to hi s r en d Thom as dated e y a f i , “ r 41 : I would be lad to et almost Jul !, 4th, 1 8 g g 74 Edgar Allan Poe.

an a ointm nt even a five- hun dred- doll ar ne y pp e , o , so that I have something in depen dent of l etters f or ’ a l u T co n on e s brain n l ver d i y s bsisten ce. o i i to si an d old at the n od of a m aster i s to m think g , y ” i n h hard i h worl d ! g, t e est task n t e I n another wail of anguish he excl aim s : I — wish to God I could visit Washington but the old stor ou kn ow— I have n o m on e n n ou h y, y y; ot e g to take m e there n n sa othi n of ett n back . , yi g g g i g I t is a hard thin g to be poor ; but as I am kept ” so b an hon est m o v I a y ti e d re n ot compl ain . Poor fellow ! What a providen tial thing it was f or hum anity at l arge that Edgar All an Poe “ ” m issed that five- hun dred- doll ar cl erkship ! I n all robab l t w th his soc al an d l an u sh n p i i y, i i g i i g n ature had he been a o nted to a Governm ent , pp i cl erkship he would have drifted into a rut of de en dence s co han c and in an t m ovin al on p , y p y i y, g g i n his tread m ll avocat on am on m ust l es or i i g y fi , tortured with D epartmental rul es an d orders of “ ” som e ett t rant a uff ed- u scrub rom the , f p y y p p — back woods in temporary power and thu s situ “ ” ated the worl d would have l ost Annabel Lee , “ ” “ ” The B ell s, an d The Raven . ” A verse from The Conquering Worm show s ’ h at f oe s l oom m n d he sad d t e st e o P g y i , t ram a of the wor ld ass n be ore him like a blood writh p i g f y, ing serpent : — — Out out are the lights out all ! An d over each uiveri n orm q g f , The curtain a un eral all , f p Comes down with the rush of a storm,

76 llan Edgar A Poe.

TE CHAP R XI .

— “ REM OVAL TO N EW YORK WORK ON TH E DAILY ” R — ERR N M IRRO ATIC ATURE .

R M rel uctantl l ost P o r m hi MR . G AHA y e f o s z n H e had ust added t his li erar l aur l m aga i e. j o t y e s “ ” Th Gol B u a r ze stor f or wh ch he a e d g, p i y i c p n m n tu red on e hundred doll ars. I co peti g f or literar rizes o fered b ractical ubl shers Poe y p f y p p i , invariably carried off the hon ors from all com etitors showin hi s su er or enius in the com p , g p i g l an d i I n hi position of thril ing tal es stor es. s line of fantastic and frantic literature he has had n o e ual or su erior in Ameri ca and this ver act q p , y f m ade him a constant tar et livin and dead f or g , g , the arrows of mu ddl ed m edi ocrit that i s e er y, v enviou s of a shi n ing m ark . The uncharitable cen sures of Gri swold over the cold rem ains of the dead poet find a consoling con m f h i n miu s o Mr. r trast n the e co G a am , who w as conversan ith the da l l e of our n u t w i y if ge i s. H e “ says : I shall never forget how solicitous of the happiness of hi s wife and mother- ih - l aw he was Removal to New York. 77

’ a in whilst one of the editors of Graham s Mag z e. H is whole eff orts seem ed to be to procure the com e t for fort and wel fare of his littl e home. Exc p their ha iness an d the n atural amb t on of hav pp , i i in a m a azine of his own I n ever heard hi m de g g , l Th truth i s he cared ore the w ant of wealth . e p , littl f or m on e an d knew less of its val ue f or he e y , What he re seem ed to have n o person al expen ses. ceived rom m e in re ul ar m onthl n stalments f , g y i , went directly into the han ds of hi s m other- in - l aw f or am l com orts an d twic onl I rem ember f i y f , e y his purchasin g som e rather expen sive l uxu ries f or his hom e an d then he was n ervou s to the de ree , g of miser un t l he had b e tra art cles covered y, i , y x i , h d d n n e w at he con si ered an impru e t i d btedness. “ H is l ove f or hi s wife w as a sort of rapturou s worshi of the s ir of beaut wh ch he elt w as p p it y, i f I fading away before hi s eyes. have seen him hoverin aroun d her when she was ill with all g , the fon d fear an d ten der an xiety of a m other f or her first- born her sl htest cou h cau s n him , ig g i g u d art hill h i l a sh d er a he c t at was v s b e. I rode , i out on e su mm er even in w ith them an d the re g , m embran ce of hi s watchful eyes eagerly bent upon the sli htest chan e of hue in that l oved ace g g f , h u h m r ad r in a nts m e yet as t e m e o y of a s st a . “ I t was the hourly anticipation of her l oss that m ade him a sad an d thou ht ul m an an d lent a g f , ” n mournf ul mel ody to hi s un dyin g so g . ’ After Poe relinquished hi s hold on Graham s Magazin e he en deavored f or a year to secure sub scribers f or a m a azine to be call ed the S t lus to g y ,

l ark. be published in conjunction with Mr. C Not 78 Edgar Allan Poe. withstandin hi fort s in hi l adel hia N ew g s ef P p , Y ork R chm ond an d Wash n ton he a l ed to et , i i g , f i g n ever even five hun dred paying subscribers. H e — learn ed the worldly in jun ction to crook the preg n an hi n es of the knee that thr t m a oll ow t g , if y f l n t are n ot e erts in that e. fawn in g. Poe s xp i P or than a m on th in Wash n ton oe spent m e i g , ’ endeavoring to secure hi s southern frien ds patron a e f or his cher shed St lus an d a l ed er g i y , pp i p sonally to President Tyl er an d cabinet f or sup port. B rad the n oted hoto ra her tol d m e in y, p g p , 1 866 that he m et P oe in March 1 843 at the house , , of a w dow B arrett where he was room n on i , i g N ew Y ork Avenue south s de n ear the u n ct on , i , j i “ of an d Th rteenth Streets ad oin n alls of H i , j i g H ” the An cients. Poe it seem s was en o n hi m sel with hi s , , j yi g f “ ” r n Thomas an d the bo s a e d Mr . n m or f i , y , p yi g e n n o B a hu han o u n I n n o atte tio t cc s t t b si ess. o e f “ hi s mood m om ents as B rad e ressed it he y , y xp , “ ” r dr h wrote the fi st aft of T e Raven . This fac l ark l simi le l etter to Mr . C wi l show the forlorn condition of Poe at thi s tim e :

80 Edgar Allan Poe.

I n the fal l of 1 844 P oe rem oved from Phil adel hia to New Y ork an d took u hi s l terar task p , p i y of sub - ed tor on th E ven in Mirr or a a er m ade i e g , p p n oted in its day by the delicate an d felicitous writ i ll . ngs of N . P . Wi is ’ I n ctober 1 859 ten ears a ter oe s death O , , y f P , r n r Gen Mr . W l l s i n wr t n to hi s orm er a t e i i , i i g f p , eral Geor e Morr s ves the oll ow n en cture g i , gi f i g p pi ’ of our poet s daily life :

Poe cam e to u s u te n c den tall n either of qi i i y, u s having been person ally acqu ainted with him till that t me an d hi s os t on towards u s an d con i ; p i i , n ection w th u s of cou rse u naf ected b cl a m s i , , f y i of rev ou s r endsh were a a r avera e of his p i f i ip, f i g en eral ntercours an m r n A g i e d i p essio s. s he was a m an who never sm iled an d n ever said a propitia tor or de recat n w ord we were n ot l kel o y p i g , i y t have been seized with any su dden partiality or w ayward caprice in his favor . I t was rather a ste down ward a ter be n the chi e p , f i g f ed tor of several m on thl es as Poe had been to i i , , com e into the office of a daily j ourn al as a m echan I i u ical paragraphist. t was h s b siness to sit at a desk in a corn er of the ed tor al room read to be i i , y call ed u pon f or any of the m iscell an eou s work of the day ; yet you rem ember how absolutely an d how good - hum oredly ready he was f or an y sug gestion ; how pu n ctu ally an d in dustriously reliable i n the foll owing out of the wish once expressed ; how cheerful an d present- minded hi s work when he might excusably have been so li stless an d ah

82 Edgar Allan Poe. and was abused an d v ilified f or even trying to get out of the dark sl ough of fin an cial desponden cy. The shirt of N em esis cl un g cl ose to his restless bod an d ever room he ten an ted w th our bare y, y i f ll o l ose in on his e ectat on s an d wa s seemed t c xp i , rush his ho es l eav n onl the w l d w tches of c p , i g y i i fear and dou bt to croon their m ourn ful dirges in to

his startl ed l sten n ear . , i i g H e m a ned that ever m an w as hi s enem an d i gi y y, that th world bore onl th stles br ars an d o son e y i , i p i v nes n ot kn ow n oor ell ow that these l oom i , i g, p f , g y con ju ration s were but the flitting ghosts of hi s satan c sel an d n ot the sw eet an el that could at i f, g t m es re n over hi s beaut ul sen s t ve l o t i ig if , i i , f y

m in d. I n m om ents of m en tal tortu re an d person al poverty he betook him self to the con soling an d obl viou s n uen ce of the w n e cu th nk n to i i fl i p, i i g ban ish the devil s of care an d drown the recoll ec “ ” B u h r s r tion s of what m ight have been . t t e e o t to B acchus f or relief only added to his discom fiture an a n l eav n a rostrate w reck to m ourn d p i , i g p

the l os of van shed r en ds ortun e an d l or . s i f i , f g y Many m en before him have tried thi s pan acea f or their corrod n troubles an d n ow an d herea ter i g , f the will turn to the sam e s arkl n all urin w n e y p i g , g i cup f or con sol ation ; but vain shall be their eff orts to secu re that ha ness evol ved on l in a health ! ppi , y

tem erate bod an d a ood reasonable sel - reliant p y g , , f

m in d. “ Poe was ever walk n in the vall e of unrest i g y , wi shing f or the un attainable and sighing ; Removal to New York. 83

Over the violets there that lie I n myriad types of the human eye Over the lili es there that wave ” An d weep above a namel ess grave ! 84 Edgar Allan Poe.

CHAPTER XI I .

“ COMP OSI TI ON OF TH E RAVEN .

rav an d dar n a t f or Poe oor I T was a b e i g c , p n dl ess to throw his l terar lance into and frie , i y Gotham that bo l n caul dron of intermin led , i i g g vice an d v rtue riot an d r ches reed and reat i , i , g g ness that revel in the l cent ou s l a rs of B a ter , i i i x Str et the B ower an d B roadwa and on to e , y y, th lu urious sen suous haunts of F i th Avenue e x , f , Central ark an d arl em e hts ! P , H H ig “ ” The Raven was first published anonym ously a e in the Ameri c n R vi ew, in the m onth of Pebru “ ” un der the n on d lum of u ar 1 845 e e arl es. y, , p Q I t was some tim e after before it appeared i n the Evenin Mirror an d accred ted to P w g i oe, ith a ul som revi ew b N . . W llis wh f e y P i , o was noth in if not ol te l au dator su erservi g p i , y, p ceable in hi s flattering en com ium s. H e was the direct Op “ ” osito of Poe re err n to sa n ce thin s p , p f i g y i g about eo l e knowi n ull well l k h p p ; g f , i e t e I rish “ m an who s reads on hi s en al bl arne th p g i y, at “ ” k nd words are m ore than coronets an d i , will eventually return to console and delight the ih

86 Edgar Allan Poe.

Why Poe should put out The Raven under “ ” the n am e of Quarl es has alw ays been a mystery to m any of his person al an d l iterary frien ds ; hid i n h m sel un der an assum ed n am e m st n g i f , y ifyi g h and cl ou din g his identity l ike the ink fis .

’ I n Poe s essay on The Phil osophy of Compo sition he takes u teen a es of t e in ex , p fif p g yp “ ” pl ainin g how he came to write The Raven . N o l awyer ever made m ore of a special pl ea f or a cl en t or en deavore b anal t cal hrases to rove i , d y y i p p r T an unb ased er authorship f or the ve ses. o i p son reading between the lin es Poe puts him self on h de n s ve when n o on e at that t me t e fe i , i thought of doubting ; an d yet the foll owing adm is “ ” sion s from hi s own pcn pluck The Raven of a reat m an of its antast c eathers that m a have g y f i f , y “ ” been borrowed from The Parrot !

I t will n ot be regarded as a breach of de corum on my part to show the m odus operan di by w hich som e of my own works were put together. ‘ ’ o n r I sel ect The Raven as m st ge e ally kn own . “ I t i s my design to ren der it m an ifest that n o on e point in its composition i s referabl e to acci ” dent Or imitation ! a: a: a: a:

As a ke n ote to the con struction of the oem y p , I did n ot fail to perceive imm ediately that n o one ” ad be n so un versall em l o ed as the re rain h e i y p y f .

a: a: z . a: a:

I n such a search it w ould have been absolutely impossibl e to overlook the word “ ” om ositi C p on of The Raven. 87

“ I mmediately arose ! in my m ind) the idea of a n on - reason n creature ca able of s eech an d i g p p ; , ver n atural l a arrot in the rst in stan ce su y y, p , fi , g ested itsel but was su erseded orthw th b a g f, p f i y ” raven l 3k

I m ay as well say a f ew words of the versifica ‘ ’ t on of The Raven . F or cen tur es n o m an i n i i , , verse has ever done or ever seem ed to th nk of , i ” doing an origin al thing ! a: as a:

Of course I preten d to n o origin al ity in either ‘ ’ the rhythm or m etre of The Raven What origi ‘ ’ nality The Raven has i s in its combination i nto

stanza.

As the l ast chapter i n thi s volum e will be de “ v d to the I tal an oem The arrot com ote i p , P , osed in 1 809 I n sert here the Am er can oem p , i i p , h aven com osed i n 1 845 an d l et the reader T e R , p , draw hi s own concl usion .

TH E RAVEN .

on a midni ht drear while I ondered On ce up g y, p , k an d wear wea y, O ver many a quain t an d curi ous volum e of forgot

ten l or e, r While I n odded n ear l na in , suddenl the e , y pp g y cam a ta e pping, 88 ar Allan Poe Edg .

As o o on en tl ra in ra in at f s me e g y pp g, pp g chamber door : “ ’ ” Tis some visitor I muttered ta in at , ; pp g chamber door h t r On ly t is and n o hing mo e.

r Ah distinctl I remember it was in the bl eak , y , e e e D c mb r, ' An d each separate dying ember wrought i ts ghost

upon the floor. Eagerly I wished the m arrow; vain ly I had o ht t borrow s ug o — F rom my books surcease of sorrow sorrow for the l ost L en ore F or the rare and radian t m aiden whom the angels name L en ore mel her or e er o Na ess e f v m re.

' An d the silken sad un certain rustlin o each , , g f purple curtai n Thri ll ed m e ll ed m e with an tastic terrors n ever , fi f , felt before; So that n ow to still the beatin o m heart I , g f y , stood re eati n p g, “ ’ Tis som e visitor en treatin g entran ce at my chamber door Som e late visi tor en treating en tran ce at my cham ber door is i n n hin more Th t is a d ot g .

90 ar Allan Edg Poe.

L et me see then what thereat is and this m ster , , , y y explore Let m hear t be sti ll a m omen t an d this m ster y , y y ex lore p , ’ Ti th in an d n oth m e s e w d ing or .

en here I un the shutter when with man a Op fl g , , y irt an d utter fl fl , I n there stepp ed a stately Raven of the sai n tly days of yore: N ot the l east obeisan ce made he; n ot a mi nute sto ed or sta ed he pp y , B ut with mi en o l ord or lad erched abov m , f y, p e y chamber door P erched upon a bust of Pallas just above my cham ber door

P erched an d sat an d n othi n more , , g .

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fan cy i n to smilin g, B y the grave an d stern decorum of the coun te

nan ce it wor e, Thou h th crest be shorn an d shaven thou g y , , “ ar r e ra e I said, t su n o c v n , Ghastl rim an d an ci en t Raven wan derin rom y, g , g f the nightly shor e ’ Tell me what thy l ordly nam e is on the night s ” Plutoni an shore ! “ oth the Raven N evermore Qu , . “ ” Com osition of The Ra n p ve . 9 1

Much I m arvelled this u n gain ly fow l to hear dis course so lai n l p y, — Though i ts answer littl e m ean ing li ttl e r el evan cy bore; F or w e can not help agreein g that n o living hu m an being Ever yet was bl essed wi th seei ng bird above his chamber door B ird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his h m r oor c a be d , “ h m e e er m o e With suc na as N v r .

B u t the Raven sittin lon el on that lacid bus t , g y p , spoke on ly That on e wor d as i his sou l in that on e word he , f did out our p , N othin ur ther then he u tter ed n ot a eather g f , f then he fluttered Till I scarcel m ore than m u ttered ther ri en ds y , O f have flown befor e On the m arrow H E wi ll l eave m e as my hopes

have flown befor e. “

h h ir i e r m ore. T en t e b d sa d, N ve

Star tl ed at the stilln ess br oken by r eply so aptly s oken p , “ ” “ oubtless said I what i t u tters is i ts on l D , , y to k n d stor e s c a , Caught from som e un happy m aster whom un m erci ful Disaster 92 Edgar Allan Poe.

F oll owed ast an d oll ow ed aster ti ll the f f f , on en ore e bwrd b , Ti ll the di rges of his H ope that m elan choly den bore ‘ Of N ever

B ut the Raven stil l beguiling all my sad soul in to smi lin g, Straight I wheel ed a cushi on ed seat in fron t of ir an d bust an d door b d, , ; Then u on the vel vet sin kin I betook m sel , p g, y f to lin king an c un to an c thin kin what this omi n ous F y f y, g bird of yore What this r im u n ain l hastl aun t an d g , g y, g y g , omin ous bird of yore “ e e or M an t i n croakin g N verm e.

Th I sat en a e i n uessin but n o s llabl e us g g d g g, y expressin g To the fow l whose fiery eyes n ow burned in to ’ my bosom s cor e; or I t di vinin wi th m h ad at This an d m e sa g, y e ease reclin in g ’ On the cushi on s velvet lining that the lamp - light ’ loate o er g d ,

t whose velvet vi ol et lin in with the lam - li ht B u g, p g ’ gl oatin g o er h ll ress ah n evermore ! SH E s a p , ,

9 llan 4 Edgar A Poe.

I t shall clas a sain ted maiden whom the an els p , g name L enore Clas a rar nd radian t m aiden whom the an els p e a , g !

n ame L enore. “

oth th Raven N evermor e. Qu e ,

“ ) , i or n I B e that ord o r si n o artin b rd e d . w u g f p g, fi I shrie ked u star tin , p g; ’ et thee ba k in to th tem est n d the n i ht G c e p , a g s P l utonian shore ! L eave n o black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken ! — L eave my lon elin ess un broken I qwit the bust above my door ! Take th beak rom out m heart an d take th y f y , y ” form from off my door ! “ uoth the Raven N e er o Q , v m re.

And the Raven n ever i ttin still is sittin still , fl g, g, is sitting On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my cham ber door; ’ An d his eyes have all the seeming of a dem on s that is dreamin g ’ An d the lamp- light o er him streami ng throws his shadow on the floor An d m soul rom ou t that shadow that li es oat y f , fl in on the oor g fl , hall be li ted n evermore S f . “ ” raise for he a n P T R ve . 9 5

A T I I I CH P ER X .

