The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-02-15

nough, but I CAN'T understand them; ami
can't expect my readers to Understand
anything which is beyond my own COM
prchen,ion." 1t must be confessed that
this excuse for not Purchasing Poe's COM
modities was unauswerable.
believe that Poe ard bis family were
often in great distress. He told me, Mt
one time, that he would gladly accept Il
situation in a store, or any other employ
treht which would afford him tho means
of subsistence lie ehdes4orsd as a fl
nal resort, to acquire the art of 1.-The
graphy, uDder the instruction of MIR. Ua-
vail, an eminent photographer of this city.
/ saw several of Poe's experimental draw
ings on stone and they appeared to me
to be very well executed. There is good
reason to believe that bis wife---the arr
able and accomplished Virginia--and his
mother-in-law, Mrs. GLENN, were obliged
about this time, to sew for the clothing
stores, and the family was supported, by
the scanty proceeds Of their killing en-
ployment.
While Poe was in this extremity, it was
my good fortune to hear of literary job
which thought might suit him. 1t was,
the translation ofa scientific work frohf
the French, and though the cotrpesst-'
ton offered was not very liberal, the dcs--
pairing poet accepted the task with the
livliest demonstrations of JOY. He work
ed at the translation with great energy
and performed the labor in a manner
which was quite satisfactory to his en-
ployer.
Not long after this, Poe became as
sistant editor of Graham's Magazine, the
circulation and intellectual character Of
which were much improved By his efforts.
A certain Mr.. G. J. Peterson was their
associated with George R. Graham in the
management of that periodical. This Mr..
Peterson made soine prete nsions to all
thorship, but in his literary tastes in the
amount of his literary abilities, and in
some other particulars, he differed wide
ly from Mr.. Poe; and assure you That
this remark is not intended to faiter Mf.
Peterson. Poe and Petersen had many
disputes, one of which was carried to
such an extent that Poe was provoked III
throw pewter inkstand at the head Of
Peterson. | do not know that much
damage was don c either to the head or
to tbs inkstand, when they came in ccl-
lsion, but this incident cause Poe to be
dismissed from the Office, and the affnir
was generally related in such way as to
make it seem he was the only offender.
Judge however the provocation which
Poe must lave received was very trying
to ''the eagle spirit ofthe child of song"
To me, Edgar A. Poe always appeared Is
be man of particularly quiet and inof-
fensive disposition, and | must believe
that nothing sort offs very gross insult
could have provoked him to c9mmt an
act of violence.
In sketch of Poe's life and character
written by G. r. Graham, that gentle
man appears willing to make it appear
that he was one of Poe's patrons. Sim
liar credit is assumed by N. P. Willis, in
a sketch written bv him. Tho truth is,
Poe was under no obligation to either Of
those gentlemen. Graham paid him n
very moderate salary, and received more
than an equivalent in Poe's services
If am not very much mistaken; Mr..
Graham afterwards paid Rufus w. G:is-:
void a larger SIM for performing tho
same duties which had been assigned to
Mr.. Poe; and yet Griswold did not pos
sess 1.-THE of Poe's abilities
For some time after Poe's dismissal
from the office of Graham's Magazine,
his condition in life was depIorabiG
enough. About this time however, he
obtained from the publishers of the Ledg-
er and Dollar newspaper premium of
two hundred dollars for bis tale entitled
"The Gold Bug" The late Judge Con-
rad, who was noticed in my last letter,
was one of the committe of examination
which awarded this premium, and it was
ty means of his influence, am told, that
Poe's tale was selected for the prize. The
other examiner wouil have given the
preference to soft, sickly, sentimental
affair, written by n certain young lady
authoress.
Ifmy memory does not deceive me. it
was about this time that Poe made
short engagement with the Gsntleman's
Magazine, Published By Mfr. w. E. Bur-
ton, the popular comedian. Poo aud
Burton did not agree long together, as
p,iotl,t baya boau axr..cted .f uarsnnc xey