The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-09-18
THE DAILY GAZETTE.
c..,---------------
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER, Is.
79a-9a-lsss-ll---111s-9------l-'--
FRIDAY, :
AN evEa True TALE


| Wntcn souulu DC suitable Tn their page.
Numerous MSS. were sent Tor the comspeti
ton, and day was appointed ON which th'
arbitrator should meet to Judge II the mer
is Of tho various productions. Almost IN,
trst MS. that was opened, chained attention
ffom the remarkable beauty and distinct
ness Of the handwriting. Ono Of the arb
traitors read page or two, and was charm
ed. lie called the cttention of his friend.
to the tale, and they were 80 much please,
with il, that IL was read aloud from begin
ing to end, and all admitted that IL VA.
worthy the highest prize. The "coniiden
tial envelope was opcncd--a latin motto
was discovered. No other tales were read
and the award WAS immediately published
But where to find the author, 80 that the
prize money might be paid The publishers
and arbitrators had not TO wait long. In
the evening following the announcement, A
young man came o. the Office to obtain the
prize. lie was pale and thin, even % ghast
Illness, and his whole appearance bespoke
dissipation, want and illness. A we'll worn
coat bnttoncd mp TO the chin, concealed the
want OF shirt, and imperfect wretched
boots, discovered the absence of stockings.
but Le looked like a gentleman, ncycrthe-
les; for his lace and hands, though haegarl
and attenuated, were clean and spotlcxs, his
hair was well arranged--his eye was bright
with intelligence, and his voice and bearing
those Of = scholar. The publishers and ar.
bitrators were interested extremely. They
inquired into his history, and finally offered
him employment on the magazine for W hich
the tale had been written.
A little money judiciou>ly applied, soon
altered the appearance u the young man,
and, in a short time, he took his post ~
sccond editor ON monthly magazine, with
the means and position IT a gentleman.
Now here was an opportunity Of rctricv-
ing his lost character. Here were friends
ready, not only Ia overlook the past, but
ASSIST in making his future calm, and free
from care. Here was public ready to lis
ten to bis teachings, and patron ready 70
regard his iabors. For little while all
went on well, and th.se who knew him, be-
gan To congratulate themselves ON the hap
pr change. Those VINO before admired his
genius, were beginning Ia respect his intcg
rity. lie was happy and successful in his
new avocation. lie married a young and
beautiful girl, his cousin he found ior him.
self cottage which the care, economy, and
gentle temper of his wife converted into n
HOME, and he was beginning 60 be happy
man. IL world bc well il our story could
end here; but, alas, for human iraility |.
alas, for good resolutions, made without
prayer Ia God alas, for the principles in
which he assists not the young husband Of
that ialr young wife fell back again into the
abyss, and forfeited the respect of employ.
crs, and the sympathy uf friends, through
his devotion "a the accursed bottle.
IL were a weary tale to tell how often he
rcpentcd, and was forgiven; how often he
passed from the e,litorship Of one maya zine,
to that of another how be went from State
20 State, and from city to city. a hard work
ing, aspiring, sangnine, talented man bear
ing about him the curse ii irrcsaluton,
never constant, but u the seductive and
dangerous besetmcnth of strong drink how
friends advised with him. and publishers
demonstrated; how nj one time he had 30
far conquered his propensity, as Ia call him
SELF, ia letter to friend, "a model Of tenn
perance aud other virtues y and how, at
another, he forfeited the occupation which
was the sole dependence II his little family,
by frequent relspses into his old d,sgrsceiul
habits how he committed, under the ex
citement of intoxicatiou. faults and excess
g. To which M gentleman would plead gull
~; how be borrowed money oC his friends,
without the means or intention IL returning
Il; how he forfeited the esteem --cven while
his talents commanded the admlration--oi
the public how hc succeeded in bringing
many literary speculations into life which
his virious habits, and inattcntion 20 busi.
ness, murdered In their youth; how he be
came confirmed drunkard, with only nov
and then a fitiul hour or ~, in which "a
throw oil On paper, the vagarics of mind
rich IN learning, and imaginative tancies
how HIS young wife died broken hearted.
and how he became So reduced a, 10 be
able ND longer ca make an appearance among
his friends how his wiie's mother, constant
90 hss tallsng fortunes, and ever anxious Ia
conceal his vices, went with his MSS.
from Office Ca Office, aud from publisher a.
publisher, In search Of the means Ia support
him. how, for little while, hc shook Oh
the lethargy II intosisAt,an, and appeared
in the polite circles If New York how he
WAS caressed and fctesl and congratulated
how the efforts VI his pen were sought by
rival publishers how be was engaged 10 be
married a second time, 10 q beautiful Young
woman, and the engsgemement was finally
broken of, through his return 10 his per.
nicious habits. II were n weary tale, in
deed
The melancholy story &c this man. life,
vas soon To close--the golden thread 20 le
rudely snapped asunder-snd by his own
hand. lie had partly recovered from his
dangerous courses, and WAS engaged in de
livesiae lectures in different towns Thc,
were well attended. and it was with some
thing like renewed confidence that the well
w,shsrs Of the lecturer watched his conduct,
which was now distinguished by extreme
s'hriety. He even appeared Ia have re
newed his youth and strength and il was
with pleasure that his friends again received
him into their houses At one Of these lac
met with a lady whom be had formcrl,
been acquainted. Their friendship was re-.
nexet, and they were engaged to be mar
ried. Everything seemed to promise well
the dawn Of = better day appeared, and the
reformation ~ long IN coming, seemed "a
have come 1t last. But il was not tn be-
on Sunday afternoon in October, in ths
year ls49, he set out ior New York, Ca ful
oil literary engagement, and prepare Cor h,-
marriage. lie arrived 1t Baltimore, WHERE
he gave his luggage 70 . porter, with dircc
ssss~' ~ '''ssssy - ~ sssW ssssW SA&
ton. In an hour he would set out for Phil
adelphia. But he would just take glas
before be started--ior refreshment sake
that glass would b. oil. Fatal hour. Ia ths
tavern he met with some old acquaintanccs
who invited hin % Join them. In momen,
oil his good rcsslutions--homc, duty, bride
honor-werc foFgUtteu; and ere the nigh,
had well set in, he was in y state of filthy
intoxication. insanity ensued-he wascar,
ried To public hospital and On the nigh,
Of Sunday, the 18Th IL October, lac died = ra
wing mailman. lie MAS only thirty eight
| years old, when this last dreadful scene O
his liie'~ tragedy was enacted
Reader, what you have read ia no fiction
Not single circumstance here ralated, moi
= solitary event here recorded, but happen
Cd 70 EDGAR ALLAN PoE, one of the mos
popular and imaginative Of our writers.
JUos6c Zt0cAer.