” R E F OR TH E R EN — w omEN DM E P AIS AV A IR RS .

WHEN it becam e kn own that Poe was the au “ thor of The Raven m an wr ters an d c zen , y i iti s ho assed him b un n ot ced be ore sou ht hi s w p y i f , g socie n a r d hi s n u I t i s the wa of ty a d fl tte e ge i s. y

the world. Mr Whitm an a reat adm i an a s. rer d erson l , g p rien d of Poe sa s tha on even n at th r f , y t e i g e esi dence of a n oted oetess at Waverl l ace Poe p y P , “ ” recited The Raven with great effect and el ectri fied he riti al au d en t c c i ce . ” Willis gave it as hi s opin ion that The Raven “ was the m ost effecti ve singl e exampl e of fugitive oetr ever ublished in th s countr an d i s nu p y p i y, sur assed in En l ish oetr f or subtl e conce t on p g p y p i , m asterly ingenu ity of versification an d con sistent ” sustaining of im agi n ative lift. Mr liz eth B arrett B rown n an En l sh s. E ab i g, g i “ oetess who was a m ember of the Mutual Ad p , ” ” mi rati on Societ of Poe sa s of The Raven : y , y “ Thi s vivid wr t n th s ower which i s elt has i i g, i p f , om produced a sensation here in Engl and. S e of 9 6 l an Edgar A l Poe. my friends are taken by the fear of it an d som e b h m u I hear of erson s who are haun ted y t e sic. p ‘ ’ b the N everm ore an d an ac ua n tan ce of m n e y , qi i who has the m isfortune of possessin g a bu st of ” allas cann ot bear to l ook at it in the twi l ht. P , ig “ An other fem al e adm irer of P oe says : Every thing about hi m di stingui sh ed him as a m an of m ark hi s countenan ce erson an d a t were al ke ; , p , g i , i h H i s eatures w er re ar an d d c aracteristi c. e ul e f g , id dl h n H is com l e ion was l ear an d c e y a dsom e. p x c dark the col or of his fin e e es seem n l a dark ; y , i g y ra but on cl er n s ect on the w r en g y, os i p i y e e se to be of that neutral viol et tint whi ch i s so di cult to , ffi d n h r h e e. H is ore ead b oad an d h was w th fi f , ig , , i out e ce t on the n est in ro ort on an d ex x p i , fi p p i i h I hav v r se n press on t at e e e e . About this tim e P oe becam e acquainted with F ran ar nt s oo the m ost n oted f e Mrs. ces S e d g O g , mal e Am eri can oetess of her da an d m utual ad p y, miration burst s ontan eou sl from these twin — p y spirits l ove at sight Those who court the Mu ses are pron e to in dul ge in florid an d spontaneou s

expression s. Mr s oo delivers hersel in this rha sod : s. O g d f p y

“ My first m eeting with the poet was at the Astor r u ha A f ew d a s ev o s Mr. Will s d Hou se. y p i i ’ han ded m e at the tabl e d héte that strange an d ‘ ’ hr ll n oem The Raven sa n that the author t i i g p , , yi g I ts eff ect u o wanted my opin ion on it. p n m e w as ‘ o sin ul ar so l ke that of a we rd un earthl s g , i i , y ’ u sic that it was with a eelin almost of dread m , f g

' I heard he desired an introduction.

98 Edgar Allen Poe.

t l e that The warm aban don m en t of her s y , a t vates i s but a orti on charm which n ow so c p i , p her u n worldl n ature of her an d con sequence of y , ” di sregar d of m ere fame .

’ s ood s dram atic oem of I n speaking of Mrs. O g p ” “ ’ El r a h sa s : The w om an s sou l here f id , e y shr ink s from the direct avowal of w an t of l ove f or her hu sban d an d es to oetr an d a eal s to ate , fli p y pp f , by way of excu sing that infidel ity which i s at once ” h er gl ory an d her sham e. ’ Where the glory com es in to justify a wom an s

in del t i s n ot well un derstood b m orali sts. fi i y, y

Poe di d n ot bother him sel f m u ch about m orality. The cel ebrated dancer F ann Ell sler was , y , he k s b Mrs s ood i n the f ol l auded to t s ie y . O g l owing fashi on :

An d n ow wi th flashi ng eyes she springs H er rich bri ht ure raised i n air g fig , As i her sou l had s read her win s f p g , An d poised for on e wi ld i n stan t there ! — She spoke n ot bu t so ri chly fraught Wi th lan ua e are her lan ce an d smile g g g , That when the cur tain fell I thought ” he ha d been talkin all th hi S g e w le.

Poe prai ses in thi s strain : — This is in deed poetry n ot of the m ost un — question abl e kin d poetry tru thful in the ro er p p sensch that i s to sa breathi n natur y, g e. There i s “ ” r 99 P aise for The Raven. here n othi n orced or art cial n o hardl sus g f ifi , y tained en hu ' Th oetess s eak b cause t siasm . e p p s e she feel s ; but then what she feel s i s felt on ly the ul tr y poetical . “ The idea in the two first lin es is exquisitely n ai ve an d n atural ! That in the two first l ines of the secon d uatrain ma n i cen t un sur assed q , g fi , p ” in the entire compass of Am erican poetry !

’ Well at an rate in the des r fiel ds of oe s , y , e t P cen sure it i s a con sol ation to fin d even a f ew cases of raise where the owers of atter an d l auda p , fl fl y m H is tion s other the briars of condemn ation . oeti soul wen u n h can bl ame p c t o t to wome . W o him ? oets orators warri ors an d statesmen have P , , been rem arkably successful in l aunching them selves into the affection s of the l adies. P oe was a m aster of l anguage an d rhythmical constructi on but he wrote n o oem l ke th s com , p i i , osed in m em or of m rst sweetheart whom p y y fi , the green bil l ow s of the Mediterranean Sea en gul fed more than forty years ago

RETROSPECTI ON .

I see before A cottage door ' A form I loved in days of yore; H er words to me Wer li ht an d ree e g f , ' o a As airs upon s me summer se . 100 Edgar Allan Poe.

The garden bloom With sweet perfume ch n ook an d room Cam e stealing r oun d ea , The birds of spring Wou ld soar an d sing Whil e bees w ere buzzi ng on the

A cooin dove g , She san o l ove g f , An d le m e to wor ld above d a , Where ur e an d bri ht p g , B oth day an d n ight ’ We d live mid cel estial li ht a g .

H er eyes of blue A sa hire hue pp , ’ Shane o er m on dl bri ht an d e f y, g , An d in that face I still can trace he t h r r e T beau y of e m odest g ac .

An d she was air f , With dark brown hair H er voi ce ran g out upon the air Like vesper bells I n con en t v cells. When L ove i ts hol musi c tell y s.

She said S om e da , y ’ We ll sail awa y, ’ O er boun di n g bill ows fringed with An d for a whi l e ’ We ll bask an d smile Within some eet n h sw , e c an ted isle.

n 102 Edgar Alla Poe.

' Ah h n d ! t us we fi , When l ove is ki n d , S om e cru el fate will strike An d steal away The sunny ray That shines upon our life

Though hope be gon e ’ I ll stil l ho e on p , And ever thin k o thee dear f , on e, “ ” Un til some day ’ I l l sail away To greet you in a brighter bay ! ersonal P Vagaries. 103

C A TER XI H P V. “ — EDITOR B ROADWAY JOURNAL PERSON AL VA R E GA I S .

I N 1 845 Poe l e t the , f Mirror an d became one of the ed tors of the B roadwa ourn al a weekl i y J , y a er devoted m ostl to criti cis p p y m of all kin ds, where our poet had fu ll swing to ven t hi s spl een an d passion again st any author that happen ed to com e un der his l terar scal n kn i y pi g ife. ’ Mr . R chard en r Stoddard oe s m ost vo i H y , P l umin ous b o ra her ves the oll owin i g p , gi f g bitter at coun t of the new ven tu re :

The B roadway Journal i s a curious medl ey of ood an d bad wr t n the bad th n k redom g i i g, , I i , p I t was sava el crit cal an d b tterl e in ating . g y i i y p r

son al an di nit was absent rom its column s. , d g y f I t aston i shed an d am used its readers wh ch was , i d r That h probably all that Poe care f o . e was contin ually in hot water on accoun t of it could n ot have surprised an d could hardly have amused 104 ar llan o Edg A P e.

him . I t w as use ul to him however if to be f , , a fe red i s ever u seful to a m an of l etters. “ I t was whi l e he was on e of the editors of the B roadway Journ al that I becam e acqu ain ted with M r n him l h Poe. rem emb a ces of s t as the are y , ig y , m u st be the e cu se an i s n eeded f or the a ar x , if y , pp n e t egotism of what follows. I w as a oun m an an d I had a weakn es n ot y g , s wholly confined to young m en ; I wr ote verses an d thou h m th n g t it poetry. So e i g I had written as sumed that pleasing form to my del uded im agina ‘ ’ t on . I t w as an Ode on a Gre an F l u I i ci te. had a strong suspicion that I was fresh from the read n of eats and that I art cul arl adm red i g K , p i y i ‘ ’ hi Od n r a s e o a G ec n Urn . B e th s as it m a I i i y, ‘ ’ sent m Ode to the B roadwa ourn al w th a y y J , i l d wa d h not to Ed ar Al an Poe Es . an te w t e g , q, i i l n ear an d tremb . On e week two weeks assed f i g , p , n d i i n o a e Ev dentl the dem and f or a t d d t pp ar. i y ‘ ’ Odes was sl ack ! “ When I could bear my di sappoin tm ent n o l on er I m ade t m e to take a l on w alk to the g , i g o fice of the B roadwa ournal an d asked f or Mr. f y J , M ht I n u re where he H e was n ot in . P oe. ig i qi l ived ? I was directed to a street an d number that hav or otten but it was in the eastern art of I e f g , p the cit a n e hborhood n ow iven u to sundr y, ig g p y a I knocked at the street of the tribes of I sr el . ’ r an d w a resentl shown u to oe s room s doo , s p y p P , H e received m er on the secon d or third floor. e v y I told m erran d an d he rom sed that kin dly. y p i ‘ ’ my Ode shoul d be printed n ext week. I was struck with his poetic m anner and the

106 Edgar Allan Poe.

‘ s red and walked sl owl home chewin the cud of i , y , g ’ swee t an d bitter fan cies. “ I had a glim pse of Poe afterwards in the r he l ast t m e th st eets but we never s oke. T at I , p i rem ember to have seen him w as in the afternoon A hea sh er h of a dreary au tum n day. vy ow ad com e u su dden l an d he was stan d n un der an p y, i g a had an umbrell a an d m m ul w wn n . I se as i g , y i p to share it w ith him on his way home ; but som e th n certa nl n ot unk n dness w hh l t e d m e. I i g, i y i , i wen t on an d l e t him there in the ra n al e sh ver f i , p , i i n m serabl e the embod ment of hi s own un g, i , i ha m aster ppy ,

‘ Whom un m ercifu l disaster followed fast an d ’ foll owed faster !

Stoddar kn ew an d elt that he was the I f Mr . d f “ ” real author of the Ode on a Grec an Fl ute he i , displ ayed won derful forbearan ce f or a m an of “ n t - on ears of a e to take rom Poe the twe y e y g , f ” ’ I m sure lie direct without strikin g him at on ce. “ ” if a m orose or drunken editor w ould treat a “ ” t l down i Old entuck the writer in that s y e n K y, “ ’ ” printer s devil woul d be in immediate dem and to pick up the fragm ents of the pampered auto crat of the tripod ! Som e of these arrogant edi m a n e that the are all o it but the adorn tors i gi y f , m ent of a pair of brun ette optics an d a j olted jaw has often brou ght au dacity an d power to a reali h ubl c have r hts as zation of the fact that t e p i ig , well as those who have m oney enough to run an uh licen sed tongue and press ! r Personal Vaga ies. 107

I n the spring of 1 846 the B roadw ay Journal died withou t m ourn ers P oe hav n becom e sev , , i g , “ eral m onths previou s to the dem ise of the m ud ” H e e m ed e achine the sol ro ri t . e o m , e p p e or s t d l ight in making havoc am ong brother writers an d e The e bringi ng them into ridicu le an d cont mpt. s phrases show hi s sardon ic disposition : “ ‘ Were the uest on dem an ded of us What is qi , ’ the m ost exqu isite of subl un ary pl easures ? we ‘ would re l w thou t hes tat on the ma ki n a p y i i i , g ’ us or in the cl assical w ords of a Western r en d f s; f i , ‘ ’ kin u a H e certa nl succeeded Kic g p bobbery. i y “ ” in m ak n a u ss et I t an oor creature i g f , y , pi y y p on earth who has n o higher ambition than in flict in t rri l l n n n m n n g e b e ta es a d rotte stori es o a ki d. The religious opin ion s of P oe m ay be foun d in the foll ow in g conversation he had on e n ight at the old Astor ou se with Mr . W ll am B arton who H i i , was a typo an d forem an on the B roadway J ourn al when Poe w as editor of that a er p p .

Mr. B arton told me thi s :

On e n ight when P oe an d mysel f were m ell owed with the um es of the wi ne cu I asked him hi s f p, h r H e said : opin ion of t e hereafte . ‘ ’ I don t bother myself about a thing of which — I kn ow n othing j ust as m uch as anybody el se ! ‘ I el eve however that we are l ke an other b i , , i y

art of an im ated n ature. The do horse f ox l on p g, , , i , tiger an d elephan t are en dowed with a certain am oun of reason l ke ourselves an d have ro t . , i , p e e he be innin of creation duc d their ki nd sinc t g g , 108 Edgar Allan Poe.

without havi ng improved much on the origin al tock s . ‘ Man however has m roved in the arts an d , , i p cien c an d art u l arl i n the n ven t on s f or the s e, p ic y i i B ut o f ar as eal ou s destruction of hi s kin d . s j y, en v h ocr s reed t ran n an d hate he i s y, yp i y, g , y y , about the sam e n ow as when he was in an ign orant an d sava e state wear n l eaves rass an d skin s g , i g , g

of beasts to cover hi s n akedness. ‘ The tron est cru the weakest an d sa what s g sh , y ’ w w ll— m h is s ll h e i ig t ti rig t. ‘ h l n Mr . Poe what do ou t nk of the re o s , y i igi ’ of the worl d ? F rom the earl iest dawn of creation m an has worsh ed som eth n — st cks ston es sn akes ipp i g i , , , stars sun s m ounta n s r vers seas m ths cal ves , , i , i , , y , , h H e i s l ar el an a e an d popes an d preac ers. g y p h n w h l tt r om an w m m cs n t t e o er . i i a y i g i g i , p p d p ‘ All the doctr nes of the w orl d rom the dawn i , f of a an sm B u ddh sm Moham m ed sm an d p g i , i , i ,

so- call ed Chr stian t are but the con urat ons of i i y, j i worldl shar ers who m ake a s len d d l v n b y p , p i i i g y setting up them selves as agen ts of God an d estab lishing rules and l aw s f or fool s an d cowards to foll ow ! ‘ The ass must st ll bear hi s burden an d ool s i , f bu ild pal aces an d cathedral s f or wi se m en to in hab t i . ‘ N o m an who ever lived knows any m ore about the herea ter B arton than ou an d I an d all f , , y , rel on m r en d i s s m l evol ved out of chi igi , y f i , i p y can er ear reed ma n at on an d oetr ! y, f , g , i gi i p y ‘ I n every age and clim e the religious sects

1 10 Edgar Allan Poe.

L O VE AND LAUGH TER .

ti e P ren c . ! Dedi cated to George D . )

Lau h an d the world lau hs with ou g , g y , Wee an d ou wee alon e p, y p ; i ran ol ear th must borr ow i ts mirth Th s g d d ,

I t has troubl es en ou gh of i ts own . i n an d the hi lls wi ll answer S g, , Si h i t is l ost on the air g , ; The echoes boun d to a joyful soun d t in k r oi in care B u shr f om v c g .

B e lad an d our ri en ds are m an g , y f y; B e ad an d ou l ose them ll s , y a ; There are n on e to declin e your n ectared ’ B u t alon e ou m t drin k li e al y us f s g l . There is r oom i n the halls of pl easure F or a lon an d l ordl train g y , B ut on e by on e we m ust all file on Throu the n arro i sl s ai n gh w e of p .

F east an our hall r rowd d , d y s a e c e ; F ast an d the world oes b , g y; ’ ucceed an d ive twi ll hel ou live S g , p y o B ut n o on e can help y u die. R e oice an d m en will seek ou j , y ; Grieve an d the turn an d o , y g The wan t u ll m easure o all our le r y f f y p asu e, B ut they do n ot wan t your woe! iterar cori L y S ngs. 1 1 1

C A TER H P XV. — LITERARY SCORIN GS LIFE AB OUT N EW YORK fl AT RD M FO HA .

“ I N 1 846 Poe wrote u p The Literati of New ’ ’ Y ork f or Gode s L ad s B ook an d deal t w th , y y , i the l ocal writers as if they w ere a l ot of ninnies to be unctured b his im r a n p y pe i l pe . I n the interval of hi s ston e throwing at the literary frogs of Gotham he i s foun d in the social swim either s ort n w th B acchus at a rocer , p i g i g y, or playin g the polite a m ong the l adies in Amity Street or ordham F . “ ” A boon compan ion writes of him about this “ time an d a : H e was n t tead dri k , s ys o a s y n er. Appreciation was hi s thirst ; often he found it in the society of i ntell ectual w om en who visited him l rdi n aril rave n se f and wife in the city. O y g a d silent am on them he coul d be chatt an d witt . g , y y ravin e ci m ent a art rom his l abor he C g x te p f , sou ht com an ion shi down town and he oun d g p p , f that too in a littl e rocer store in N assau Street , , g y , between Amit and B eekman where athered a y , g 1 n 12 Edgar Alla Poe.

f ew el eva r r m n ds re n orced b a ted l ite a y i , i f y s rinkl n ke eter Cunn n ham ohn p i g of actors l i P i g , J B rou ham l ver R a m on d Tom ohn son an d g , O i y , J h N k n ot a dram sho but it o n c erson . I t was J i p, ‘ ’ dis en sed var ou s k n ds of n erv ne an d i had p i i i , t ‘ facilities f or addin g em phasis to what the Gov ernor of N orth Carolin a on ce said to the Governor ’ “ ’ I n of South Carolina. ! s t it a l ong tim e be tween drinks “ F ar from being in the line of prom otion as a sot Poe l acked m en tal stora e f or dee drau hts , g p g m an H is n erve wer lw or y. s e a ays at too high a ke f or him to uzzl e like a ar an hen y g G g tua. W bent on l oosen ess it did not take him l on g to get h ” tig t. “ The reader can imagine what kind of n ervine bohem ian n ewspaper m en an d actors in dulge in at a down town grocery store about the precin cts of N assau Street ! ’ I t has been the fashi on f or Poe s frien ds an d sentim ental m al e an d fem al e biographers to gl oss over e cuse an d den the dr nk n hab t of our , x y i i g i s I e r w an us or ood in a a n poet. n ve sa y e g f l sific tio

“ about a en us livin or dead ust f or the sake g i , g , j of accomm odatin g a set of homemade hypocrites “ ” or L d a L an u sh l oun ers who have about as y i g i g , m u ch force in the worl d of l etters as a breastwork of swamp grass has in damming the waters of the M ississippi . I t i s a well kn own an d establi shed fact that ’ sin ce Poe s boyhood days at the Un iversity of V r in a throu h all the subse uen t wan derin s i g i , g q g of hi s restl ess li e he was add cted to eriodical f , i p

1 14 Edgar Allan Poe.

