The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-14

BY JAMES PARTON.
From the New York Ledger.

From the New York Ledgerl
No one who has written of this unfortunate man
seems to have quite understood his case. Nor
should l. If l had not spent few days last sum-
mer at the Inebriate Asylum at Binghampton, in
the State of New York.
Edgar A. Poe, like Byron and many others, ap-:
pears to have been man whose brain was per-
manently injured by alcohol and 80 injured that
there was no safety for him except in total and
eternal abstinence from every intoxicating drink.
I have often heard the late N. P. Willis speak of
Poe's conduct when he was sub-editor of the
Evening Mirror, of which Mr.. Willis one of the
editors. Poe, he would say. was usually one Of
the most quiet, regular and gentlemanlike Of men,
remarkably neat in his person, elegant aud orderly
about his work, and wholly unexcephonable In
conduct and demeanor. But In weak moment,
tempted, perhaps, by a friend or by the devil
opportunity, he would take one glass of wine or
liquor. From that moment he was another being.
His sef-control was gone. Anirresistiole thirst
for strong drink possessed him, and he would
drink, and drink, and drink, as long as he could
lift glass to his lips. If he could not get good
liquor be would drink bad all he desired was
something fercely stimulating. He would fire.
quently keep this up for several days aud nighta,
until in fact his system was perfectly exhausted,
and he had been taken helpless and unresisting TO
bed. There he would lie, miserable and repent
ant, until he had in some degree recovered his
health, when he would return to his labor, if the
patience Of his employers had not been exhausted.
Having formed this deplorsble habit while his
brain was immature, believe that it then re-
ceived an incurable injury, which caused il TO
generate unsound thoughts, opinions erroneous
and feelings morbid. His thinking apparatus was
damaged, and he came upon the stage of life
with propensity toward absurdity and extrava.
gance.
David Poe, of Maryland, the grandfather Of
the poet. was an officer of repute in the army Of
the revolution. Like many Other soldiers, be
married when the war was over, aud settled ip
the chief city Of his native State-Baltimore. His
eldest son, who was also named David, was des
tined TO the law and In due time entered the Office
of Q Baltimore lawyer. This son was an ardent,
impetuous youth, one of those Unbalanced young
men who may, If circumstances favor, perform
heroic actions, but who are much more likely to
be guilty of rash and foolish ones. While he was
still pursuing his studies, an English actress,
named Elizabeth Arnold, appeared at the Balt
more theater. David Poe fell in love with her, as
many young fellows before and since have done
with ladies of that profession. More than that,
he married her, abandoned his studies, anu went
upon the stage.
Having taken this desperate step, he lived for a
few years the wandering life OF an actor, playing
with his wife In tie principal cities of the South
Three children were born to them, of whom Ed
gar, the eldest, first the light at Baltimore in
ISL. Six years after, Mr.. and Mrs. David Poe
were fulfilling an engagement at the theater ia
Richmond, Va. Within q short time of one an
other, they both died, leaving their three little
children totally unprovided for. Edgar, at this
time, was lively, pretty boy, extremely engaging
In his manners, and giving promise Of future tai
emit. de was 30 fortunate az to attract the atten.
ton Of Mr.. John Allan, rich merchant of Rich.
mond. who adopted him, and who proceeded TO
afford him what he considered the best opportuni-
ties for education then existing
When the hey was not quite seven years of age,
be took him to London; and In q village near that
city, he placed the little orphan at q boarding
school, where he left him for nearly five years.
So far as is known, the child had not friend, still
less relation, on that side of the ocean. Here
was an eager, vivacious. and precocious boy, con-
fined in the desolaton of an English school which
is, generally speaking, scene ss unsuited 10 the
breeding Of canary birds. Such boy as that
needed the tenderness OF women and the watch
full care of an a1ectionate and wise father. He
needed love, home, and the minute, fond attention
which rare and curious plants usually receive, but
which children seldom do. who are so much more
worthy Of it, and would reward 1t so much more.
He needed, In short all that he did not have, and
be had In abundance much that he did not need.
II the truth could be known. 1t would probably be
found that Poe received this school the germ of
the evil which finally destroyed him. Certainly.
he failed to acquire the self-control and strong
principles which might have saved him. The
head-master, II appears. was digni6ed clergy
American was disposed to laugh at in his shabby
suit OF black on week days, though he regarded
him with awe and admiration when on Sunday he
donned his canonicals, and assembled the pulpit.
brsS, W ,ts past eleven years Of sg PALE
home, and placed him ct school In Richmond.
At very early age, not much later than fourteen,
be entered the Virginia University, at Char.
lottesville. which Jefferson had founded, and over
which the aged statesman was still afectionately
watching. a. the favorite child Of his old age. At
this university he became immediately distin.
guished, both In the class room and out Of doors.
One Of his biographers, lwho, however. was .
notorious liar,) tells N that, hot day In June,
che swan seven miles add Q half against tide |
running, probably, from two to three miles an |
hour" This IL q manifest falsehood. Neither |
Byron, nor Leander, nor Franklin, nor any Of tho /
famous swimmers could have performed such /
feat. Nevertheless, he may have been an excel
lent swimmer, and may have exceed in ths other
sports proper to his age. The acquisition Of
knowledge was easy TO him, and he could with
out serious effort have carried of the highest
honors Of his class. But he drank to excess.
and as drink il the ally Of all the other vices, be
gsmbled recklessly and led 20 disordery life
that he was expelled from the college. His
adopted father refusing TO pay his gambling debts,
the young man wrote him foolish, insulting let.
ter, took passage for Europe. and set of, a. he
aid In Creeka In THAR atru0Ula for