Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-04
EDGAR A. POE.

"reminiscences OF Poe, the poet:
= No author was ever more personally
unpopular, none took less care OF has
works, than Jonathan Swift yet to-day
Dean, DRAPER, Bickerstsff, Gullivsr
is recognized wherever the English ian,
guage is spoken, as the greatest wit ana
the mightiest intellect in that bright gal
axy which has shed an undying glory
upon the reign Of Queen Anne.
And, in spite of his wretehed, aimless
life. and its miserable close, the literary
remains of Edgar Allan Poe are beyond
the touch and faint of time, and among
those things which can never die. The
"Elegy in a Country Churchyard will
live as long as Paradise Lost. and we
are quite sure that 1.-THE Raven will out
last the most of the rhymes written by
Mr.. Tennyson and Mr.. Longfellow.
So little is know Of Poe, that even the
slight addition we are able to make may
not be uninteresting to his admirers.
A few years ago, on visit TO Rich
mond, Virginia, we had an opportunity
to gather some Of the traditionary gossip
regarding him.
John Allan, who adopted and after
ward, for some alleged misconduct, dis
carded Poe, died long since. His fam
ilv. who still reside there, are not espe-
c;alIy friendly to the reputation OF the
met. and can scarcely comprehend that
thew themselves are rescued from obscu.
r;ty by the fame Of the man once driven
an outcast from their doors. Joseph
Mavo the venerable Mayor Of Richmond,
fold us that he remembered in his young
DAYS it was quite the fashion TO attend
the theatre and see Elizabeth Arnoid, a
fair haired, blueeyed English actress,
then a great favorite there Miss Arnold
achieved some reputation in melodrama
and light comedy and always bore a
most excellent character.
She was the mother of Poe. His
father. young lawyer OF baltimore,
seems to have bequeathed the boy little
slse beside his name and those rowing
and dissolute habits which finally accom-
nl;shed his ruin. AT school, Poe was
Considered brilliant scholar, but totally
nnmanageable and not to be depended
mon Yet. when Mr.. Allan finally dis
missed him from his house, public senti-
ment in the city decidedly sympathized
With the youth and thought him the VIC
tim of injustice, or at least OF too great
severity. -.
From John r. Thompson, Esq; then
editor of the Southern Literary -uessen-
oer, we derived some information Iela'
tive TO the closing year OF Poes lie.
NJ, Thompson stated that message was
isft al his residence to the effect that o
nersou calling himself Poe, had been for
several days in an intoxicated condition,
Io,noing about the bar rooms at Rock
e,ts. a suburb OF Richmond de lmme-
d;a,elv went to the place, but, after a
long search, could only ascertain the
fact that man answering the descrip-
t;ou had been there and slept on the floor
of one of the vile dens in that vicinity
leaving his address, Mr.. Thompson re-
turned. and, in the pressure OF business,
soon forgot the circumstance eniireiy.
A week or two sfterward. while sitting IN
his Office. @ knock came at the door ana
n stranger entered. Dressed in we'll
worn but Scrupulously clean suit OF black,
linen somewhat ragged but without q
stain; a face pale as marble. LIT mp by q
pair of dark melancholy eyes HIS per-
son. as well as his manner, had about II
that understandable something which be.
toLens the gentleman. He announced
himself az aMr. Poe" and without any
allusion to the inquiry which brought
hm there' linined.a ~ sTbomnson
sation when Iesui'eu ~ "'. -,
insisting that he snouid Deco"S s's So
a,d an inmate of the office. Here roe
H"u ." ,han n year-in fact.
remained Tor more .n"n an,a5 ~
nnth ms oeals' hn aIwovs ou;st
be IeneA OF ,he n's ~. Jamasnor he
ana gen'iehAn1 N &C. ~ :,onroner
never inuu.ssd n pU o.,as .ii,orrence az
iAhguagr , nhu ~ ns ." 49,
anyth ny IKE s,s" o,on ware xon.
his powers =. :o o.n.ns,ad;n III snh;ect
aeFiul, ana "nen ip's'es'.' H. ro.c,, ~
ne would seemisgp ioise ~ pies.ao,
OF listener anu pour io,'I i;, Us s "a
theories ana criucis"s y" - w. go
art ike sohioquy' ne ''AD ~ s0'
tons and needed none "A.
No one ever saw MN Tnne o.o,
de had the haolt o. lepea" 80
10 himself snatches OF poetry. J 49, =
his chief iavorites was I me wen 49, =,
INES i'oih ~"
ginning
Tear, idle tears.
1 ADo" h'' "''-' 'le' 'n,-"'
Poe used 70 say that Ee eone,ue. re-
this last verse ine nnes' siniie >" Wv
language;
.Ah. sad and strange; a. IN dark summer dawn
TSeeaseme et slowly gro VS. siimmerinE square
So sad. 50 strange. the days that are no more