The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-12-21
Sketch Of Edgar A. POe--NOt n
FletiON.

II was a weary tale TO tell how ofton he
lrepented and was forgiven; how no went
from city to city, and State to State--an en-
ergetic, aspiring, sanguine, brilliant man,
bearing the curse ofirresolution-neve con.
stant but to the seductive and dangerous
besetInents Of dissipation and proAgaoy
how friends advised him, and publishers ro.
monstrated; how at one time he had con.
quered his evil propensity, 80 ~ to call
himself in letter TO a friend model of
temperance aud virtue and how at another
he forfeited tho high occupation (editor)
which was the sole dependence Of his fam.
lily, by frequent relapses into HE former
dissolute habits how he committed under
the excitement of mtoxicstion, faults and
excesses that were objectionable +; how he
forfeited the esteem Of the public, even
while his talents commanded admiration !;
how he succeeded in bringing many litera.
ry speoulations into life, which his vicious
habits aud inatteution to business murdered
in their youth how he became confirmed
inebriate, with only now and then itful
hour or so with which to throw off on paper
the vagaries Of mind rich with learning
and imaginative fancies how his young and
beautiful wife died, brOken.hearted, and
ow he became 30 reduced in appearance
no longer to be able to make his appear
ance among his friends how his wife's
mother constant to his fallen fortunes, and
anxious TO conceal his vices, went with his
manuscript from Office to office, and from
publisher to publisher, in search of means
to support him how for little while he
shook off the lethargy of intoxication, aud
appeared in the gay, and aristocratio aud
wealthy circles of New York City; how he
was CO 'essed aAd admired, petted and con-
graduated by the beauty, fashion and elite I;
how the Efforts OF his magic pen and tower
ing intellect were sought by rival publish
ers how he was engaged to he married the
second time to an accomplished, wealthy
and beautiful young lady and how the
engagement was finally broken off through
his return to his pernicious habits. II was
weary, melancholy tale, indeed.
The versatile, unhappy scenes of Edgar
A. Poe's life were soon to close-snapped
rudely asunder by his own hand He had
partly recovered from his dangerous curses
aud was engaged in delivering lectures in
different towns. These were unanimously
attended and It was with something like
renewed confidence that the ardent friends
of the distinguished lecturer watched his
conduct which was distinguished by sin.
cere sobriety. He even appeared to have
renewed his youth and vigor, and it was
with pleasure and delight that his friends
and acquaintance received him into their
society aud homes again. At the brilliant
parties given at the houses of generous ac-
quaintances--at which he was the lion OF
the evening Mr.. Poe met q lovely and re-
fined woman, whom he had formerly known
Their friendship was renewed an attach
men; was reciprocal, and they were Ell
gagged to be married. Everything seemed
to promise we'll the dawn of better day
appeared, and the wishful reformation, so
long coming, seemed to come at last On
a sunny afternoon in October, in l849, he
started to fulfil q literary engagement,
and prepare for. his marriage. lie arrived in
Baltimore, where he gave his luggage to q
porter, with instructions to carry il to the
depot. In anihour he would set out for
Phia lclpIa. But he would just tako a
glass before starting-for refreshment,
that's all. Oh fatal hour In tho gorgeous
drinking saloon he met some of his old ac-
quantances and associates who invited him
to join them in social glass. In mo-
ment all his good resolutions, home, duty,
honor aud intended bride were forgotten
ere the night had manted the earth With
its dark canopy, lie was in beastly state
of intOxcation. Insanity ensued, he was
taken to the hospital, and the next morn.
ing he died miserable raving maniac.
Poor, unfortunate, misguided creature
He MAS thirty five years old when this last
scene of his life's tragedy was enacted.
Kind reader, this is no fancy sketch of
drapery or fiction. No single circumstane
here related, nor solitary event here record.
ed, but happened to Edgar Allen Poe, the
Editor, Critic and Poet, one of the most
popular and brilliant writer's In America.