There were some gran d old cherry trees in the

ard that threw a m a est c shade aroun d them . y , j i u h a w ld ull rown bobo P oe had som ehow ca g t i , f g H had ut him in a ca e wh ch he had l ink . e p g , i hung on a n ail driven into the trunk of a cherry tree. “ The poor bird w as as un fit to l ive in a cage as his captor w as to l ive in the world ! H e was as restles as hi s a l or and s ran con t nuall in s j i , p g i y a erce r htened w a rom on e s de of the ca e fi , f ig y, f i g I t ed him but Poe was b n on to the other . e t pi i , n hi There he stood w th his arm s train i g m . i crossed be ore the torm ented b rd his subl m e f i , i trust in attaining the impossibl e apparent in his whol e sel . So handsome so im ass ve in his f , p i w on der u l in tell ectual beaut so roud an d re f y, p served and et so con den t all comm u n cat ve so , y fi i y i i , en tirely a gentl em an u pon all occasion s that I ever saw him so taste ul so o d a talker was P oe ; f , g o , that he m ressed h m sel an d hi s w shes even i p i f i , h u d u n ho w h wh h w t o t wor s o t se t om e s oke. i , p i p ’ Poe s voice was mel ody itsel f . “ H e alwa s s oke l ow even in a viol ent dis y p , cussion com ell n his hearers to l sten the , p i g i if y w o l d kn ow hi s o n on s his acts an c es hi u pi i , f , f i , p l oso h or his we rd im a n n s . These l ast p y, i gi i g u suall owed rom his en sel dom rom his y fl f p , f ton ue g . “ On this occasion I was introduced to the young w e of the oet an d to the m other then m ore if p , , than s t ears of a e. She was a tall di n i ix y y g , g fied old l ad an d her bl ack dress thou h old an y, , g d much worn l ook d reall ele an . rs , e y g t on her M . itera rin s L ry Sco g . 1 15

oe l ooked ver oun h had l ar e bl ack e es P y y g ; s e g y , an d a pearly whi ten ess of compl exion which was er h l un en an r x a ect allor . T e a e co t ce he e p f p p , ress ve ace her br ll ant e es an d her raven p i f , i i y , a r av r a r One lt that e he n un ea thl l ook . e h i , g y f she was a d srobed s ir t and when she cou hed i p i , g it was m ade certain that she was rapidly passing away. “ The m other seem ed hal e an d stron an d a g, p peered to be a sort of un iversal providen ce f or her tran h l re Th otta e had an ai r of ste s ge c i d n . e c g ta an d gentil ity that m ust have been lent it by the

resence of its in m ates. S o n eat so oor so n u p , p , urn ished an d so charmi n a dwell n I n ever f , g i g

aw The s tt n - room was l aid w th check m at s . i i g i t n ou r cha rs a l ht table stan d an d a han i g, f i , ig ; g n i g bookcase compl eted its furniture. There were pretty presentation copies of books on the l ttl e shel ves an d the B rown n s had ost i , i g p With u ck e ul a n P oe of hon or on the stan d . qi x t tio drew from his side pocket a l etter which he had recen tly received from El izabeth B arrett B rown

n . i u I t was ver atter n . i g H e read t to s. y fl i g T e Poe at this tim e was greatly depressed. h ir e trem e overt the s ckn ess of his wi e and his x p y, i f ,

n ab l t to wr t suf c entl accounted f or this. i i i y i e fi i y, “ We stroll ed away in to the woods an d had a very cheerful tim e till som e on e proposed a gam e mu st have been Poe as he of l ea in . I th n k it p g i , Two or th ree entl was expert in the exercise. g e men a reed to l ea w th him an d thou h one of g p i , g them was tall and had been a hunter in times 1 16 Edgar Allan Poe.

ast Poe still d stan ced them all . B ut al as ! hi s p , i , a ters l on worn an d care ull ke t were both g i , g , f y p , I burst in the gran d l eap that m ade him victor . her shoes boots or a t w as certain he had n o ot , g i r Thou h we had m one who had the eff ront e s. g y, ? ” cry to off er it to the poet

Another writer who knew P oe at F ordham says that oor as he w as he con tr ved to have ets p , i p about him in the sha e of rare owers tro cal , p fl , pi b rds in ca es an d a avor te cat wh ch used to i g , f i , i sit on hi s shou l der when he was engaged in com position and purr its compl acen t approval of his

work . ’ The E ven i ng Express speaks thu s of Poe s f or “ l orn con dition : We regret to l earn that Edgar All an P oe an d his wife are both dangerou sly ill wi th con sum t on an d that the han d of mi s p i , fortune lies heavy on their tem poral affairs. We are sorry to men tion the fact that they are so f ar reduced as to be barely able to obtain the usees Th i n d d a ha d l ot and saries of l e. s s ee r we if i i , h r en ds an d adm rers r hope that t e f i i of M . Poe will com e promptly to his assistan ce in his bitter ” est hour of need . Mr W ll s throu h the H om e ournal m ade a . i i , g J , “ strong appeal f or one of the m ost original m en of gen ius an d one of the m ost in dustriou s of the l terar ro ess on of our countr whose tem o i y p f i y, p rar sus en s on of l abor rom bod l illn ess dro s y p i , f i y , p him imm ediately to a l evel with the comm on oh l h ” ects of ub c c ar t . j _p i i y Poe professed to be displeased at these well

1 ll n 18 Edgar A a Poe.

’ Ther e s crape on the door ; alas ! n everm ore Shall I gaze on her i mage to- m orr ow; ’ She s on e like a dream m beau ti u l beam g , y f , t r That shon e in my m omen s of sor ow .

’ ’ There s crape on the door ; down in my heart s core ’ ’ There s a scar that will last o er the bi ll ow tim e un de l ed till I m eet m l ost child Of fi , y ’ ee r n at i An d sl p by he side e h the w ll ow. “ ” i al H s Lost Ul ume. 1 19

CHAPTER XVI .

“ ” GRIEVIN G F OR H I S LOST UL AL UM E - E UREK A “ ” — A P ROSE P OEM 1 s LAUN CHED CRITICISM S “ W ” A DOLLAR on T O.

’ TH E death an d bu rial of Poe s young wife san k ’ i nto the oet s heart an d over the hou sehold at p , F ordham a cl ou d of impenetrabl e bl ackness l ow ’ l r n n f r Cl em m s ered with on l the s ve l o M s. , y i i i g practical devotion to heal the heart of her sorrow stricken an d bewildered n ephew an d son - in - l aw ! A br lli ant shi w th sen t m en t f or sa l s an d i p , i i i , im agination f or a rudder ! F or several weeks an d m on ths Poe was in a dazed con dition tortured b da l w ants dr nk , y i y , i i n dee of the cu of rem orse an d m n l n hi s g p p , i g i g daily an d n ightly dream s w ith the vi sion s of de

parted l ove an d van ished gl ory. ’ Often when the sun s first rays flashed its rosy tints over the L ower B ay an d the gran d rolling udson the oet cou ld be seen seated on a rock H , p y rom ontor overl ook n h B r d e w th F ort p y i g Hig i g , i An d m an a L ee in the shimm ering distan ce. y night when the distant chimes from cathedral 120 Edgar Allan Poe.

l v when l eave were towers echoed the hour of twe e, s “ ” allin and star - d al s o n ted to m orn he ke t f g, i p i , p “ wa h in he l on esom e ctober of his most im tc , t O “ m ri f or hi s l ost L enore and— Ul a me o al year , , ” lume.

ULAL UME .

The skies they were ashen an d sober ; The leaves they w er e crisped an d sere The l eaves they wer e witherin g an d sere I t was n ight in the l on esom e O ctober Of my m ost imm em orial year ; I t was hard b the dim lake o Auber y f , I n the misty mid- regi on of Weir I t was down by the dan k tarn of Auber

n h h - n te w oodlan e I t e g oul hau d d of W ir. H ere once throu h an all e Ti tani c , g y , c r ess I roam ed with m Soul Of yp , y O c ress wi th Ps che m S oul f yp , y , y . These were da s when m heart was volcani y y c, “ As the scoriac ri vers that r oll As the - lavas that r estl essly roll Their sulphurous curr en ts down Yaanek I n the ultim ate climes of the pol e That groan as they roll down Moun t Yaanek I n th realm th or l l e s of e b ea po e.

Our talk had been eri ous an d s sober, B ut our thoughts they were palsi ed an d sere Our memori es w ere treacherous an d ser e F or we kn ew n ot the mon th was ctober O ,

122 Edgar Allan Poe. — — Oh l et us l or we m ust. , fly fly f I n terror she s oke letti n sin k her p , g Win gs un ti l they trai led i n the dust I n agon y sobbed l etting sin k her P lum es till they trail ed i n the dust Till the sorrow ull trailed i n the dust y f y . —“ I repli ed This i s n othing but dreaming : L et us on by this tr emu l ous light! L et us bathe i n this crystallin e light! I ts si byllic splen dor is beaming

With H o e an d i n B eau t to- ni ht — p y g : S ee i t fli ckers up the sky thr ough the Ah we sa el m a trust to a leamin , f y y g g That can n ot bu t uide us ari ht g g , Sin ce i t fli ckers up the H eaven through n i t gh .

Thus I aci ed Ps che an d kissed her p fi y , An d tempted her out of her g'l oo An d con uer ed her scru les an d loom q p g , And w e assed to the en d o the vista p f , B u t w ere stopped by the door of a tomb B y the door of a l egen ded tomb; “ n I ai — What written sweet sist r A d s d is , e , ” On the door of this l egen ded tomb f — She r epli ed Ulalum e Ulalum e ’ Tis the vault of thy l ost Ulalum e!

Then my heart i t grew ashen an d sober As the l eaves that were crisped an d ser e As the l eaves that wer e witherin an d sere g , —“ And I cried I t was surely O ctober H i “ ” s Lost Ulalume. 123

On thi r s ve y nigh—t of last year That I j ourn eyed I j ourn eyed down here That I brought a dread burden down here this n i ht o all n i hts in the ear Of g f g y , Ah what dem on has tem ted m e here ? , p Well I kn ow n ow this di m lake o Auber , , f

Th t - e e is mis y mid r gi on of W ir . Well I kn ow n ow this dan k tarn o Auber , , f , ” This ho l - h e l eir g u aun t d w ood an d of W .

Thi s oem of Ul al um e the m ost or n al p , i s igi ’ of the oet s con urat on s an d i s a dee delv n p j i , p i g i nto the in n ite of hi s w an der n stars an d a com fi i g , “ mun on w th s che who led him to the dim l ake i i P y , ”— “ of Auber the m st m id- re on of We r to i y gi i , “ ” “ the door of a l egen ded tomb, to the vault of his ”— l ost Ul al um e all the l unatic l in gerin gs of a

- grief haunted heart an d vol can ic an d titan ic soul . Poe was sure that in hi s so- call ed phil osophic ” Eureka that he had sol ved the secrets of the u n verse an d that Ar stotl e L a l ace erschel l i , i , p , H , Newton Voltaire an d B acon woul d throu h the , , g com in g ages only shin e through the el ectric re flection of hi s reat d scover — the secret of b rth g i y i , h l ife an d deat . H broache the sub ect ver n erl to W ll s e d j y gi g y i i , w ll G r sw ol d utn am an d var ou s other L o e , i , P , i authors an d ubl sher s as he w as ent tl ed to a p i , if i f o a reat sc ent c di scover that w ould patent r g i ifi y, h es abl shed rul es of l aw sc en ce revol utionize t e t i , i and religion . Poe had a w on derful facu lty of complim enting and flatteri ng himself as a genius an d cri tic in 124 Edgar Allan Poe.

ever av nue of l terature that he ursued an d y e i p , regarded it as personal im puden ce in any person to question the origin al ity of his con ception s or the correctness of hi s con cl u sion s ! H e showered l terar arrow s of cr tic sm w th reat lee but i y i i i g g ,

squealed when he him sel f was gaffed . I t m ay be all very well to bun co- steer the publ ic “ ” an d b amboozle editors an d publishers with

m d- over l terar hash but I can sa to the war e i y , y s r t of Poe or an other author that when a pi i , y , self- con stituted critic attempts to palm off a l ot of “ ” high - flown stuff as original an d scientific m at er he w ll in the en d fin d a van shed au d en ce t , i , , i i i al d l e an d empty ben ches f or h s egotistic e ctation . “ er the ubl cat on of Eureka the ress Aft p i i , p unctured it w th u n loved han ds an d an an on p i g , y m ou s corres on den t in the Li terar Wor ld un der p y , “ ” n on de lum e of a Stu dent of Theol o the p gy, ’ ed u oe s et with reat sever t drawin ripp p P p g i y, g

F . o from him the foll ow ing l etter to Mr . C. H ff m an ed tor of the a er : , i p p

DEAR SI R : I n your paper of July 29th I fin d ‘ ’ some com m en ts of Eureka a l ate book of m , y wn an d I kn ow ou too w ell to su ose f or a m o o , y pp ment that you will refu se m e the privil ege of a I l ven tha I h few w ords in reply. fee e t m ig t sa el l a m rom Mr o fm an the ri ht wh ch f y c i f . H f g i ever author has of re l n to hi s cr t c tone f or y , p yi g i i tone — that i s to sa of an swerin our corre , y, g y ’ s on dent s fli anc b fli an c an d sn eer b p pp y y pp y, y sneer —but in the rst l ace I do n ot w sh to , , fi p , i di sturb the World an d in the secon d I eel that , , f

llan oe 126 Edgar A P .

i n s or deduct ons of whi ch the from those induct o i , processes are so shadowy as to escape our con lu e our reason or de our ca ci t sciousness, e d , fy pa y of expression . “ ‘ The secon d m1 srepresen tat1 on runs thus : The devel opments of el ectricity an d the form ation of

ar nd un s l um n ou s an d n on - l umin ous m oon s st s a s , i , an d l anets with the r r n s etc . i s deduced ver p , i i g , , , y much accord n to the n ebul ar theor of L a l ace i g y p , ’ rom the rin c l e ro oun ded above. Now the f p ip p p , impression inten ded to be m ade here upon the ’ ‘ ’ reader s m in d b the Stu den t of Theolo is evi y gy , dentl that m theor m a be all ver well in its y, y y y y wa but that it i s n oth n but L a lac ov r ain y, i g p e e ag ‘ with som e m odification s that he ! the Student of ’ nn o re ard a I Theology ) ca t g s at all important. have only to say that no gentl em an can accuse me of the disingenu ou sness here implied : in asmuch as havin roceeded w th m theor to that o nt , g p i y y p i ’ at which La l ace s theor m eets it I then ive p y , g ’ L a lace s theor in ull w th the e ress on of p y f , i xp i my firm conviction of its absol ute truth at al l The oun d covered b the reat French points. gr y g astronomer compares with that covered by my heor a bubbl e com ares with the ocean on t y, s a p which it floats ; nor has he the slightest allusion to ‘ ’ the rin ci l e ro oun ded above the ri nc le of p p p p , p ip — Unity being the source of all things the prin cipl e of Gravity being m erely the Reacti on of the i Divi ne Act which irradi ated all thin gs from Un ty. I n act n o o n t of m theor has been even so f , p i y y l much as alluded to by L ap ace. “ I have not considered it necessary here to “ ’ His ost lal L U ume. 127 speak of the astronomical kn owl edge displayed in ‘ ’ ‘ ’ the stars an d sun s of the Student of Theolo gy, n or to hin t that it woul d be better grammar to say ‘ ’ ha d vel ment an d orm at on are h t t e op f i , t an that ‘ ’ h devel opment an d form ation i s. T e thi rd mi s r nta ion lies in a ootn ote whi ch h rep ese t f , t e critic ‘ ’ r h s Mr laim a s : urthe t an thi . oe s c tha h s y F , P t e can account f or the existen ce of all organized be — — ings man in cl u ded m erely from those prin ciples on whi ch the origin an d present appearance of sun s n d orl ds are e l ain ed m u st be set do n a w xp , w as n h i le i m re l assert o w t out a art c of ev den e. e bo d i , i p c ’ ds we shoul d term it arran u d I n other wor t e. , f g The perversion of this point i s in vol ved in a wil l ‘ ’ n w or rin i l ful mi sappli catio of the d p c p es. I say ‘ ’ willful becau se at page 63 I am particul arly care f ul to distinguish between the principles proper — Attraction an d Repul sion an d those merely re

ultan sub- ri n c l es swa ed b the imm dia s t p ip , y y e te iritual in uen ce of D eit I l eave wit out x sp fl y, , h e ‘ i a i n all that wh ch the Stud en am n t o , i t of The ’ ol ogy so roun dly asserts I accoun t f or on the prin i les whi ch accoun t f or the con stitution of un c p s s, etc. “ ‘ ’ Were these m isrepresentation s ! is that the name f or them ? ) m ade f or an y l ess serious a pur ‘ ’ ose han that of bran d n m book as im ous p t i g y pi , ‘ ’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’ nd m sel as a an the st a ol theist a a an a y f p i , p y , p g , ws what an d n deed I care ver or a God kno ! , i , y ‘ ot a Stu den t of I littl e, so it be n would have permi tted their di shon esty to pass nu h u h ure contem t f or the bo i sh noticed, t ro g p p y

s or he urn - down - shirt- coll arness of their nes , f t t 128 Edgar Allan Poe.

ton e but as it is ou w ll ardon me Mr . Ed tor ; , , y i p , i , ‘ ’ m el l to e ose a cr t c who that I have been co p ed xp i i , serv n his own an on m ousit courageously pre i g y y, takes advantage of my absen ce from the city to m sre resent an d thu s v ll m e b nan . i p , i ify , y “ D POE . E GAR A. F RD M Se tember 2oth O HA , p ,

The sent m en tal oot r nts of Col erid e u nc i f p i g , Q i y, Rousseau Vol ta re L a l ace B ron Tenn son an d , i , p , y , y B rown n can be cl earl traced throu h al l of i g, y g ’ oe s wr t n s an d l ke a l nt n cham eleon he P i i g , , i g i i g , shon e brightly with the borrowed col ors of these renown ed authors. H i s con stant boast of origin al ity i s not born e u b the record of hi s l e an d the l terar off o t y if , i y “ ” shoots an d suckers of hi s gari sh gen ius are easily discovered in the gr oun d roots of an cient and m od h loso hers ern p i p . ses d ver keen an an al tical min d Poe pos se a y d y , and when he attempted to paraphrase an d pl agia rize from his superiors he did it w ith a deft han d H ad riches an d often improved on the original s. kept pace with his pride there i s n o tell in g to what distan ce this F ree L an ce might have thrown his ol shed l terar w ea on s an d even as it i s p i i y p , , they will shine an d qu iver down the ages l ike eteors in a m dn ht sk m i ig y. W th the s n l e e ce t on however of L e a i i g x p i , , ig i “ ” I an d Ann abel Lee the sevent - five tal es an , y d. stories an d ort —five oem s of P oe could b , f y p , e en tirely bl otted out of l iterature without any great l oss to beaut l ove truth or moralit H y, , y. e was

130 Edgar Allan Poe.

i in wi ll D o you wish to have fri en ds who your b dd g o d , to et s eedi l throu h An d help you your m eans g p y g , ’ Y ou ll fin d them r emarkably faithfu lly true B y the m agi cal power of a dollar or two. ’ F or fri en dship s secured by a dol lar or two; ’ r r two P opu larity s gain ed by a dolla o . ’ ’ ’ An d you ll n e er wan t a fri en d till you ve n o m ore to l en d r dollar or two An d yourself n eed to bor ow a .

