Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-10-24
nj | S G Il l. l. A N Y.
FROM THE NEW YORK rRrBUSE,
EDGAR A. POE.

EDGAR A. POE.
EDGAR ALLAN PoE is dead. He died in Bali-
more the day before yesterday Ohe 9Th nst.) This
announcement will startle many, but few will be
grieved by it. The poet was known, personally or
by reputation, in all this country he had readers
in England, and in several of the States of Cont
mental Europe but he had few or no friends and
the regrets for his death will be suggested princ-
pally by the consideration that in him literary art
has lost one Of its most brilliant but cratic stars.
The family of MIR. Poe-we learn from Girls
wold's "Pues and Poetry of America - from which
considerable portion of the facts in this notice are
derived-was one of the Oldest and most respecta-
BILE in Baltimore. David Poe his paternal grand
father, was Quartermaser- General in the Mary
land line during the Revolution, aud the intimate
friend of Lafayette, who during his last visit to the
United States, called personally upon the Generals
widow, and rendered her Acknowledgements for the
services rendered 10 him by her husband. Ills great
grandfather John Poe. married in England Jane, n
daughter of Admiral James Mcbride, noted in Brit
ish naval history, and claiming kindred with some
of the most illusirious English families. His faith
er and mother,-both of whom were in some way
connected with the theatre, and lived as precarous
y as their more gifted and more eminent son-died
within few weeks of each other, of consumption
leaving him an orphan, at two years of age. Mr..
John Allan, wealthy gentleman of Richmond
Virginia took fancy to him, and persuaded his
grandfather TO suffer him to adopt him. He was
brought up in Mr. Adams family and as that gen.
tleman had no other children, he was regarded as
his son and heir. In 1916, he accompanied Mr.
and Mrs. Allan TO Great Britain, visited every por-
ton Of ii. and aIlerward passed four or five years in
school kept at Stoke Newington, near London,
by Rev. Dr. Bransby. He returned TO America in
1892, and in 1928, went TO the Jefferson Univers-
ty, at Charlottesville, in Virginia, where he led
very disspated life, the manners Of the college be-
ing at that time extremely dissoue. He took the
first honors, however, and went home greatly in
debt. Mr. Allan refused TO pay some of his debts
of honor, and he hastily quilted the country on n
QniXotc expedition TO join the Greeks, then strug-
Cling for liberty. He did not reach his original
destination, but made his way to ST. Petersburg in
Russia, where he became involved in difficulties
from which he was eXtricated by the late Mr. Hen
ny Middleton, the American Minister at that cant
tall He returned home in 1929, and Immediately
afterward entered the Military Academy at West
Point. In about eighteen months from that time
Mr. Allan. who had lost his first wife while Mr.
Poe was In Russia, married again. He was sixty
live years OF age, and the lady was Young; Poe
quarreled with her, and the veteran husband taking
The part OF his wife, addressed him an angry
letter, which was answered in the same spirit He
died soon after, leaving an infant son the HEN To his
property, and bequeahed Poe nothing.
The army, in the opinion of the young cadet, was
not place for poor man So he left West Point
abruptly, and determined to maintain himself by
authorship. He printed, in 1927, small volume
OF poems, most of which were written in early youth
Some OF these poems are quoted in RENEWAL by
Margaret Fuller, in Tie Tribune in 1896 and are
Justly regarded as among the most wonderful eXhi-
billions of the precocious development Of genius
They illustrated the character of his abilities, and
justified his antlcipaions of success For consid-
cradle time, however, though he wrote readily and
brilliantly, his contributions TO the journals attracted
little attention, ard his hopes gaining livelihood
by The profession of literature were nearly ended at
length IN sickness, poverty and despair. But in
1851, the proprietor of a weekly gazette. in Balh
more, offered TWO premiums, one for the best story
In prose, and Inc other for the best poem. In due
time Poe sen IN two articles, and he waited anx-
iously for the decisions. One oflhe committee was
the accomplished author Of Horse Shoe Robinson -
John L. Kennedy, and his associates were scarcely
less eminent than he for wit and critical sacacitv
Such matters are usually disposed of in very off.
hand way Committees to award literary prizes
drink TO the payers health, in good wines over the
unexamlned MSS, which they submit 10 the dis
erection Of The publishers, with permission to use
their names in such way as 10 promote the pub
fishers advantage. 30 ii wOnld have been in this
case, but mat Che of the committee, taking up
little book, in such exquisite caoraphy as to seem
like o. The finest issues OF The press of Pntnan
was tempted TO read several pages, and being in
teTested, he Summoned the attention Of the comma
ny to the haf-dozeD compositions in the volume -
Ii was unanimously decided that the prizes should
be paid to the first OF geniuses who had written leo
IDLY. No, another MS. was unlolded. immedi-
aeiy the confidential envelop' was opened and the
successful competitor was found TO bear the scarcely
kHown name OF Poe.
The next day the Publisher called 10 see Mr..
Kennedy, and gave him an account of the author
that excited his curiosity and sympathy and caused
him 70 request that he should be brought TO his Of
flee. Accordingly he was introduced the prize
money had not yet been paid and he was in the cos
tune in which he had answered the advertisement
of mis- good fortune. Thin, and pale even TO otast-
illness, his whole appearance indicated sickne and
the utmost desttutlon. A tattered frock- coat con.
ceaed the absence Of a shirt, and the ruins OF boots
disclosed moro than the want ofsockiBos But the
eyes Of the young man were luminous with intelli-
gence and feeling, and his voice, and conversation.
and manners, all won upon the lawyers regard
Poe told his History and his ambition and il was de-
termined that NE should not want means for suita-
bic appearance in society, opportunity for lust
display of his abilities in literature. Mr. Kennedy
accompanied him to a clothing store and purchased
for him respectable suit. with changes of linen.
and sent him to a bath, from which he returned
with the suddenly regained bearing Of gentleman
The late Mr.. ThOs. w. White had then recently
established The Southern Literary .Messenrey, al
Richmond, and upon the warm Recommendation OF
Mr.. Kennedy, Poe was engaged. at small salary
rr.cI ..ls- go