North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-05-14
LITERARY NOTICE

4 &c 1ooIns he Aate Edgar Allan Poe, soik ro,;..
hisL5fe and genius BIZ ". p. HTAis, j. r. raT
and Rufus Gfis,cold, in three oolunes. r., .",
Pomeroy. 6y
This is the first attempt to collect the en,;,.
OF Edgar A. Poe. His Tales, Poetry, notice. '.i SS
Literat and essays are so universally known Vie
the medium of the various magazines to Will sN
was at different times acontributor, that we sb. "e
attempt any criticism of them, but confine ouz.o,
to few words respecting the life of this rema,L.,'
and unfortunate genius, which is prefxed to the III;
volume. by R. w. Grswod "na
Foes well known inability to restrain himssss
Inc lmmoderate of stimulates has often ~"
commented upon by the different papers of the d.
ana more than once have we heard the remark e ~
ne only wrote under the influence of GIN" Web
seen 1t stated that 1.-THE Raven,'' so remarkah,o,
Its originality, subtle conception and great smnlio:
OF detail and description-"Th The Gold Bug, wink !:
mastery method and ingenuity-"Th horrors or.r
Descent into the Maelstrom,' and the Fall of 81
House of Usher" with its solemn and stately ,I.
were all conceived and penned when he was -
than half drunk. And we doubt not that the wv
lence of this opinion has caused many an au,bo.
cloud the brightness ofhis intellect, in the vain eo
to give clearness to argument and briiancv to ~;
We are therefore happy to see that both Grswor,
and Willis have done away with this fllacy BY plain
y stating that it was only when perfectly sober a,
Poe was the high-minded, refined, intellectual 80.
eman which of the productions of his peD nTr.
him to be. Willis goes so far to say, (puino ,bo
words in italies) "Mat single glass of ,uine seemo5
to raise demon in his breast, and caused him tn ~
pear the bitter misanthropic character which bo
often had the credit of being.
Griswold's memoir of him is a warnno tn al WAN
men, particularly those who are ambitious of I,o,,,
distinction, to abstain from all intemperance, Iee.
destitute orphan at early age, he was adonted b
wealthy gentleman, who, but for his continued in
Temperance and i'll conduct, would doubtless havaIe
him, at his death, Independent. As it was mis- mama
was not mentioned in his adopted Fathers will, and
he was obliged to support himself by his pen T.
W. White of the Southern Literary Messenger, Mr.
Burton of the Gentlemen's and Mr.. Graham of Gra
hams Magazine, were all obliged, though charmed
with Poe's genius to dismiss him from their empoy
ment on account of his intemperance. He was more
than once raised by those who respected and admired
his abilities, from the depths of degradation and want
only to fall back, if possible, still lower.
His death is warning to all drunkards and shows
the danger Of even single relapse after partial
reformation. He had joined the Temperance Society
in Richmond, Va, and showed by his conduct the
earnestness of his intention to reform. For some
time he continued steady and was on his way to New
York, to make arrangements for his second marriage
when, stopping in Baltimore for few hours he en-
tered hotel, and finding some acquaintance there,
induced to take single glass Of Dine. The usual
consequences ensued, and after night of insanity
and intoxication, he was carried to hospital and
died few days after. The subtle demon of intoxi-
cation wound his serpantlike folds around him until
he was crushed in its Anaconda coils.
His writings remarkable for theI original in
genuty and intricate mechanism, and we forget the
improbabily of some of his Tales, in our admiration
of the simplicity of style, minuteness of description
and apparently scientific explanation he gives of his
many wonders and horrors. In his own account of
the composition of the I" Raven,'' we perceive the
method with which he wrote, and cannot suppose it
possible for him to have carried that method while
under the excitement of gin.
While we deplore his faults, we cannot but admire
his genius. There is as much excuse for his Intem
perance as be arged for any Feeble in
body. he yet obliged to coin his brain for daily
bread, and write whether he felt like it not. If
overcome by exhaustion, he flew to stmnants for
lief. One glass aroused demon whose thirst was
Unsuitable. Let his fate be warning to all young
men.