D o you wish i n the courts of the coun try to sue ’ ’ o the ri ht or estate that s an other man s due F r g , Y our lawyer will sur ely r em ember his cu e When his palm you have crossed with a dollar or two . ’ F or a law er s con vin ced with a d ollar or two y , n d a r ri h i th dollar r t A ju y set g t w a o wo. An d thou h usti ce is blin d et a wa ou can in d g j , y y y f o en hi e e with a dollar o tw To p s y s r o.

I a claim that is roved to be hon estl ue f p y d , ’ D epar tm en t or Congress you d quickly ut p throu h g , An d tl e chan ce for its paym en t begins to look zl e u , Yo can hel it lon ith o u p a g w a d llar or two. F or votes are secured b a dollar or two y , An d i nflu en ce bought by a dollar or two; ’ An d he ll come to gri ef who dep en ds for reli ef U on usti ce n ot braced with a dollar or o p j tw . “ ” H a 3 1 is Lost Ul lume. 1

D o you wish that the press should the decen t thin do g , An d i ve our rece tion a ushin revi ew g y p g g , D escribin the dresses b stu st le an d hue g y ff, y ,

On the ui et han d en kins a dollar or two. q, J F or the en sells i ts raise or a dollar or two p p f , n lin ' t a e or o r t o A d f gs i s bus f a d llar o w . ’ ’ An d you ll fin d that i t s easy to manage the crew When ou u t u the sha e o a dollar or two y p p p f .

o xi t n ith aith to imbue D o y u wish your e s e ce w f , An d so becom e on e of the san ctified few;

Who en o a ood nam e an d a w ell - cushion ed ew j y g p , Y ou must reall com e down with a dollar or two y . F or the os el i s reached or a dollar or two g p p f , l ti on i r h d or a dollar or two S a va s eac e f , ins are ar don ed som eti mes but the worst o all S p , f crim es o I s to find yourself short of a d llar or two.

Do you wish to get into a game with the crew “ ” “ “ ” Who ort on the reen with the red white sp g , “ ” an d blue I n a small gam e of draw where your chan ces are e f w, Y o t ck u ur talk with a llar or two u mus ba p yo do . “ “ ! F or the deal er is l with a dollar or two f y , “ ” ”

An d the ban ker is ush with a dollar or two. ’ ’ And whate er ou sa the won t let ou la y y, y y p y o lar or o Unless you come down with a d l tw . llan 132 Edgar A Poe.

“ ” Shou ld you hanker for Wall Street as Gen tile or Je w, Where the bulls an d bears wait for gud eons like ou g y , Your i l e the will m easure an d take into view p y , An d scoo wi th a smil e our last dollar or two p y . “ ” F or the bull is ram an t or a dollar or two p f , “ ” An d the bear ever growls for a dollar or two; ’ Y et I ll sa on m oath that the broker rules both , y y An d seldom ets l e t on his dollar or two g f .

’ D o ou wan t a snu lace where there s littl e to do y g p , Ci vil servi ce evade an d i ts rules to br eak throu h g , A land bill to pass or a paten t ren ew Y ou can fix the thing up for a dollar or two; F or Commi ssi ons can see through a dollar or two; Even Con ressmen wink at a ollar or t o g d w , n A d you n eed n ot be slow to ..vin ce fri end or foe O th virtue con tain ed in a dollar or f e two.

134 Edgar Allan Poe. l aw h h inn ocence of his heart Mrs. l emm s ows t e , C , , his ho an d the l ow ebb of hi s finances. pe,

NEW Y RK Sunda morn in O , y g, — —1 849 April 7th Ju st after breakfast . ‘ ’ MY DEAR MUDDY : We have j ust thi s minute don e break ast an d I n ow sit down to wr ite ou f , y ’ u ever th n I can t a f or the l etter be abo t y i g. p y , ’ - caus th . O won t be en to da . I n the rst e e P . Op y fi pl ace we arrived safe at Wal nut Street wharf. The driver wanted to m ake me a a doll ar but p y , ’ wouldn Then I had to a a bo a l ev to I t. p y y y I n h put the trunks in t he baggage car . t e m ean i tim e I took Sis ! Virg nia) in the Depot Hotel . I t w as on l a u arter ast six and w had to y q p , e saw th L d wait till seven . We e e er and Times — g n othi ng in either a f ew words of n o account in h hro i We started in ood s i rits u t e C n cle. b t g p , ’ did n ot et her un til nearl three o g e y cl ock. We went in the cars to Ambo about ort mil s r y, f y e f om N ew Y ork an d then took the steamboat th re , e st

f he wa . Siss cou hed n on l h o t y y g e at a l . W en we ot to the whar i was rainin ha g f t g rd . I l eft her on board the boat a ter utt n th trun , f p i g e ks in the ’ L adies Cab n an d set off to bu an um r ll i , y b e a and

o r n - h u I m l ook f r a boa di g o se. et a m an sell ing umbrell as an d bou ht on e f or twent - five en , g y c ts. “ Then I went up Green wich Street an d soon

- I foun d a boarding house. t i s just before you et to Cedar Street on the west side oin u g , g g p '

- th l e t han d side. I t has brownston ste s wi h e f e p , t ‘ ’ w r n ill ar orri a porch ith b ow p s. M son i s the h d or I m ade a bar i name on t e o . ga n in a f ew First 35 Visit to New York. 1 mi nu tes an d then got a hack an d went f or Sis. I was n ot one m ore than hal an hour an d she g f , was u e a he qit ston ished to see m e back so soon . S ’ didn t e m There were two xpect e f or an hour . — ’ other l adies waitin g on board so she w asn t very l on ely. When we got to the hou se we had to wait about hal f an hour before the room was ”— ad . h u The re y T e house i s old an d l ooks b ggy. ! l etter i s cut here f or the sign ature on the other “ k n s de. The chea est board I ever kn ew ta i ) p , i g i nto con sideration the central situ ation an d the I h a a ould l iving. wis K te the c t) c — h f or su er see it she woul d a n t. L ast n t f i ig , pp , w had the n cest tea ou ver drank stron an d e i y e , g — li ce - wheat bread an d rye bread - cheese tea cakes el e an t a reat d sh two d shes of el e ant ! g ) , g i ! i ) g ham an d two of cold veal l ed u like a m oun , , pi p — tain an d l arge slices three dishes Of the cakes r No an d everything in the g eatest profusion . fear of starving here The l an dl ady seem ed as ’ if she coul dn t ress u s en ou h an d we were at p g , H er hu sban d s l v n with her—a hom e directly. i i i g

- Th r ar h or f at good n atured ol d soul . e e e eig t , — — ten boarders two or three of them l adies two

n F or break ast we had e cell ent- flavored serva ts. f x an d stron — n ot ver cl ear and n o coffee, hot g y a deal of cream— veal cutl ets el e ant ham and gre t , g e s and n i ce bread an d butter . I n ever sat gg , I down to a m ore pl entiful or a n ice—r breakfast. wi sh you cou ld have seen the eggs an d the great I ate the rst heart break ast I di shes of m eat. fi y f i have eaten sin ce I left our little home. S s is 136 Edgar Allan Poe.

del h ed and we are both in e cell ent s irits. ig t , x p She has coughed hardly any an d had n o n ight h i s n ow bus men d n m ants wh ch sweat. S e y i g y p , i I went out l ast n ht and I tore again st a n ail . ig

bou ht. a skein of silk a skein of thread two g , , button s a a r of sl ers an d a tin an f or the , p i ipp , p W have n ow Th fire ke t in all n ht. e stove. e p ig

To- m orrow I got four doll ars an d a half l eft. am n o tr an d borrow three doll ars so that goi g t y , I eel in ex I m ay have a fortnight to go upon . f ’ coll en t s r ts an d haven t drunk a dro — so that pi i , p The ver in I hope soon to get out of troubl e. y stan t I scrape together en ough m on ey I wi ll send ’ n Y u an m a ne how m uch w e both it o . o c t i gi had a heart r l a t n ht e do m ss ou . S ss c s i b i y i y y y g , ‘ ’ ’ cause you an d Catterin a weren t here. We are resolved to get two room s the first m om ent we can . I n the m ean tim e it i s impossibl e we could be m ore comfortable or m ore at hom e than we are.

I t l ooks as if it were going to cl ear up now . B e u n h an d have m l etters s re a d go to t e P . O . y ’ As soon as I wr L owell art forwarded . ite s icle I w ll sen d it to ou an d et ou to et the mone i y , g y g y m r h m ro G ve our best l ove to . f G a a . i C “ B sur nd ak m h ss n e e e a t e ho e t e M e e g r to Hirst. ho We pe to send f or you very soon . “ EDD E I .

The foll owing extracts of l etters to L owell from ’ Mr B r oe s artner in the ubl cation of . iggs, P p p i the B roadwa ourna l will show the ersonal y J , p peculiarities of our poet :

ll 138 Edgar A an Poe.

t recover som ethin rom him I all owed him to o g f , i ssue on e number but it i s doubt ul he i ssues , f if m ans th ubl sher with whom an other . Mr . o e H , p i I had agreed to u n dertake the publication of the ournal is an educated m an an d a thorou h ood J , g g fell ow w ith a very exten sive book - sel lin g connec H i st ll desirious ak n hold of h tion . e s i Of t i g t e ournal an d has m ade m e a ver l beral off er to J , y i ’ go on with him if he can purchase B isco s share. B ut I do not yet kn ow how the affair will termi

n ate. “ ’ Poe s m other - in - l aw tol d m e that he was quite t s the da that ou call ed u on him an d that ip y y y p , he acted very strangely but I perceived n othi ng wh I w i h r H w of it en sa h m in t e m o ning . e as to have del ivered a poem before the societies of the N ew Y ork Un ivers t a f ew weeks sin ce but drunk i y , enness prevented him . I believe he had n ot drun k anything f or m ore than eighteen m onths until within the past three m onths ; but in this time he has been very frequently carried home in a

d d n . wretche con itio I am sorry f or him . H e has som e ood o n ts but taken alto ether he is badl g p i , , g , y I was dece ved b hi s m ade up . i y s uperficial tal ents when I rst met him an d relied too much u on fi , p h n on wh ch ou had the igh opi i i y expressed of him . H is l earn in g i s very m uch like that of the fam ous ‘ ’ Mr n k n son in he V car of ak e t W e el d . . J i i fi H e talks about dactyl s an d spon dees w ith su rprising glibn ess ; an d the n am es of m etres bein g caviare to n n e m en out of ten he has a ned a re u i , g i p tation ver chea ra e H m f or erudi tion at a y p t . e akes quo First isit to N e r V w Yo k. 139

’ tati on s rom the Germ an but he can t r a a word f , e d of the l an ua g ge. “ ’ Y ou have form ed a correct estim ate of Poe s characterl ess chara I hav n ever m et cter . e a per on so utterl de c en m H e cann o s y fi i t Of high otive. t ’ con ceive of anybody s doin g anything except f or hi s own erson al advanta e an d he sa s with p g ; y , perfect sincerity an d entire un con sciousn ess of the exposition which it m akes of hi s own m in d an d heart that he l ooks u on all re orm rs as m adm en , p f e ; an d it i s f or this reason that he i s so great an H cann o n v h r houl egoti st. e t co cei e w y the wo ld s d n ot eel an inter st in what v nter sts him f e e er i e , because he feel s n o interest him sel f in what does n ot erson all con cern him . There ore he at p y f , tr butes all the avor wh ch L on ell ow oursel i f i gf , y f, or anybody el se receives from the world as an evi den ce th i n oran ce of the w orl d an d the l ac Of e g , k ’ of that favor in him sel f he attributes to the worl d s I t i too absurd f or el u h re l m al n t . s b e b t e al ig i y i f, y thin ks that L ongfell ow owe s hi s fam e m ainly to the ideas whi ch he has borrowed from hi s ’ ! Poe s) writings in the S ou thern Literary M essen er H is resum tion i s be on d the l vel est g . p p y i i H has n o reveren c f or om r im agin ation . e e H e ‘ Shakes eare or M lton but thinks that r on p , i , O i h l n ua e H e has too i s the greatest poem in t e a g g . much ru dence to ut hi s o n ons into r n t p p pi i p i , or rather he can fin d n obod im u den t en ou h to , , y p g r n t them — but he shows him sel in his r vate p i , f p i i all r m arol B bl e he a s s e. n vers . The s co e i , y , ig hi reek — ou m i ht see ver well i As to s G , y g y if t lan 140 Edgar Al Poe.

H e does n ot read Words were put in your eyes. ” w orth an d kn ows n oth n abou t him . , i g

M r B sco on e of the trium v rate of the B road . i , i wa ourn al sa s to B r s : y J , y igg

‘ ’ ’ ou l I Y ou take Poe s n i ai series too seri s y. only cared f or hi s u nhan dsom e allu sion to m e in becau se it roved him a baser m an than the B . J . p The truth i s that I thought him before. I have n ot given hi m the shadow of a cau se f or

l l - eel n on the contrar he owes m e n ow f or i f i g ; y, m on ey that I l en t him to pay his board an d keep h re B ut he him from being turned into t e st et. kn ows that I am possessed of the secret Of hi s

r n d h n dou hat m . real characte , a e o bt es e f or it Until it was absolutely n ecessary f or m e to expose som e of hi s practices to save mysel f from con tempt I n ever breathed a s ll abl e of hi s ill hab ts but y i , I tried in vain to hide them from Observation out of ure com assion f or I had n ot kn own him l on p p , g before I l ost all respect f or him an d felt a l oath I di n m u ing disgust f or hi s h abits. d ot ch bl ame him f or the m atter of hi s rem arks about ones J , although the m ann er of them was exceedin gly im proper an d un j ust ; the real cause of his ire was ’ Jon es negl ecting to enum erate him am ong the hum orou s wr ters of the countr f or he has an i y, inc on ceivably extravagan t idea of hi s capacities hum r The l ast con versation I ha as a o ist. d with P oe he u sed all hi s power of el oqu en ce in persuad in g m e to j oin in the j oint editorship of the ” t l s S y u .

4 ll o 1 2 Edgar A an P e. lives in fam e the rul ers an d dyn asties he has m e moralized b ch sel bru sh an d en . y i , p Gen ius and bravery have ever been con sol ed by wom an an d wh l e eal ous sord d m an en deavors , i j , i to ush the th nker as de l or ou s wom an w th her p i i , g i , i ure an d l o t hero sm l ts him u to the stars p f y i , if p , an d stan ds as hi s pedestal of con stan t an d ever l astin g l ove ! I imagine that these were the dying words of

CLEOPATRA TO AN TON Y

I am d in An ton d in y g, y, y g, Y et I l ong for on e embrace To en twin e m arms aroun d ou y y , An d still gr eet you face to face; Ere I cross the S tygi an river Testin hi hest heaven or hell g g , I am pin ing for thy pr esen ce Com e an d kiss a on d arewell , f f .

I am d in An ton d in y g, y, y g, Whil e the con qu erin g hosts of Rom e B atter down my palace portals An d despoil my royal hom e; ' L et great Caesar s dashing l egi ons Rul e the lan d e an d ru l e the s a, I defy his sharp est torture Yo an d L ove ru le u on ly me.

I am d in An ton/ d in y g, y, y g,

Yet m soul - li t love orbids , y f To qu en ch gr eat furn ace fires ’ B urni ng neath the pyramids r First Visit to New Yo k. 143

’ assi on s dee oun dation Of p p f , ai n at r n d her a L d by u e a l ws, That abide by blood an d i mpu lse r om r t t rn c e F om s e g ea e e al aus .

I am d in An ton d in y g, y, y g, “ ” Yet the s len dors o m smile , p f y Shall light thy pathway on ward To som ran d cel estial Ni le e g , Where am ong bright h eaven ly bowers We shall clas with m a i c mi ht p g g , Crown ed with everlasting flowers loomi n alwa s da n d ni ht B a . g y , y g

Come m li on - hear ted hero , y To the un l es o m heart j g f y , eed u on the u lan d hi ll ocks F p p , N ever m or e to pin e or par t; Wan der gran dly to the valley Where the s rin s o li e aboun d p g f f , Cool the ar dor of thy passi on I rk rottoes un der ro d n da g g un . 144 Edgar Allan Poe.

CHAPTER XVI I I ,

’ E — M S E W R EN D P—TH E POE M IS RAB LE R . SH S F I SHI B E LLS .

I N the wi n ter of 1 846 - 7 Poe was alm ost a physi cal an d m ental wreck as he pon dered an d wan dered about the cottage walks of F ordham . With a d n w e an d at t m es n ot a doll ar in the yi g if , i house t bu ood or m ed c n e it i s a won der that o y f i i , he did n ot seek etern al shelter i n su c de as m an i i , y e i a g niu s had done before h m . I n thi s forl orn con di tion several literary peopl e in New Y ork es oused his des erate cau se an d p p , am ong the nu mber of guardian angel s Mrs. Maria L ou i se Shew was forem ost She collected sixty dol l ars rom adm r n r n d an d av i o Mrs f i i g f ie s g e t t . Cl emm who s en t it w th are an d d re n c sc t o . , p i i i M r Shew was the dau hter of a h s c an h s. s e g p y i i , studied the art of m edicin e hersel f an d aided her ather in his ract ce as well as l ookin a r f p i , g fte r h wo t y cases am ong the poor . The oll ow n l etter written the da be or h f i g , y f e i s ’ wi e d ed w ll show oe s ratitud f i , i P g e to this benev ol ent l ady :

n 146 Edgar Alla Poe. reaction of his fever that even sedatives had to be ” u on adm in istered w ith extrem e ca ti . Through the su mm er an d fall of 1 847 Poe re covered his strength an d began to write again Shew an d others be an an d on the adv ce of Mrs. , i , g to l ook f or a wife who would take care of hi s l n e H e would rem a n all n ht hea th a d prosp cts. i ig r Shew occas on all in the c t at the hom e of M s. i y i y, an d when r nk n w ou ld of course act w th in , d i i g, , , i san r e f eedom . There was a fin al break in the frien dship be we n h Som eth n t e im self and the Shew fam ily. i g ver u r ou m u ha n ed y c i s st ve happe . The foll owing appealin g an d pathetic l etter w as wr en b P r Sh w in r l h r v itt y oe to M s. e ep y to e se crating lines :

Can it be true L oui se that ou have the dea , , y i fixed in your min d to desert your un happy an d un fortun ate frien d an d patien t ? Y ou did n ot say so I know but f or m onths I have kn own ou were , , y desert n m e n ot willin l but n on e the l ess i g , g y, surel — m destin y y v,

‘ Disaster ollowin ast an d ollowin aster , f g f f g f , ti ll his son g on e burden bore Till the dirges of his ! I op e that m elan choly bur den bor e “ ” N ver—n e rm or Of e ve e.

