Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-12-14
A "REMINISCENCES OF EDGAR A.
POE.

century ago, When me byceum WAC
in its infancy and popular lectures were
coming into general favor MS Il means
of instruction aud recreation during the
Winter solstice, we happened ODE CON
nected with an Institution of that kind
in this city. 1t also happened, that,
little prior to this, the Mercantile Lii
brarv Association had been formed
among The young men OF the city Tor
mutual Improvement, which at first
confined its operations to debates and
occasional lectures by its members, but
at length. so great had been its success
during the brief period of its existence,
its field became extended. and its course
embraced some of the best talent OF the
country. The Sudden rise and pros
perity of this new association naturally
provoked more jealous competition
on the part Of tho managers of the Ly-
ceum, and the two or three months
preceding the opening of the lecture
season were, therefore. devoted to
more than a usually active canvass for
the best lecturers and the most attrac-
tivv subjects BY an early application
and good address in the subsequent ne
gotiations, the Lyceum was fortunate
enough to secure, for the season OF
which we are writing, Mr.. Emerson's
six Lectures on Representative Men.
< X eve took the precaution
of writing Mr.. Poe, two or three days
beforehand, designating the evening
for his performance, and what was then
the Pavilion Hotel, in Boston, as the
place where we would meet him for
the purpose of presenting him to his
audience. The course of lectures had
been largely advertised. and Mr.. Poe's
name set up in big capitals, as the poet
of the occasion, and as consequence,
the hterati of the city were on the
qui vive for his appearance. At six
o'clock on the opening night we called
at the Pavilion, and inquired if Mr.
Poe had arrived. "There he sits,
the clerk replied, pointing to gentle
man occupying settee on the oppo-
site side of the room. We turned round
and sure enough there was the unmls
taxable person OF the author of the
Raven-a spare man Of little more than
middle height, dressed in black, with a
pale face, dark eyes and dark hair. j,
Come up into my room" he said,
after little conversation, during which
he had stated his entire readiness for
the duty of the evening, "and [ will
get my manuscript and go with you.
We followed him, and sat Upon his bed
while he unstrapped and unlocked his
trunk. He commenced taking out the
articles it contained, one by one, until
the lower part Of it was emptied, but
no manuscript ! 81 am afraid / have
left it," he'said. confusedly. "Good-
ness gracious, Mr. Poe, it can't be y
we exclaimed, jumping up excitedly.
est is indeed so, sir, he said,
with an expression of utter hope
lessness. We kneeled upon the floor
beside him, and both of US together
went through, carefully. the abundant
wardrobe which the poet had brought
with him fora single nights stay in the
city, but in vain At last it occurred
to us that it might have been put in
the top of the trunk. and drawing
threfrom an extra pair of boots, which
seemed to be a last thought of their
owner, the manuscript appeared.
"a good half-hour had been lost,
but there was yet time before the com
mencement of the exercises to give
him smart constitutional, and, taking
him by the arm, we made the circuit
of the Common in the brief space be-
tween an October dusk and gaslight,
and finally landed him in the desk of
the Odeon in the best possible condi-
ton. The audience was an excellent
one, and Mr. Cushing S address received
as it deserved, its undivided attention.
Mr.. Poe on rising, was greeted with a
hearty burst of applause, ELECTED as
much by his really interesting personal
appearance as the reputation he ac-
quired by his literary achievements es-
pecially by his chef 6euore, the Raven.
then in everybody's mouth. He began
with good and clear articulation to
read, as preface to his poem, a long,
o-.oc-- 1x,,a .,Oat,x which