So I have had rem onition s of th s f or m onths I p i . re eat m ood s irit m lo al heart ! m us thi p , y g p , y y t s foll ow a e uel t all h b n fits in s a. s qo t e e e and bless gs i r Poe M se able. 147 you have so generously bestowed ? Are you to van i sh l ke all I l ove or desire rom m darkened i , , f y ‘ ’ an d l ost soul ? I have read over you r letter again an d a a n an d cann ot make it ossibl e w th an g i , p , i y de ree of certa n t that ou wrote it in our ri ht g i y, y y g d mi n . ! I know you did not without tears of an u h n I s it oss bl e our n uen ce g i s a d regret . ) p i y i fl i s lost to m e ? Such ten der an d true natures are ever l o al u nto death but ou are n ot dead ou y ; y , y are ul l of l e an d beaut ! L ou se ou cam e in f if y i , y , —‘ in your floating white robe Good ’ Th r w a touch of conven m orn n Ed ar . e e s a i g, g tion al coldn ess in our hurried m an ner an d our y , y attitude as you open ed the kitchen door to find ‘ ’ Th r Muddie i s m l ast rem em bran ce of ou . e e , y y was l ove ho e an d sorrow in our sm l e instead , p , y i ,

of l ove ho e an d cou ra e as ever be ore. 0 , p , g , f L ouise how m an sorrow s are be ore ou ! Y our , y f y ingen uou s an d sympathetic n ature will be con tantl woun ded in its contact w th the hollow s y i , or al as ! un l es om e heartless world ; an d f m e, s s true ten der an d u re wom an l l ove saves me I , , p y , shall hardly l ast a year l onger alive ! A f ew short m on ths will tell how f ar my strength ! physical H ow can an d m oral ) will carry me in l ife here. I believe in Providen ce when you l ook coldly upon m e ? Was it n ot you who ren ew ed my hopes an d n in hum an t ? L ou se faith in God ? a d i y i , I heard your voice as you passed out of my sight l eaving m e but I still l istened to your ‘ ’ I heard ou sa w th a sob Dear Muddie. voice. y y i , ‘ ’ heard ou reet Catter n a but it was onl I y g my i , y r thi n esca ed m ear as a memo y no g p y , la 148 Edgar Al n Poe.

an d I w as convinced it was n ot your generous sel f re eatin words so foreign to our n ature — p g y to you r ten der heart ! I heard you sob out your sen se of dut to m m other an d I heard her re y y , ‘ ’ Wh turn l Y es L oni es. p y, , y y your true work f or the desol ate to the than kl ess an d m serl world ? I elt m heart sto i y f y p, an d I w as su re I w as then to die before your i w ll— i i rtun ate— ou e es. L oui se t is e t s o y , f y l ooked u w th a tear in ou r dear e es an d ra sed p i y y , i the w n dow an d talked of the u ava ou had i , g y Y our n t n ct are brought f or my sore throat. i s i s ’ — better than a strong m an s reason f or m e I tru st the m a b f o r u el I shall e r ou sel . L o se I e y y y f i , f — not prevail a shadow has al ready fall en upon I our soul an d i s re ected in our e es. t i s too y — , fl y y l ate you are floating away w ith the cruel om — tide. it i s n ot a c m on trial it i s u h rar s u a fearful on e to me . S c e o l s as — yours so beautify this earth so relieve it of all that i s re ul s ve an d sord d so p i i , br hten its to l s an d cares it i s hard to l ose s ht ig i , ig of them even f or a short time but you m ust know and be assured of my regret an d sorrow u h v writ n M if a ght I ave e er te has hurt you . y heart never wron ged you . I pl ace you in my es — — teem in all sol em nity beside the frien d of my bo hood—the m other of m school ell ow of whom y y f , I told ou an d as I have re eated in the oem y , p p ’ as the tru est ten derest of th s world s , i m ost wom anl souls an d an an el to m orl orn y , g y f ‘ ’ an d darkened n e I wil n o a lo atur . l t s y st soul a ain for our s ke will tr overcome m g , y a . I y to y

5 llan 1 0 Edgar A Poe.

H o the tin kle tinkl e tin kle w y , , , I n the i cy ai r of night! While the stars that oversprinkle All the heavens seem to twin kle With a crystalli n e delight; K ee in tim e tim e tim e p g , , , I n a ort o Run i c r h m e s f y , To the tin tinnabulati on that so musi cally w ells F rom the bells bells bel ls bells , , , , B ells bells bells , , F h i n lin n t e tinkli n h rom t e J g g a d h g of t e bells.

H ear the mellow wedding bells Golden bells ! What a world of happin ess their harm ony foretells ! Through the balmy air of n ight H ow they ring out their delight!

rom the m olten - olden n otes F g , An all i n tun e d , What a liquid ditty floats

To the turtle- dove that li stens while she loats , g On the m oon ! Oh rom out the soun di n cells , f g What a gush of euphony volumin ously wells! H ow it swells ! H ow i t dwells On the future ! how it tells Of the rapture that impels To the swinging and the ringing ells bells bells Of the b , , , i Poe M serable. 151

O the bells bells bell el f , , s, b ls, ells ell l B , b s, bel s To the rhyming an d the chiming of the bells !

H ear the l oud alar m bells

B razen bells ! What a tale o terror n ow their turbulen c tells! f , , y I n the startl ed ear of n ight ’ H ow they scr eam ou t their afiright! Too m u ch horri ed to s eak fi p , The can on l shri ek shri ek y y , , Out o tun e f , I n a clam orous a eali n to the merc o the ire p p g y f f , I n a mad expostu lati on with the deaf an d franti c ir e f , L ea in hi her hi her hi her p g g , g , g , With a des erate desire p , ' An d a resolute en deavor — o to i t r N ow n w s , or n eve ,

the si d o the al e- aced m on B y e f p f o . h h e l lls ell O , t e b l s, be , b s ! What a tale their terror tells Of despair ! H ow the clan an d clash an d roar ! y g, , What a horror they outp our the bosom of the palpi tati ng air ! Ye the ear i t ull kn ows t f y , B the twan in y g g, An d the clan i n g g, How the dan ger ebbs and flows; n 152 Edgar Alla Poe.

th ear distin ctl tells Yet e y , I n the an lin j g g, An d the wran lin g g, o the an er sin k an d swells H w d g s , B y the si nking or the swelling in the anger bells Of the bells O the bells bells bells f , , , l ll B e ls, bells, be s I n the clam or an d the clangor of the bells !

H ear the tolling of the bells I ron bells ! What a world of solem n thought their m el ody com pels ! I n the sil en ce o the ni ht f g , H ow we shi ver with affright fi t the m elan choly m enace of their tone! F or every soun d that floats From the rust wi thin their throats I roan s a g . the eo l e —ah the eo l e 14n d p p , p p h that dwell u i n the stee l e T ey p p ,

All al on e, An d who tollin tollin tollin g, g, g, n that mu led m on oton e I ff , F eel a gl ory i n so rollin g On the human heart a stone

n 154 Edgar Alla Poe.

R CHAPTE XI X. — — DRIFTIN G SEARCHIN G F OR A WIFE THOMAS N N EN DU GLISH .

POE dri ted between N ew Y ork B oston L owell f , , , in h f l ov an d li ter r an d rov den ce R . I . searc o e a P i , , y d H e had m ade u his m n d su ch as he rewar . p i ! had at that tim e ) to m arry som e one who coul d fill the chasm cau sed by the absen ce of hi s lost “ l ” Ul a um e. Poets are n oted for variegated eccentricities in pursuit Of the hum an passion s ; an d whil e sighing l ke a urn ace f or the r sc l las of the resent the i f P i i p , y are pl anning to pl acate an d purl oin the Pom onas

of the future. Gen u ne oets a nters mu s c an s an d scul i p , p i , i i , p ors should n ever m arr an thin r but he t , y y g t art deal f or the are er ect stran ers to the bl a i , y p f g O ig t on s of dom est c dut es an d shou l d l ve an d i i i , i die as the were born bohem ian s f or the ubl c ood y , , p i g ! God help any dom estic w om an who is hitched to a gen iu s ! F ar better a sexton for both . A romanti c attachm ent or an im ul sive s ur , p p t ear in r f S ch g fo a Wi e. 155 a ter m atrim on m elled P oe to a his devo f y, i p p y on s to Mr Sarah el n h m an o tess t s. e W t a e of i H i , p , rov dence P i . She had been an admirer of Poe an d he had rec rocated even when hi s w e was l v n b ip , if i i g, y “ ” ded cat n to th s l ad hi s oem el en wh ch i i g i y p , H , i i on ered on s c sid e of hi s best. h m n h l Mrs. W t a on t e adv ce re at ves it is i , i Of i , said broke off her en a em ent w th Poe w r t n , g g i , i i g Poe him a ch d n l etter f or hi s errat c con duct . i i g i , w th n d n an t words in sel - de en se m ade the i i ig f f , foll owing reply :

Y ou do n ot l ove m e or ou w oul d , y have felt too thorough a sym pathy with the sen si tiven ess of m n ature to have woun ded m e as ou y , y have don e w ith this terribl e passage of you r l et ‘ “ ter— H ow o ten I have heard it sa d of ou H e f i y , has reat intel lectu al ower but n o r n c l e—n o g p , p i ip ” m r l o a sen se. “ I s it possibl e that su ch ex ression s as these p— — could have been repeated to m e to m e by one hom I l oved— ah whom I ! w , l ove “ B the G od who rei n s in heaven I y g , swear to ou that m soul i s in ca able of d shon or— that y y p i , with the exception of occasion al follies an d ex cesses wh ch I b tterl l am ent but to wh h , i i y , ic I have been driven b ntol erabl e sorrow an d whi ch y i , are hour ly committed by others withou t attract — ing any n oti ce whatever I can call to m in d n o act Of my life which w oul d bring a bl ush to my h k— r u I f I have erred at all in c ee o to yo rs. thi s e ard it h n n h id h r g , as bee o t e s e of w at the world 156 Edgar Allan Poe. — coul d call a Quixotic sen se of the honorabl e oi u The n dul ence of thi s sense has the chi val ro s. i g I t was been the true vol uptuou sn ess of my l ife. u ur of n de en den ce that i n earl li e f or this l x y i p , y f I deliberately threw away from m e a l arge fortune

rather than endur e a tr ivial wrong . “ rl thr ee ears I have been ill oor F or nea y y , p , ivin out of the w orl d an d thus as I now ain l g ; , p see have aff orded o ortun t to m enemies fully , pp i y y to slander m e in private society without my kn owl

d e an d thu s w th im un t . Althou h much e g , , i p i y g , w ver m a an d I n ow see m ust have been ho e , y ! , , ) i m d scred t dur n m retirem ent tho sa d to y i i i g y , se f ew who kn ow n m e w ell have been stead astl , i g , f y m rien ds ermitted n oth n to reach m ears y f , p i g y l n on e n stance of su ch a character h un ess i i , t at I ul a eal to a cou rt of ust ce for redr co d pp j i ess. I replied to the charge fully in a public — newspaper afterwards suin g the Mirror ! in which the scan dal a eared obta n in a verdic pp ) , i g t and receiving su ch an am oun t of damages as f or h me o com l etel break u that ou al t e ti t p y p j rn . ' — An d do you ask why m en so m isj udge m e why I have enemies ? I f your kn owl edge of my char acter an d of my career does n ot aflord you an an er the uer at l east it does not b sw to qy, ecome m e h n L et it suf h to suggest t e a swer . fice t at I have had the audac t to rem a n oor that I mi h i y i p , g t reserve m in de en den ce—that nevertheless in y p , , petters to a certa n e tent an d in certa n re ards , i x , i g , ‘ ’— I have been successful that I have been a ri — n un scru ul ousl hon est and c ti c a p y , , no doubt — , in many cases a bitter on e that I have uniformly

158 Edgar Allan Poe.

M u h a me mfd earc in for a S h g Wife. 159 — — ordham 4 48 . F Dec. M dear Mr Pabodie—Ou the rinci l f y . p p e o bet ” ter l ate than never I seize the first opportuni ty a forded m e in he m idst of cares an d ve ations f , t x of all ki nds to write ou a f ew words of ordia , y c l thanks f or your con siderate an d gentl emanl y at n l in r v d n I do ho e te tions to me whi e P o i e ce. p that you will always think of me as one of the m n d m o devoted ri n ost obliged a st of your f e ds. he lease to sa to Mrs. W. w n ou ne t see her P y , y x , ” that I thank her f or the papers an d f or her

rom titude. Sa al so that erha s Mrs. Wri ht p p y , p p g is ri ht but that I bel eve her wron an d desire g , i g, Th mman ds about to be kindl remembered . e co y , “ ” oet have been atten ded to— resent m re P , P y

All en an d to ou r ather . spects to Mrs. y f Trul y yours always

Edgar All an Poe.

Pa odie E s . W. J. b q

“ ” a al to a court of u stice f or redress The ppe j ,

d o the l etter to Mrs. Whitman was a referre t in , suit f or person al libel again st the New Y ork irror whi ch ave cu rren c to a scan dal ous arti M , g y M Thom as Dunn l ainst Poe wr tten b r. c e ag , i y A verdict of ou r hun dred an d n in et Engl ish. f y ’ l r was iven in dama es but oe s two do la s g g , P h u d men lawyers received the bulk of t e j g t. A very bitter feel in g existed between Poe and En lish who seem ed to have had ersonal business g , p En l sh accu sed Poe of obtainin rel ation s. g i g n ses an d al so of or er m on ey un der fal se prete f g y. i erar criti cism treated En lish Poe in his l t y , g 160 Edgar Allan Poe.

w th s ecial contem t cal l n him an ass an er i p p , i g , ran d bo h un d a bl athersk te bl ack uard a , a o , i , g , y — l iar an d vill ain term s n ot very poetical ! du d r I n the sprin g of 1 8 9 6 I was in tro ce to M . Thom as Dun n En l sh at the Ebbitt ouse g i , H , Washi n ton C t wh l e he was serv n as a Mem g i y, i i g

ber of Congress from N ew Jersey. A m usical e was bein g hel d in the parl or of the rm — L eo hotel by a n oted perfo er on the pian o Mr . A oun l ad rom h outh heat of V r n a. t e s W , i gi i y g y f “ ” san the cel ebrated son B en B olt com osed g g, , p n l an r r by E g ish m y yea s befo e. A f ew days previou s to my m eetin g En glish a brutal attack had been m ade in the Washin gton n da P o S u st on Ed ar All an Poe whom Mr . En y g , g li sh accu sed of ever con ce vabl e m eann ess— the t y i f , or er a l a ar sm— sa n that h e had k cked f g y, p gi i yi g i P oe out of the Aristidean o ce when he was ed tor ffi , i

h h r - of t at s o t lived m agazine. I attempted to call him to task f or speakin g so l u l En severe of a dead m an who co ld n ot re . y , p y g “ ” l ish got hot in the coll ar an d bl urted out : “ What do ou kn ow about it sir ? Poe was the y , m ost overrated wr ter in th s countr hi s s l een i i y ; p , arro an ce m u den ce an d sardon c hate be n g , i p i i g ’ H e hadn t a ood word to sa about suprem e. g y an au thor l v n or dead an the world has been y i i g , d cu rsed b hi s craz cr m n al P oli ce Gazette stor es y y, i i , i

l H e wrote f or the rabbl e. Sen sat on an d ta es. i f or the sake of a f ew doll ars was hi s l eadin g am H e n ever wrote a l ove son an d outs de bition . g ; i ‘ ’ of his R aven wh ch I bel eve he stol e there i s , i i , hin h hi or re n not g t at will keep s mem y g e .

162 llan Edgar A Poe.

I n the old church ard i n the vall e B en B olt y y, , I n a o n r n e c r e obscure a d alon , The have tted a slab o the ranite so ra y fi f g g y, An Ali ce li e u n h ton d s der t e s e.

Un der the hickor tree B en B olt y , , Whi ch stood at the oot o the hill f f , ’ To ether we ve lain i n the n oon da shade g y , ’ An d li sten ed to Appleton s mi ll : The mill wheel has all en to i eces B en B olt f p , , The ra ters have tu m bled i n f , ! An d a qui et whi ch crawls roun d the walls as aze g , H as oll owed the olden din f .

Do ou min d the cabin o l o s B en B olt y f g , , At the ed e o the athless wood g f p ,

An d the bu tton - bal l tr ee wi th i ts m otl e limb y s, Whi ch n igh by the doorstep stood ? The cabin to ruin has on e B en B olt g , , The tree you wou ld seek i n vain ; ’ An d where on ce the l ords o the orest waved f f , Grows r s an d th olden r i n g as e g g a .

r ’ An d don t ou r emember the school B en B olt y , , Wi th the m aster so cru el an d rim g , r An d the shaded n ook i n the run nin brook g , Where the chi ldren wen t to swim ? ’ Grass rows on the master s rave B en B olt g g , , The s ri n o the br ook is dr p g f y, ' An d o all the bo s who were schoolmates then f y , ‘ h r r on l ou an I T e e a e y y d . 63 Searching for a Wife. 1

There is a chan e in the thin s I l oved B en B olt g g , , They have chan ged from the old to the n ew; ut I eel in the dee s o m s irit the truth B f p f y p ,

Ther e n ever was change i n you . Twelve m on ths twen t have ast B en B olt y —p , , Sin ce first we were fri en ds yet I hail h resen ce a blessin th ri en dshi a truth T y p g, y f p ,

- B en B olt o the salt sea ale. , f g 164 ll Edgar A an Poe.

CHAPTER XX .

’ P OE s CRI TI CI SM R OF AUTHO S.

POE in hi s reviews an ri s , d c tici m s of brother authors was col d an d m erc l ess an d w th hi k en , i , i s e an alytical m in d cou ld detect the sm all est error and call attent on o it w th h e H i t i t e great st gl ee. e was what m ht be called a ni cal entl em an who ig fi g , cl ed his words to a n cet screwed his l nto ipp i y, ips i sardon c c rcl es ointed hi s un ctuat on n i i , p p i poi ts an d shr ugged hi s fantastic shoulders with preci sion an d delicacy ! There was n ot a thing within the range of um a kn owl ed a h di n ot ro s kn o h n ge th t e d p fe s to w, an d even San scrit ebrew Greek L atin an d , H , , F ren ch were pl aythings in the vocabul ary of his l ofty im aginati on ! Y et those who knew him in im a el at the ract cal editorial desk were well t t y p i , aware of thi s harmless e ot sm t n a m an who g i , pi yi g was an uncon scious victim of pampered pride and m alicious con ceit. Poe had n ot a stu dent n ature but errat c and , i impul sive ; an d it is really won derful how he flashed over the fields of kn owledge and garnered o an e s intell ectual orn s m y sh ave of c .

llan 166 Edgar A Poe.

L ON GF ELL OW.

‘ ’ Th wai is i n ected w th a moral tain t or e f f i , i s this a m ere freak of our fan cy ? We shall be l eas be so but there does a ear in th s p ed if it , pp i l ittl e volum e a very careful avoidan ce of Am erican

poets who m ay be supposed to in terfere with Mr.

L n el l ow . Th L on ell ow con o gf ese m en Mr. gf tin uall imitates an d et n ever nc den tall com y , y i i y

m en ds. “ ’ Professor L ongfell ow s good qualities are all of the hi hest or er wh l his s n s are ch e g d , i e i i fly — those Of aff ectation an d imitati on an imitation som etim es vergin g on down right theft ! “ L el l ow of m tat on in hi s I accused Mr . ongf i i i ‘ ’ Midn ight Mas s f or the Dying Y ear with the ‘ ’ I have no D eath of the Old Y ear of Tennyson . dea of comm ent n at l en th u on th s m ta i i g, g , p i i i t on wh ch i s too al abl e to be mistaken a d i , i p p , n which bel on gs to the m ost barbarou s cl ass of liter ary piracy ! Of the cl ass of willful l a ar sts nin e out of ten are authors of estab p gi i , ished re utat on who l un der recondite n e lected l p i , p g ” or forgotten books.

L OWELL .

‘ ’ h F abl f or the Cr ti cs ust i ssued has T e e i , j , n ot the n am e of its author on the titl e page ; an d but f or som e sl ight forekn owl edge of the l iterary o n on s l kes d sl kes, whims re u d ces an d pi i , i , i i , p j i , m e Ru s ll L owell w sh ul f Mr . a s s e e o d crotchets o J , have had much difficulty in attributing so very ’ oe s riticism i P C o Authors. 167

’ loose a brochure to h im . I n Mr . L owell s eff orts we have be ore observed a certa n dis in te n ss f i jo d e , — but n ever till n ow in hi s verse an d we con fess som e surprise at his putting forth so unpolished a m er or an e. L p f c Mr . owell shou ld con tent him self w th that cl ass of oetr f or wh h n i p y, ic a d f or which al one he seem s to hav — , e an especial vocation the tr of ti oe sen men t. Th s to be sure is n ot the p y i , , ver l o t est order of verse f or it is f ar in erior y f i , f to that of the im agin ation or that of the passion —but it i s the l o t est re i on in wh h Mr f i g ic . L owell can e r a g t b e th . “ I s there n o originality on the face of the ? ’ earth M r . L owell s total want of it i s shown at all points. H e i s one of the m ost rabid of the Abol ition fan atics ; an d n o southern er who does not w sh to be n su lted an d at the sam e t m e re i i , i volted by a bigotry the m ost obstin ately blin d an d v r u deaf should e e to ch a vol um e of this author . ‘ Mr L ow ell has n ot the comm on hon est to . y s eak well even in a l terar sen se of an m an who p i y , y n A olit on I t i a ashi on i s n ot a ranti g b i ist. s f ’ L owell s set to a ect a bel e that there am on g Mr . ff i f s All i s n o uch thing as Southern L iterature. N o a lu re has whom he praises are B oston ian s. f i ‘ ever been m ore complete or pitiabl e than the Fable ’ f or the Critics.

HAWTHORNE .

NO sm all porti on of hi s reputation i s attributa bl e to the very m arked idiosyn crasy of Mr. H aw 16 8 Edgar Allan Poe.

thorn h m I n on e sen se an d in a reat meas e i self . g u re to be ecul ar i s to be or n al an d than the , p i igi ,

true origin ality there i s n o higher l iterary virtue. “ re ll The act i s that Mr . awthorne were a f , if H y ori n al he could n ot a l of m ak n h m sel elt gi , f i i g i f f h act i s he i s n ot or in al b the ubl c. B ut t e y p i f , ig I n n n a y se se. “ h i k h ann r i n om e of T e German Tr ec , w ose m e , s hi s works i s absolutel dent cal w th that habitual , y i i i ‘ ’ h ecul ar t or sam eness or to awthorn e. T e H p i i y, , m on oton e of Hawthorn e woul d in its m ere char acter of ecul ar t su ce to de rive him of all p i i y, ffi p

chan ce of popul ar appreciation . “ We fin d him m on oton ou s at decidedly the worst I all u de to the stra n of of all possibl e points. i all egory which com pl etely overwhelms the greater n umber of hi s su e bj cts. “ The essays of Hawthorn e have much of the character of I rv n w th m ore or nal t an d l ess i g, i igi i y,

Of fin ish . “ We know of f ew composition s which the critic ‘ can m ore hon estly com m en d than Twice Told ’ ’ h n Mr. awt or e s di stin tiv tra i i Tal es. H c e it s n venti on creat on m a n at on an d ori in alit ! H e , i , i gi i g y i s pecul iar an d n ot origi n al . “ ‘ ’ ’ I n Howe s Masquerade we observe something whi ch resembl es l a ar sm bu t wh ch ma be a p gi i , i y r a er n o n c n h u h ve y fl tt i g c i ide t of t o g t. “ ‘ ’ I n an art cl e call ed W lliam W l son on e of i i i , ‘ ’ the Tal es of the Grotes u e an d Ar abes ue w e q q, have n ot onl the same dea but the sam i d y i , e ea ” simil arly presented in several respects !

170 Edgar Allan Poe.

roved b n o m eans n ecessari l involves an m oral p , y y y deli n qu en cy ! Thi s proposition applies very espe

ci ally to what appear to be poeti cal thefts. “ The poeti c sentim ent presupposes a keen ap preciation of the beautiful with a l ongi ng f or its h h assim il ation into the poetic identity . W at t e oet nten sel adm res becom es thus in ver act p i y i , , y f , althou h on l art all a ort on of his own g y p i y, p i h n h u l e r sou l . Wit i t is so it has a s con da y origi ’ n at on an d the oet thu s ossessed b an other s i , p , p y thou ht an n be sa d to ak n c ot t e of it ossessio . g , i p B ut in either view he thoroughly feel s it as his own and the ten denc to th s eel n i s counter , y i f i g acted on l b the sen s bl e resen ce of the true y y i p , palpabl e origin of the thou ght in the volum e when ce he has der ved it— an ori in wh ch in the i g , i l on l a se of ears it i s m oss bl e n ot to or et g p y , i p i f g , should the thou ht itsel as it ten i s be or ot g f, Of , f g ten . “ B u t the frail est association will regen erate it — it springs up w ith al l the vigor of a n ew birth ; its absol ute origin al ity 1 s not w ith the poet a m at ter of even sus c on an d when he has wr tten it pi i , i an d r nted it an d on its account i s char ed w th p i , g i l a ar sm there w ll be n o on e m ore ent rel as p gi i , i i y u n d han h to ed t im self . “ N ow rom what I have said it a ears that , f , pp the liability to acciden ts of thi s character i s in the direct ratio of the poetic sen timent- of the su s ce tibilit to the oet c m ress on an d i n act p y p i i p i ; , f , all literary history dem on strates that f or the m ost frequen t an d palpabl e pl agiarism w e m ust search ” the works of the most eminent poets ! ’ i is f u Poe s C rit c m o A thors. 17 1

“ ANTHON .

Doctor Charles Anthon i s the well - kn own Jay Professor of the Greek an d L atin l anguages in Col umbia Coll e e N ew Y ork an d Re tor of the g , , c

Gramm ar School . I f n ot absolutel the best h y , e is at l east en eral l the best cl ass c n Am g y i ist i erica. An attempt was m ade n ot l on g ago to prepossess ‘ ’ the public again st hi s Cl assical Dictionary by n u hu n r f l a r m getti g p a e a d c y o p gia i s . “ I t i s the practice of quacks to paraphrase page a ter a e rearran n the order of ara ra hs f p g , gi g p g p , m aking a sl ight alteration in poin t of fact here n d h re but reserv n the r of h wh l a t e s t t e o e. , p i g pi i N ow he al so in ava l n h m sel of the l abors of , , , i i g i f hi s predecessors ! an d it i s cl ear that all schol ars — m ust avail them sel ves Of su ch l abors) he who shall co verbatim the assa es to be desired py p g , without attem pt at palm in g off their spirit as ori in al with hi m sel i s certa n l n o l a ar st g f, i y p gi i , even if he fail s to m ake direct ackn owl edgm ent f in debtedness i s un uest on abl l ess of th o , qi y e pl agiarist than the disingenu ou s an d contemptibl e quack who wriggl es him self in to a reputation f or or in alit the ubl c of cou rse n ever carin a ig y, p i , , g ” straw whether he be origin al or n ot !

“ Y A B R NT.

’ B ant osition in the oetical world Mr . ry s p p i s erha s better settl ed than that of an Am eri , p p , y Th a reem ent i s m ore dec ded i n rivate can . e g i p literary circl es than in what appears to be the 1 72 Edgar Allan Poe. publ ic expression of sentim en t as gl eam ed from the

Press. “ That the opin ion of the press i s n ot an hon est — opin ion that necessarily it i s impossibl e that it sh oul d be an hon est opin ion - i s n ever den ied by the m embers of the press them sel ves. “ B r ant a I t w ill n ever do to cl aim f or Mr. y en u s of the l o t est order but there has been g i f i , M Mr . l atterl s n ce the da s of r . L on ell ow an d y, i y gf L owell a row n d s osition to den him a enius , g i g i p y g in any respect. “ The l iterary precocity of B ryant was rem arka — u wh n h wr bl e he was b t thi rteen e e ote a satire. i f ourse n oem I have kn w A sat re s o c o . o n i , , p f an earl er a do better th n s althou h th boys o i ge i g , g e Th m arvel of su ch vers a I ha case i s rare. e e s ve uoted ceases at once even adm itt n it to be q , i g ’ thoroughly the boy s own work ; but it i s difficult Th a h r a to m ak an such admission . e t mil ar e y f e , f i w th the best En l sh l terature m h u i g i i , ust ave s g

ested rev sed retouched . g , i , ‘ ’ Than atopsi s is the poem by which its author

i s best kn own but i s b n o m ean s hi s best oem . , y p I m ean to say that its negative m erit recommen ds n o The oncl ud n hou h it to the public atte ti n . c i g t g t eed n l n obl e an d has don e onder r i s exc i g y , w s fo the ” h l o o i success of the w o e c mp s ti on .

“ H ALLECK.

The n am e of Halleck i s at l east as well estab li shed in the poetical world as that of any Ameri can .

an o 174 Edgar All P e.

o h f n whom our atriot sm rather t t e writings o o e p i , than our u d m en t has el evated to a n che in the j g , i oet c tem l whi ch he does n ot becom n l fill p i p e i g y , an d which he cann ot l ong un in terruptedly hold . or odm an rak hose We allu de to the l ate Doct R D e, w ‘ ’ u er l e abort on The Cul r t F a we e am n ed p i i , p i y, x i at som e l n n riti l h H e has e gth i a c qu e e sew ere. grossly fail ed in wr iting an ideal or im agin ative poem . There i s n ot on e particl e of true im agin a ‘ ’ on about The ul a H e was e r m or ti C prit F y. n ve e ” than fanciful .

“WI LLI S .

N . . l i The success Of Mr . P Wi l s i s to be attrib uted on e- th rd to hi s m en tal ab l t an d two i i i y, ‘ hi h u h thirds to s p ysical temperam ent. H e p s ed ’ hi m sel went mu ch nto th worl d an d m de f, i e a w n H e a t n i friends ith the ge tl er sex. c ed o ly n rdan w his h s m h acco ce ith p y ical te peram en t. Wit him at l east a l ttle l earni n i s n o dan erous , , i g g H e com oses w th at l abor n d f r th n . re a s i g p i g , u u n n erl e on H is man qent eras re a d i t in ati . u scri ts in dicate vaci llati on a l ead n tra t of hi s p , i g i r l l i As a oet M . W s s n ot ent l ed I character . t p i i i , thin k to so h h a rank as he m a ustl cl aim , ig y j y ” i r s through h s p o e.

GRI SWOLD .

“ ’ Ru u Gri swold s book I n h re ace of Mr . s t e p f f , ‘ ’ n r f America he thus evinces a Poets a d Poet y o , ’ oe s Criticism of Aut ors 75 P h . 1

just comprehen sion of the n ature an d obj ects of ‘ true oetr . Th creat on of beaut the m anif es p y e i y, tati on of the real by the ideal in words that m ove “ in m e r t cal arra i s oetr . i y, p y “ There i s n o on e who read n the vol um e be , i g ore us w ll n ot i n a thou san d in stan ces be tem ted f , i , p to throw it as de becau se its re ud ces an d ar i , p j i p ti alities are i n a thou san d n stan ces alto ether at , i , g war w h hi W sa ree then w Mr . it s own . e di g ith Gr swold in m an of his cri ti cal est m ates al i y i , though in gen eral we are proud to find his deci ” sion s our own !

MACAULAY .

Thom as B abin gton Macaul ay has attained a re u tat on wh ch althou h deservedl reat i s et p i , i g y g , y r m rkabl m ea u re n e rv in a e a e s u d se ed . Mr.

Macaul a in short has or otten that he f re y, , f g uen tl or ets or n e l ects the ver st of his qy f g , g , y gi u s bject.

B URN S .

B u rns has num erou s passages exemplifying its ’ i on B urn s n d d author s el c t ex ress . ee f i i y Of p , i , w as the u et of c rcu m stan ce. As a oet n o p pp i p , person on the face of the earth h as been m ore ” e trava an tl or m ore absurdl overrated . x g y, y 76 1 Edgar Allan Poe.

“ ELI ZAB ETH B ARRETT B ROWNI NG .

Every reader of these vol um es ! poem s) will have read l seen sel dem on strated the utter in i y , f , ‘ ’ de en s b l t of The D ram a of E l e con s dered f i i i y xi , i un iquely as a work of art. “ ’ B arrett s w ld an d m a i n Mrs. i gn fice t gen ius seem s to have con ten ted tsel w th the o nts to i f i p i , have e h austed tsel in ashes but it i s the cl ose x i f fl , ro n u t of these o nts an d ashes which ren p pi qi y p i fl , der her book on e am e an d ust u s in call n fl , j ify i g her unhes tat n l the reatest the most l or , i i g y, g , g i ou s of her sex ! “ ’ ‘ With the excepti on of Tenn yson s L ocksl ey ’ all we have n ever eru sed a oem comb n n H , p p i i g so m u ch of the ercest ass on w th so m u h fi p i , i c of ‘ ’ the m ost ethereal an c as the L ad Geral d n f y, y i e s ’ Courtshi ! We are orced to adm t however p f i , , ‘ that the l atter work is ]a very palpabl e imitati on e ” of the form r . ‘ ’ The L ad Geral dine i s we think the onl y , , y oem of its author wh ch i s not de cient con sid p i fi , ’ ered as an arti stic whol e !

Poe was a con stant reader an d admirer of Mrs. B rown ing an d absorbed w ithin hi s soul her fau ci erce ass on s of m a n at on f ul pictures an d fi p i i gi i . I s chic hen om en a of n ature iv n s m l ar f p y p , g i g i i thoughts to different hum an bein gs in different ages an d n ation s hol d good as a scientific proposi hen Tenn son mu st have m tated Penzonf tion , t y i i il n I tal B rown in imitated Tenn son an of M a , y, g y d

178 Edgar Allan Poe.

I could m ention fifty other Am erican an d foreign authors who cam e un der the su ar - an d - v n e ar , g i g cr t c sm s of P oe but the reader w ll n o doubt be i i i , i , , al read ur e ed b th l oom ne at ve ess y s f it y e g y, g i , p i mi stic reviews inflicted on the publ ic by our scalp n au hor i g t . The garment of gratitu de rested very lightly on Poe ; an d he threw it off as easily as a rose exhal es its er um e th n k n l ttl e of the stem that su p f , i i g i p orte i dv r n p d t in a e se fortu e. Cr t c sm s bear n the ear m arks of s l een eal i i i i g p , j ousy or ful som e flattery are worthl ess ; an d the reader at l ast i s l eft to his own opin ion about the book stor tale or oem that m a all un der , y, p y f Read an d cr t c se f or oursel ! his eye. i i i y f Many of the authors an d p oem s that P oe satir i zed an d con dem n ed s t ears a o are to- da , ix y y g , y househol d dol s sh ow n that t m e an d oster t i , i g i p i y are the only ju st critics. ’ I n oe s e sa en t tl ed Mar in alia he m akes P s y i g , the foll owin g wise statem en t regardin g the attack u n rom nen t m en b l ttl e ell ow s— wh ch b po p i y i f i , y th e b m ht have been a ro r atel a lied y, ig pp p i y pp to him sel f :

To vilify a great m an i s the readiest way in which a l ittl e m an can him sel f attain greatness. The Crab m ight n ever h ave becom e a con stell ation but f or the cou rage it evin ced i n n ibbl ing Hercul es on the h eel !

e under h un nd al There is nothing n w t e s , a l oe s ri i i P C t c sm of Authors. 179 any author in any age or clime can do is to re state acts in a ecul ar ornate catch n s le f p i , , i g ty , gilding hi s ideal s with the glitterin g varni sh of imagination .

Sin ce Adam lived and H omer died Th e e Old has been the N w, !An d ever author stole or li ed y , ’ An d n o man kn ows what s tru e! What n ow is said was said be ore , f n m o ta n n e O un i , sea a d isl , ' An d al l we claim forevermore “ ” I s just our cut and style!

ANNAB IEL LEE.

I t was m an an d man a ear o y y y ag , I n a kin dom b the sea g y , That a maiden ther e lived whom you may know B y the n am e of AN N AB EL LEE ; An d this m aiden she lived wi th n o other t , though t l o n l o Than o ve a d be ved by me.

I was a child an d she was a child I n this kin dom b the sea g y , B ut we l oved wi th a l ove that was mor e than love I an d my AN N AB EL L EE ; With a l ove that the wi nged seraphs of heaven

Coveted her and me. 180 Edgar Allan Poe.

h on that lon o And this was t e r eas g ag , I n this kin dom b the sea g y , ew o t o a clou d chillin A win d bl u f , g My beau tifu l AN N AB EL L EE

So that her high born kinsman came And bor her awa rom m e e y f , To shut her up in a sepul chre

I n this kingdom by the sea.

The angels n ot half so happy i n heaven Wen t envying her an d m e Yes ! that was the r eason ! as all men kn ow I n this kgin dom by the sea) That the wi n d cam e out o the clou d b ni ht f y g , Chillin an d killin m AN N B E L E g g y A L E.

182 Edgar Allan Poe.

H i s earnestn ess sincer t an d honest were sel , i y y f “ ” evi dent an d the onl cr me ever l a d at his , y i i door w as— overt ! A reat de ant character p y g , fi , who preferred to work an d rem ain poor in order to preserve hi s in dependence of thought an d ao tion . Peace an d rest to his cel estial soul an d glory to hi s m agic m em ory ! H i s evil gen ius seem s to have pur sued the poet with un rel ent n u r an d wh l e he tr ed to con i g f y, i i quer the assau lts of B acchu s He coul d n ot di scard the allurem en ts an d asc n at on of Venus the f i i , s ren who has throu h all the crowdin a es i , , g g g , ca tu red an d destro ed n ot on l oets but hi p y y p , p l o o her an d w arr s p s iors. E ve Del l ah B or ia Zen obia Cleo atra El za , i , g , , p , i beth Cather n e of Russ a an d Madam e D e Stael , i i , have enhan ced en tran ced an d m sti ed th eat , y fi e gr est m en of their day ! F ool s an d weakl ings in the s lken w ebs of w om en ! L ords of creat on bru sed i i , i

an d battered b . br lliant butter es ! Ah well ! y i fli , resu m e it w ll alwa s be so an d w e oor m en I p i y , , p , m ight as w ell subm it to the fathomless verdict of F Venus and ate. As a l ast resort to recoup his broken health and shattered ortu n e P oe went rom N ew Y ork to f , f R chm on d an d Ve an to a court to ol d ri n s i , g p y f e d an d early sweethearts. Mrs Elm ra Shelton a r ch widow n d hi . i , i , a s earl l ove M ss Ro ster seem ed to b h y ! i y ) , e t e center of hi s aff ection s sin ce hi s d smi ssal b Mrs _ , i y . Whit

m an .

i The f oll n letter to hi s o her- in- law M ow g m t , rs ’ s 183 Poe Wanderings.

Cl emm will show the awakenin on den ce of Poe , g c fi i hi a e n s l test s arch f or a supporter an d wife.

“ ’

R M N D A . Tue a emb r 1 8th 49 V sd Se t e . ICH O , , y, p , “ ‘ ’ MY OWN DARLIN G MUDDY : On arriving here l ast n ight from N orfolk I received both your ’ l e t r n l u d n M r t e s c s. Lew s s. cann ot tell ou , i i g i I y the joy they gave m e to l earn at l east that you are

well an d ho e ul . Ma God orever bl ess ou m p f y f y , y ‘ ’ u r dear Mu ddy. Elmira has j st got hom e f om the h h h nk cou n tr s ent l ast even n w t er . t y . I p i g i I i she l oves m e m ore devotedly than any one I ever kn w an n urn e d I cann ot help l ovi g her in ret . — N othing i s as yet defin itely settl ed an d it will n t hu r l ectu red at N or olk on o do to r y m atters. I f Mon day an d cl eared en ough to settl e m y bill here at the Mad son ou se w th 2 over ! had a i H , i $ I h hl ash on abl e au dien ce but N or olk i s a ig y f i , f sm all pl ace an d there w ere two exhibition s the a h N e t Mon da l ecture a a n here s m e n ig t. x y I g i n Tu an d expect to have a l arge au dien ce. O es day I start f or Phil adelphia to atten d to Mrs. ’ — L ou d s poem s an d possibly on Thursday m ay e I f do will o stra ht start f or N w Y ork . I I g ig ’

L ew s an en f or ou . I will be over to Mrs. is d s d y t — ’ better f or m e n ot to go to F ordham don t you thin k so ? Write imm ediately in reply an d direct F or ar hou ld not t the to Phil adelphia. fe I s ge

l etter n n n am nd addr s it to E . S T. s o e a e s . , ig , r I l e w ll et m arr ed be ore G e Es . f oss b y, q p i I i g i f G ve m dearest start but there i s n o tell n . I , i g i y ‘ ’ l ove t M L M oor oor Mu cl d am st ll o rs. . y p , p y, I i unable to send you even one dollar but keep up 184 Edgar Allan Poe. — heart I hope that our troubl es are nearly over. a e I s w John B atty in N orfolk . “ God bl ess an d rotect ou m own darl n p y , y i g ‘ ’ Mudd h lm ra an d . s owed our l etter to E y I y i , ‘ she says it is su ch a darlin g precious l etter that sh e l oves you f or it al ready. Y OWN EDD OUR Y . — ’ . S . Don t or et to wr te to h l adel h a P f g i P i p i , so that our l etter w ll be there when arr ve y i I i . The papers here are praisin g m e to death an d I have been received everywhere with enthu si

asm . B e su re an d preserve all the printed scraps I have sent you an d keep up my fil e of the Literary ” World . E .

’ The best pen picture of Poe s appearan ce an d doings about Richm on d in the l ast days of his ’ l e was ven in S cribn er s M on thl f or March if gi y , 1 8 78 n T ll b a oted oetess M rs. Susan a Weiss , y p , y , of R chm on d who was a erson al adm rer of our i , p i o The ol l ow n e tr h a p et. f i g x acts bear t e ear m rks of unvarn ished tru h wh ch i alwa b s Fl a t s s e t. t , i y e Th t r i s n ot r en dsh . e n aked truth lik an y f i ip , e

un ainl osl n l asts l on est. g y g i g, g

I can vi vidly recall him as he appeared on his H e al wa carr ed a can e an d u n vis t to u s. s o i s y i , p en tering the shade of the aven ue woul d remove his hat throw back hi s h a r an d w alk l n er n l , i , i g i g y, as en o n the cool ness carr n his hat in his if j yi g , yi g d n ll n d m m t m e e han e era beh hi . So e s h would , g y i i ause to e am ne some rare ower or to l uck p x i fl , p a ra o aden trellises e me u g pe fr m the l . H t s al

18 6 Edgar Allan Poe.

i n r in the u er li resembl n a sn eer . Th s s ee pp p i g , deed was eas l e c ted— a m ot on of the l s , i y x i i ip scarcel erce t ble an d et n tensel e r ess ve. y p p i , y i y xp i

There was in it n oth n of ill - n ature but m uch of i g , sarcasm ; as when he rem arked of a certa n pre ‘ ten t on s ed tor H e can m ake bold l un es nto i i , p g i ’ shall ow water an d a a n in re eren ce to an ; g i , f editor presenting a costly book to a l ady whose poem s he had f or some years published while yet ‘ re us n to a f or them Poe observed H e could f i g p y , , ’ aff ord it W th that alm ost m erce t bl e cu rl of , i i p p i the li m ore e ress ve of con tem t than words p, xp i p Th ha f hi head tru k could have been . e s pe o s s c m e n n r h u There wa a eve o st s t as ec l ar . s , fi ig , p i m assive ro ect on of the broad brow an d tem l es p j i p , with the organ of casual ty very con spicu ou sly de vel o ed a m arked atness of the to of the head p , fl p , ul h ha at th an d an unu sual f ness at t e back . I d e time o knowl ed e of hren ol o but n ow in re n g p gy, , call n th s ecul ar sha e can n ot den that in i g i p i p , I y Poe what are called the i n tellectual an d an imal

orti ons o the head w ere r emarkabl develo ed p f y p , whil e i n the m oral regi ons ther e was as m arked e all ther wa a sli ht de a defici n cy. E speci y e s g pression in stead of fuln ess of outline where the organ s of veneration an d firm n ess are l ocated by Th s ecul ar t detracted so much phren ol ogists. i p i i y from the sym m etrical proportion s of the head that he sought to rem edy the defect by w earin g his hair tossed back thu s rodu c n m ore a arent he ht , p i g pp ig of the cran ium . “ As h ave sa d the kn owl ed e of this weakn ess I i , g ! drinking) was by his own request con ceal ed from ’ an 8 Poe s W derings. 1 7

m e. All that I knew of the m atter was when a ‘ riend in orm ed m h M P e was t f f e t at r. o oo unwell ’ to e u ha se s t t even ing. A day or two after this he sent a m essage by his si ster requesting som e owers in return f or wh ch ame a da n n fl , i c i ty ote of thanks wr tt in r m en a t e ulou han d . , i s H e again wrote incl osin a l ttl e an on m us oe h h h , g i y o p m w i c e had found in som e newspaper an d adm ired ; an d on the day following he m ade hi s appearance am on us but so ale tremulous an d a arentl g , p , , pp y subdued as to con vin ce m e that he had been ser , i n n h o ely ill . O t i s occasion he had been at hi s room s at the Ol d Swan where he was care ull , f y ’ ten ded Mrs Mackenz e ami l ut b . s b on a sec y i f y, on d an d m ore seriou rel a s he w as ak s p e t en by Dr . ’ Ma k nzi e an d G bbon ar r to c e Dr. i C te Duncan s Lod e where durin some a hi l e g , g d ys s if was in im minent dan er. Assiduou s attent on saved him g i , but it was the opinion of the physician s that an t u o her s ch attack would prove fatal . Thi s they told him warni n him se u l rio s of th dan er . , g y e g H is reply was that if peopl e would n ot tempt him h l n ot all Dr . ar l e wou d . C ter re ates how on th s f , i occasion he had a l on con versat on w th hi m in , g i i , which Poe expressed the m ost earn est desire to break rom the thraldom of hi s besetti n sin and f g , tol i m l u l e d of h s any unavai ing str gg s to do so. H e was moved even to tears an d n all decl ared , fi y , i n the most sol emn m an n er that th s tim e he , i — would restrain him sel f would Withstand any m te ptati on . “ The on ly occasion on which I saw Poe really ad or de resse was on a walk to the H ermita s p d ge, 188 Edgar Allan Poe.

e ol d f the Ma o am l where he th deserted seat o y f i y, On had in his outh been a requen t v s tor . , y , f i i rea hi n h l a e ou r art se arated an d Poe c g t e p c p y p , an d myself stroll ed sl owly about the groun d s. I observed that he w as un u su ally sil en t an d preoccu ed an d attr but n it to the n uen ce of m em pi , , i i g i fl ri a so a d w th the l ace f orebore to i n o es s ci te i p , u hi m H e assed sl owl b the m oss terr pt . p y y y ‘ ’ ’ n call d the L overs Seat ben eath two a e d be ch e , g rees an rem arked as we turn ed tow ards the t , d , ‘ ’ arden There u sed to be wh te v olets here. g , i i Searchin g am id the tangl ed wilderness of shrubs we ound a f ew l ate bl ossom s som e of which he f , pl aced carefully between the l eaves of a n ote E e book. n tering the d serted hou se he passed rom room to room wi th a rave abstracted l ook f g , , an d rem oved hi s hat as if n volun tar l i n enter , i i y, ing the sal on where in ol den tim es m any a bril ed in n liant com pany had assembled . Seat o e of the dee w n dow s over wh ch n ow rew m asses of p i , i g iv his mem or m u st have born e him back to y, y ormer scenes f or be re eated the amiliar lin es f , p f of Moore :

‘ I feel like on e Who treads al on e ’ S om e ban uet hall deser ted q , an d au sed with the rst e ression of real sad p , fi xp i The l h n ess that I had ever seen on h s face. ig t of the setting sun shon e through the drooping ivy bou hs in to the hostl room an d the tattered g g y , and mi ldewed a er- han n s with their ad p p gi g , f ed

19 0 Edgar Allan Poe.

’ though some of L on gfell ow s poem s he pro ‘ ’ n oun ced perfect of their kin d . “ The even ing of the day previou s to that ap o nted f or his de arture rom R chm on d Poe p i p f i , ’ n h spent at m y m other s. H e decli ed to enter t e arl ors where a n umber of v s tors w ere as p , i i sembl ed sa n he re erred the m ore u et sit , yi g p f qi ting- room an d here I had a l ong an d alm ost un v H k interrupte d con ersation with him . e spo e of hi s uture seem n to ant c ate it w th an ea er f , i g i ip i g el h l k h f u h H e decl ared th th d t e t at o o t . a ig , i y t e l ast f ew weeks in the society of his old an d new frien ds had been the happiest that he had kn own f or m an ears an d that when he a a n l e t New y y , g i f Y ork he should there l eave behin d all the trouble an d ve at on f hi l On n as on h x i o s past ife. o occ i ad I seen hi m so cheerful an d hopeful as on ' thi s even ‘ ’ ‘ i n . Do ou kn ow he n u red how I s ent g y , i qi , p m ost of this m orn in g ? I n wr iting a critique of our oem s to be accom an ed b a b o ra h cal y p , p i y i g p i I nt n i n m e an sketch . e d t to be o e of b st d i y , that it shall appear in the secon d n umber of The ’ — Stylus so confiden t was he in regard to this I n the urse of the even n he m agazine. co i g ‘ show ed m e a l etter just received from his frien d ’ Griswol d in re l to one bu t recentl wr tten Dr . , p y y i b Poe where n the l atter had re uested Dr. y , i q Griswold in case of hi s su dden death to become , , ld r r e u I n th s re l Dr . Gr swo hi s lite a y ex c tor . i p y i acce ted the ro osal e re ss n h m sel as m uch p p p , xp i g i f flattered thereb an d wr t n in term s of r en dl y, i i g f i y I will obser d h h warmth an d in terest. t be ve t at t is incident is a contradiction of his statement that ’ e Po s Wanderings. 19 1

’ previous to Poe s death he had n o intim ation of the ’ l atter s intenti on of appointing him his l iterary e u ex c tor. “ I n speaking of his own writings Poe expressed hi s con viction that he had written hi s best poem s ; but that in prose he m ight yet surpass what he had alread a om l hed H e adm tted that y cc p is . i much he had said in praise of certain w riters was n ot the gen u in e expression of his opin ion s. B e fore my acqu ain tan ce with him I had read hi s r u n r s ood in the ou thern Literar c itiqe o M s. O g S y Messen er an d had in m turn cr t c sed the g , y i i i articl e wr t n m rem arks reel on the m ar n , i i g y f y gi of the m a az n I es ec all d sa reed w th him g i e. p i y i g i ‘ ’ in hi s estim ate of the lin es on F an ny Ell sler an d ‘ ’ F ann Error — r d cu l n hi s su ested amen d y , i i i g gg Th s o of the m a az n e m ent of the l atter. i c py g i k n z e rw ard how P o an d Mrs. Mac e a te s s ed to e i f , u on m e ress n con stern at on thereat she re p y xp i g i , ‘ ’ m arked l aughin gly : Don t be frightened Edgar ’ On th s even n he all u ded to was delighted . i i g ‘ the sub ect sa n : I am del hted to fin d ou j , yi g ig y so truly critical ; you r opin ion s are real ly the ’ w I was n atu rall sur coun terpart of my o n . y ‘ r sed when he added : Y ou mu st n ot ud e of p i , j g m e by what you fin d m e saying in the m agazines. Such expressions of opin ion are n ecessarily m odi — fied by a thousan d circum stan ces the wishes of ’ n h When I ex editors ersonal r e ds etc. , p f i ip, pressed surpr ise at this high estimate of a certain ‘ l ad wr ter he sa d : I t i s true she i s reall com y i , i y ’ mon l ace but her husban d was kind to me and p , , 192 Edgar Allan Poe.

‘ added : I cannot point an arrow against any ’ wom an . “ P oe expressed great regret in being compelled to l eave R chm on d on even so br e an absen ce. i , i f

H e w oul certa nl he sa d be back in two weeks. d i y, i , H e thanked my m other w ith graceful courtesy and warmth f or her kin dn ess and hospitality ; and begged that we would write to him in N ew

Y ork sa n it would do him ood . , yi g g “ H e was the l ast of the party to l eave the d hou se. We were stan d n on the ort co an i g p i , a ter oin a f ew ste s he aused turn ed and f g g p , p , , At h m o again lifted hi s hat in a l ast adieu . t e m ent a brilliant m eteor appeared in the sky di rectl over his head an d van shed i n the east. y , i We comm ented l aughingly upon the incident ; but m m er d i adl t rwar I re e b e t s y af e ds. “ ’ That n ht he s ent at Dun can s L od e and ig p g ; , as hi s r end sa d sat l ate at hi s w n dow m ed ta f i i , i , i tively sm oking an d seem ingly disin clin ed for con On the ollow n m orn n h versation . f i g i g e went m n e into the cit acco a d b his r en ds Dr. y, p i y f i , n Ma Gibbon Carter a d Dr . cken zie The day was passed with them and others of his in tim ate L ate in the even n he entered h ffi frien ds. i g t e o ce of Dr ohn Carter an d s ent an hour in l ook n . J , p i g ’ ’ h a a er an d hen k n r Car er s over t e d y s p p s ; t ta i g D . t cane he went out rem ark n that he would ste , i g p ’ across to Saddl er s ! a fashion abl e restauran t) an d F rom the c rcum stance of hi get supper . i s taking the can e l eav n his own in its l ace it i s rob , i g p , p able that he had intended to return ; but at the restaurant he met with some acquaintances who

194 Edgar Allan Poe.

A TE CH P R XXI I .

! LOSI D — DE AN D B C NG AYS ATH URIAL .

TH E F ates were in secret concl ave an hese , d t horrid old hags had already spun out the threads ’ of the oet s l e an d were rinn n in l ee at the p if , g i g g speedy prospect of cutting off an other shin in g v t Poe had s ared n on in his sardoni ic im . p e c cen su re n oul n av r s a d c d ot expect f o s. H e w as the l terar conocl ast of his da break i y i y, i n to eces m an an m a e of o ul ar idol atr g pi y i g p p y, an d if a few l oaded brickbats of truth are thrown at the l tter n structures he erected he must g i i g , bow to the F ates and tumble down from hi s pedes tal of pampered pretense an d im perial au dacity ! Poe l eft Richmon d by boat on the n ight of the 3d of ctober 1 849 f or B alt m ore an d arr ved O , , i , i u H at the Light Street wharf in d e course. e had “ ” a good tim e with ol d frien ds before l eaving m on d and on the boat no dou bt he cont nued Rich , , , i n o hi s disa ointment i n n ot m arr in to e j y pp y g Mrs. Shelton losin Da s— eat an C g y D h d B urial. 195

“ The flowing bowl has al ways been a great sol ace f or sorrow I have tr ed it m sel et on , ! i y f, ) y , rewakenin rom a B acchan alian bout a erson g f , p of a sen s t ve n ature i s ll e w th remor n d i i fi d i se, a the “ ” sorrow that he en deavored to drown i s floating on the surface of life with redoubl ed activity ! Troubl e l ke a cork has reat en durin sw mm n , i , g g i i g l qua ities. I have talked with m any old peonl e during the l ast ort ears who ersonall kn ew Poe an d f y y p y , have scoured the highways an d byways of B alti m ore an d other cit es in midn ht m ornin s f or i , ig g , old l aces an d dr nk n hum s of Poe intendin p i i g c , g “ ” som e day to write the life of our m ost n oted o p et. I was born to the li e of l un ac an d absorbed f y. l etters m sel an d I n ever was asham ed to tell an d y f, act the truth bol d an d o en as the n oon da sun . , p y Why shoul d any brave m an care f or the crawlin g h ocrite an d sn eak n c t zen who crooks the yp i g i i , re n ant h n es of the knee that thri t m a f ol p g i g , f y ” l ow fawn ing ? The cen su re or praise of dupli city peopl e fall s al ke on the n de en dent l terar soul that l ooks i i p i y , nl st rit f o re om en se ust ce an d am e ! o y to po e y r c p , j i f ’ On e of Poe s social chum s tell s the foll owin g ’ story of the circumstan ces attending the poet s death

I was an i ntim ate associate of Edgar All an Much that has been said an Poe f or m any years. d written regarding his death is fal se. Hi s habitual ’ resort in B altimore was the Widow Meagher s 9 lan 1 6 Edgar Al Poe.

ster stan d an d li uor bar place. This was an oy q on the c t ront corres on d n in som e res ects i y f , p i g p n I t was with the coff ee hou ses of S an F ra cisco. re uen ted much b r nters an d ranked as a f q y p i , res ectabl e l ace where arties could en o a p p , p j y

ame of cards or en a e in soc al con versat on . g , g g i i

P oe was a great favorite w ith the old wom an . H is lf avorite seat w as ust beh n d the stan d an d he j i , was about as quiet an d sociabl e as an oyster him ‘ ’ l H wen h n am f B ard n d wh n se . e t b t e e o a e f y , ‘ arties cam e nto the sho it was B ard come u p i p , p ’ and take a han d in thi s gam e. “ Whenever the Widow Meagher met with any in ciden t or dea that t ckl ed her an c she would i i f y, ‘ ’ ask the B ard vers it. Poe al wa s com l ed to ify y p i , wr tin m an a w tt cou l et and at t m es oem s i g y i y p , i p of These verses u te as mer tor ous som e l en h . gt , qi i i as som e b whi ch his n am e was mm ortal zed y i i ,

were thus frittered into obscurity. I t was in this ’ littl e shop that Poe s attention was call ed to an advertisement in a Phil adelphia paper of a prize f or the best story ; an d it was there that he wrote ‘ ’ his m ous old B u which carrie off he one fa G g, d t l hun dred dol ar prize. “ P oe had been shifting for several years be h l tween B alt m ore il ade h a an d New Y ork . H e i , P p i had been away from B altim ore f or three or fou r m onths when he turned u one evenin at the , p g ’ h r h h Wi ow M a her s. I was t e e w en e cam n d e g e i . H e privately tol d m e that he had been to Ri ch mond an d was on hi s wa N orth to et read f or , y g y I as dr nki n all aroun d an hi ddin . t w d r s we g i g , e

eat unt l the crowd was rett oll . I t was the p , i p y j y

198 Edgar Allan Poe.

The living are the on ly dead; —n rm or The dead alive, eve e to die; An d o ten when w e m ourn them ed f , fl , They n ever were so nigh !

’ Tis but a m oun d an d will be m assed ’ When e er the sum m er grass appears The loved thou h we t are n ever l ost , g p , ; We on ly l ose our tears !

The o s we lose are but orecast j y f , An d we shall fin d them all once more; We l ook behi n d us or the ast f p , ’ B u t l o! tis all before!

’ Poe s poor broken body was rattled away from the hos tal on the 9th of ctober 1 849 encl osed pi O , , in a comm on o l ar co fin accom anied b onl a p p f , p y y hal f dozen frien ds to listen to the soun d of the cl ods as they echoed hi s requiem in the old Pres b terian hu r h H n e n ra y C c yard . e e ded n o fu e l cor te or onu H is ge m ment. poetry is his monument ! isit to the G rave of V Poe. 199

CHAPTER XXI I I .

V S TO TH E GRAVE AN D P OF P E— I IT HOS ITAL O M RS . M CL EM .

I N ctober 1 869 whil e travell n rom Wash O , , i g f in on t o St L ou s I sto ed ver f t C t . o or a da g i y i , pp y in B alt m ore to v s t in erson the l os n scen es i i i , p , c i g an d l ast mileston es in the checkered life of Edgar

All an Poe.

hn . Moran b rev u o n I m et Dr . o o s a t J J , y p i pp i ’ m ent at B arn um s otel . H e accom an ed m e , H p i on oot to the Westminster resb ter an Church f , P y i , corn er of Green an d F a ette Streets where in an y , obscure corn er behin d the chu rch covered w th , i ras w an d vines ested the athetic dust of g s, eeds , r p h an au h r the brilliant an d l unatic bo em i t o . A flood of m em ories ru shed upon my min d as I on d re u on the l e of the orl orn restl ess p e d p if f , ,

storm - tossed enius who slum bered in eternal g , silen ce ben eath the withered grass an d whirring l eaves of hat dr zzlin ctober da shedd n its t i g O y, i g cold atterin tears over the broken ravestones , p g g f h l l hur h ard o t e one y c c y . 2 l 00 Edgar Al an Poe.

death in o n ball on a I have looked on c t a d , se an d l an n d l ood battle elds an d it al wa s d a b y fi , y had a m ster ous sh ver n n uence over m sen y i , i i g i fl y siti ar it n ot an d et l a m ve spirit. I fe , y exc i

Can this be Death that ever brings I mpar tial fate to slaves an d kings ? Wi th cold an d clamm withered hands y,

I t leads us to un trodden lands.

I ts ic etters roun us cree y f d p, Com ellin dee eternal sl ee p g p , p, And sweet obli vi on covers all ’ The so o m n sin ce Adam l ns f e s fa l.

The trials and pangs of earth depart When D eath r i ns M on arch o th heart e g f e , While we are left so pal e an d lone Trans lan ted t the t nkno n p o Gr ea U w .

D M ra l r. o n and myse f turned aside into the ass n ru shin crowd who l ittl e cared f or the p i g, g , du st a few eet awa of the wanderin m n strel , f y, g i who once enlivened an d en chanted the world with hi s stor es tal s an ass on oems vol ved u i , e d p i p , e o t of he burn ru i f a r l i t ing c c ble o b i l ant brain . I had a great desire to visit the earthly guardian

- — angel of Poe an d his baby wife hi s l oyal mother in - l aw Maria lemm who at that time w as an , C , inm ate of h E i o al Chu rch ome on B road t e p sc p H , wa an d em ead Streets a hi h and romin n y H pst , g p e t

an 202 Edgar All Poe.

nn r showin in her l ar e dark in min d an d ma e , g g gray eyes an d rugged face the m arks of weary l s ht in battl n w th a days an d sl eep e s n ig s, i g i sord d s n ul world. i , i f Sh s ok f the room where Poe died an d e p e o , t h w her he ould the ver a k d Dr . Moran o s o c s e , if , y “ ” spot where her Darling Eddie breathed his l ast. u own th hall s veral doors The doctor l ed s d e , e ’ l emm s n d d u he o hat of Mrs. C a ointe o t t fr m t , p “ u Sister corn er where P oe passed o t to etern ity. ” Margaret was n ot certain as to the exact l oca h v Moran had l ost t on an d I could see t at e en Dr . i , hi s bearings ; f or tw en ty years had then passed awa s n c Poe in a del r ou s e il e tic con di t on y i e i i , p p i

breathed his l ast. ’ We bade ood - b e a ter an hour s talk to g y , f , the m other of Poe bowed down w th r e an d , i g i f ’ m emor tears ass n out of the resen ce of y s , p i g p ’ one of God s earthl an el s who walk the thorn y g , y h w as Ruth in world as bl issful ben ediction s. S e a her a th l ove an d con stan c an d a Madam e f i , y,

Rol an d in courage. n th l 6th of F ebruar 1 871 sh assed O e y, , e p awa in the old Church ome an d was buried y H , “ ” beside her Darl in g Eddie an d her daughter Vir i n a in the church ard on Green Street g i , y , where they shall rest un til God in his own good tim e lifts the veil that cl ou ds an d obscures this earth from the upl an ds of Omn ipoten ce ! r Clemm h Th s oem ded cated to M s. s ows i p , i , ’ “ Poe s deep appreciation of one who was more ” than m other un to him : isit to the G rave f V o Poe. 203

TO MY M T E O H R .

’ B ecause I eel that i n the heaven s abo f , ve, The an els whis erin to on e an other g p g , Can fin d am on g thei r burn in g terms of l ove “ N on e so devoti on al as that of m other ; Ther e or e b that dear n am I l o f , y e ng have call ed ou y , Y ou who are m or e than o h r m t e un to m e, And ll m heart o hear ts wher e e t fi y f , d a h in stall ed ou y , ’ I n setti n m Vir in ia s iri t r e g y g s p f e. — M m other m own m oth er who di ed earl y y , y, Was bu t the m other of myself; bu t you Are m oth er to the on e I love so dear l y, An d thus ar e d earer than the m other I knew B y that in fin ity by whi ch my wife ’ ’ Was d earer to my sou l than i t s sou l s life !

A f ew m onths sin ce a ter thi rt - , f y two years of wan derin throu h sun sh n e an d dark s adows I g g i h , visited again the old churchyard an d I nfirm ary in “ ” char e of S ster Su ddl er an d althou h T m e g i , g i with its l ightn ing changes has bru shed off m any “ ” m illion s of hum an m ay flies from his burn ished wheel the church an d the hos tal st ll l oom u , pi i p on their res ect ve h ll s w th onl a show of art p i i , i y i urr un n ficial progress in their s o di gs. P oe was given a sm all gran ite an d san dston e m onum ent in 1 875 b a n umber of deal liter , y i , ar arti sts who at l ast are the tru e r en ds of y , , f i earth who cher sh doWn the a es oetr m u sic , i g , p y, , painting and scul pture f or their own intrinsic 204 ar l n Edg Al a Poe. worth an d n ot f or th sord d rutal n , e i , b , ve al thoughts of to- day !

My thoughts an d books my m on um en t shal l be When br onz e an d m ar ble cru mbl e un to dust;

‘ And down the ages to eterni ty ’ I l i o e a e l l ve i n l v , bec us I l ove an d trust!

A spiritu al m edium in N ew Y ork City m ore than ort ears a o wen t n to a tran ce an d de f y y g , i livered the foll owing poem before a l arge au di en ce as com in g direct from the lip s of Edgar All an Poe in the spirit l an d ! I t i s what P oe m ht sa an d the con struct on of the verses would ig y, i u h r do credit to any a t o .

Woman weak an d woman m ortal throu h th , g y ’ spirit s op en p ortal I wou ld read the Runi c r ecord of min e earthly ’ bein g o er I ou ld eel tha t r e r eturn in whi ch within w f fi g, my soul was burning en m star was u en ched in darkn ess set to Wh y q , t or e rise on ear h n o m , ’ When I san k ben eath L ife s burdens i n the t or streets of B al im e.

“ Ah those m em ories sor e an d saddeni n ! Ah , g , ! that night of an guish m adden ing When my l on e hear t suffer ed shipwreck on a

demon - haun ted shore

206 r l an Edga A l Poe.

B ut m woe was ast en durin an d m soul cast y p g, y o i ts m oorin ff g, ‘ Cr in as I loated onward I am o the ear th y g f , f n o m or e ! ’ I have forfeited Life s blessing in the streets of ’ B a tim o l re.

Where wast tho P o r te h th u, 0 we E rnal , w en e fiery fien d i nfernal B eat m e with his burning faces till I sank to r ise n o m or e ? Oh ! was all my lifelong error crowded in that n ight of terror ? Did my sin fin d expiati on whi ch to judgmen t wen t be ore f , Summ on ed to a dread tri bunal in the streets of B altimore ?

“ Na with dee delirious leasure I had drai ned y, p, p ’ m li e s ull m easure y f f , ’ Till the fatal fiery serp en t fed upon my being s core; Then with orce an d re volcani c summonin f fi , g a stren th Titani c g , l Did I burst the bon ds that bound m e—battered ’ down my being s door an d l e t m shattere dwellin to the dust Fled, f y d g ” of B altimore! LTI M RE M D . F AYE TTE AN D G R E E N STS . B A O , ,

208 Edgar Allan Poe. dri ted to ether d ned win ed and wan dered f g , i , aroun d he an resorts of Gotham s end n t f tastic , p i g m an even n s at theatres and o eras or min y i g p , “ ” gling w ith the bl oods who l inger aroun d the F th Aven ue o m an ouse B runsw ck Sturte if , H ff H , i , ’ “ ” vant or Delm on co s an d other est ve o nts i , f i j i where f un an d folly raised the auction at the bid “ ” h n en u The bo s are do n the of B acc us a d V s. y i g

sam e thin g tod ay. We often sang an d recited poetry f or the “ ” “ ” edification of the gau dy bugs an d butterflies that buzzed about us boast n of our reat au , i g g thors Penzoni l au d n hi s I tal an s to the ski es , i g i , who had m ore than two thou san d years the start h r of t e l ettered m en of Am e ica. course e had m e on the hi as it were Of h p, , when comparing ou r authors with such genuises as An el o R a hael orace V r l Tasso an d g , p , H , i gi , , Dante ut I boasted of our West Trumbul l ; b , , owers I rv n Coo er awthorne L on ellow P , i g, p , H , gf , B r an t a n e ren t ce an d es ec all Ed ar y , P y , P i , p i y g All an Poe w nd n u m en com um s of the l atter , i i g p y i ” with a recitation of The Raven . Pen zon i l aughed outright i n my face on e even in at the Stu rtevan t ouse surroun ded b a g H , y “ ” coter e of town tumbl ers an d mm ed atel sa d i , i i y i “ ” that The Raven was stol en alm ost bodily from “ ” a oem n t tl ed Th arrot wri tten b his p e i e P , y gran dfather f or the Art Journal of Mil an in the year 1 809 . All the boys at the tabl e defied him to pro duce the poem an d back u p hi s emphatic asser hil he could not ive a th ime tion . W e g t e t all Penzo i n 09 n a d Poe. 2 the verses he recited a hal dozen or m ore and , f , promised that he would m ake a l iteral tran sl ation of the oem when n e t in M l an an d oss bl e p x i , if p i et a co of the a er an d on his return to g py p p , N w Y r e o k, l et m e kn ow of hi s success. About four m onths afterwards I received from I h l n him the fol l owin g l etter an d poem . t as ai f or m ore than twen ty- two years in a pocket of my trunk alm ost or otten but as the ubl c will , f g ; p i be in terested an d benefited by everything rel atin g ’ to the l ate Ed ar All an Poe I ve P en zon i s g , gi “ ” l etter an d The Parrot in the fac simi le Of hi s han dwrit n ust as I rst saw it at the Sturte i g, j fi vant House. ’ I have been an arden t admirer of Poe s erratic an d l un atic en u f or n earl t ears an d g i s y fif y y , during my schooldays in Kentu cky was n oted f or “ ” “ ” rec t n hi s B ell s Ann abel L ee an d The i i g , , ” Raven ; poem s of rare an d curiou s combin ation . Th ere i s certain ly a very m arked simil arity “ ” “ ” betw en Th Raven an d The arrot and e e P , one might be taken directly from the other wi th but very littl e alterati on . Whether Pen z oni or P oe composed the original i i n o f or m sa t s t e to y.

NE Y Jul 4 h 8 W RK t 1 78 . O , y , MY DEAR COLON EL : As you requested I ‘ ’ sen d literal tran sl at on of The arrot a a i P , oem written b m ran d ather in 1 809 f or the p y y g f , M l an I tal H wa a h Ar t ournal . e s n etc er J , i , y a r an d writer f or the p pe . 2 10 Edgar Allan Poe.

r - / 4 2 4 7 I r m d a d t é b r M f 0 7

M u n-ff

2 12 ar llan Edg A Poe.

The rustln pu rp l e cur tain waves i n an out un c rtain d e , As weird wizard voi ces croaking ’ ’ sardoni c lau hter o er an d o er g , An d with star tl ed heart still beating my lips kept on r epeatin g “ S om e spirit seeks an en tran ce through “ the win dow or th door e , “ S om e hostlike l on el stran er g , y g ” kn ocking at my cham ber door Sim l this n d n othin re a m o . p y , g

S tartled b this hostl visi on with y g y , desperate decisi on “ M soul exclaim ed sweet madam y , , ardon I im lor e p p , Y et your face i t shon e so brightly an d our oot alls tri ed so li htl y f f pp g y, An d you cam e so slighly stealing to my

rustic, artist door ’ Tis a on er that I heard ou wide w d y ; , open flung the door H orror blackn ess n othin m ore ! , , g

L oud i n to the blackn ess calli ng with heart beats sl owl allin y f g, ‘ Wi th haun ted dr eams of dou bti ng no Ar tist felt befor e; B u t the visi on qui ckly van ished an d he all but silen ce bani s d,

n I n l hear d that heaven - li t l ove- lit A d o y , “ ” word B elmore Penz ni d o an Poe. 2 13

This I m urmured when sweet echo “ answered back the w ord— B elm ore B arely this and n othing m ore !

Startl ed back so lan e an sadl m d y, y sou l r evolvin madl g y, On ce again I heard a rappi ng m ore i m u lsi ve than be or e p f , “ Com e i n I ke t r e eatin an d rom , p p g, f the door retreating To the wi n dow that I mi ht the , g curi ous n ooks ex l ore p , Whil e my troubl ed brain en deavored to revea l the n oise ex l ore , p “ ” Gu sts of win d an d n othing m ore !

Open wide I flun g the shu tter when a P arrot wi th a m utter F lew i n to my l onely chamber as i t did in da s o ore y f y , An d it seem ed to be uiescen t somber q , , an d e e e van sc n t, As i t sat in l on ely gran deur above m cham ber door y , P erchin on the bust Min erva above g , , m oaken o r y d o , P erched an d blin ked an d n othin g m ore!

An d this croakin bir d is leerin g g, dem anai c a earin pp g, With feathers ru ffled ragged roun d the coun tenan ce it wore; 2 14 Edgar Allan Poe.

Thou h th beak be like a carrot ou g y , y surely are a Parrot Cr oaki/n rum blin screechin Parrot g, g g, g from som e san dy tr opi c shore; Tell m e n ow thy devilish purpose on r h this ed, vol cani c s ore ’ “ ” e Cri d the Parrot, N everm ore !

H ow I sat de ressed divini n to see p , g som e silver lining Through clouds that hung aroun d m e th r is vi le, detested sho e, An d my soul wi th gri ef was hau n ted whi le there I peer ed un dau n ted t To hear a bir d wi th cres , an d word above m oaken door y , B ird or brute upon the marbl e bust above my chamber door “ ” Utter nam e of N evermore !

B ut the Par rot p erchirvg sadly on the marble bust spoke madly A i thi s dark weird word was his s f , on l stock in store y , An d he m er ely croaked an d muttered Whil e he re n an d sna ed an d t r d p e ed pp flu te e , ' As I rumbl ed rowled an d u ttered g , g “ trusted ri en ds have one be ore f g f , ir i ll l eave me S oon , ah soon this b d w , “ ” as sweet hopes have gon e before “ ” An d this bird shri eked Evermore !

216 Edgar Allan Poe.

’ B y the curtain s silken linin g and the ’ lam li ht lin tin o er p g g g , B en eath its mysti c radian ce shining ’ ’ o er an d o er Roared the P arrot

Then aroun d m e whirl ed a visi on r om the lan d o the E l sian f f y , An d the air within my chamber fairly shim mered on the oor fl , Wretched D evi l ! who hath sen t thee to a lan d wher e n o n e en the p , Or solace can be given for my l ast n e a d, loved B lm or e; Sur e I n ever can or et her ever f g , r esen t bri ht B elm or e p , g Growled the Parrot

Parrot ro het thin o orrow is there , p p , g f s , yet for m e a m arrow To linger any l onger on this sin cursed storm shor e , y ; Shall I n ever kn ow a pl easure en clasp again a treasure n hi dam n ed d teste tar O t s , e d, das d an d this luri d shockin shore , g , I s there an eace or l easure oh tell y p p , , m e I implore Croaked the Parrot Penzoni and Poe. 2 17

roaker Dastard Word o Evil Pro het O , , f , p , B ird or Scr eechi ng Devil ! B y the stars that shi ne above us the od that all ad ore by G , l this oul whose ho e is riven Tel s , p , if i n som e celestial heaven I t shall clas an an el B eau t who p g y, “ o is kn own as rare B ellm r e, An d en twin e his ar ms aroun d “ er m ethereal B elm or e h , y Pipped the P arrot

H orrid bird ! I shri eked em hati c p , an d wildl l ou d lun ati c y, , , I flun g the pratting Parrot through ’ the n i ht s dark shorel ess shor e g , , Whi l e i ts ilded eathers uttered in g f fl , the darkn ess sti ll an d m u tter ed “ ’ I ll n ot leave thee doubtin D evil but , g , “ r em ain above thy door “ Sin k my beak i n to thy trem bling ”

hear t, an d tor tur e m ore an d m ore Shri eked the Parrot

find the Parrot still is osin p g, win kin bli nkin dozin g, g, g On that marbl e bust Min erva ust , , j above m oaken door y , An d his hel lish eyes are beaming L ik a D il ho is dreamin e ev w g, r l 2 18 Edga A lan. Poe.

Whi l the utterin lutterin e sp g, f g

An d my sou l - li t spirit writhi ng in that shadow on the floor “ ” damned— F orevermore PEN ZON L