The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-01
EDGAR ALLEN POE.
An tiiusfriOus Victim of Intempcr-
anCc,

h'DNTtat
An Iiiusfrious Victim of Intempcr-
ancc.
BY REV. @. W. M'CREE.
Not few literary men eXtenuate intern
pcrance in poets, as if a refined intellect, a
brilliant Imagination. noble conceptions of
life, clear insight into the beauties of
nature, and splendid diction could not con-
sist without indulgence in wine. Some of
the most famous poets England evor saw
were not inebriatcs. John Miltoar George
Herbert, William Cowpcr, James Mont
g0mery and William Wordsworth had no
delight in the wassail-bowl: and if Shake
spearc, Byron, Hartley, Coleridge and
many other singers Of song, had never
flooded their brains and blood with strong
drink, their worst lines had never been
written, and their productions would have
been shorn of none of their glory
The history OF Edgar Allon Poe Is one
of thu saddest and darkest ever told. His
parents were theatrical performers who
died early, and left three children, of whom
he was onc--in utter destitution. lie was
born in Baltimore in January, 1911, and
after the death of His parents, was adopted
by Mr., John Allen, a rich merchant. who
intended to make him his heir. Mr. and
Mrs. Allen took him with them on visit
to England, and for several years he went
to school at Stoke Newington, near Lon
don. On Mr.. Aliens return to America he
was sent to the University ut Charlotts-
Vile.
He there begun his fatal course of dissi-
patton, and went to such dcplorable cX-
trcmes in vice, that, although brilliant
scholar, he was expelled from the Unver-
sity He then went to Europe, was guilty
of such drunken follics in st. Petersburg,
that the police apprehcnded him, and it
needed all the influence of the American
Ambassador to save him from the penal
consequences of his misdcetls On his re-
turn to America, Edgar Allen Poe was for
given by Mr.. Allen, who procured his adj
mission into the Military Academy, but
although popular with his mess, he Yielded
so completely to his love of wine that he
was dismissed from the Academy In dis
grace. Once more Mr.. Allen, now a wild
over, forgave him, but Poe behaved so dis
gracefully that he was expelled from Mr.
Aliens house, who, when he died did not
leave him Il dollar.
Poetry had by this time began TO have
some charms for him. and W. a.ass-s' :. -
small volume cOntainla4---iiic Of his poems
That he was n poet none can doubt. Just
listen to stanza taken from "Thc Bells :"
Hear the mellow wedding bells,
Golden bells Iicllsi
What i world OF happiness Ia, II harmony fore
Through the balmy air OF night
How they ring out their delight,
From the molten golden notes.
And all In tune,
What liquid ditty floats
Tothe turtle dove that listens, while she gluats
On the moon
on, from out the sounding cells.
What guSh Cf euphOny ANONYMOUSLY wells!
How II swells;
How II dwcllS
ON the Future how II tells
or the rapture that impelS
10 the swinging ana the ringing
or the bells, bells, bells.
One of his biographels, writing of him at
,his period, gives deplorablc account Of
his appearance, and relates the kindness of
Mr.. Kennedy, II literary gentleman, to him.
lie says:
"Thin and pale even to ghastiness. his
whole appearance indicated sickness and
tho utmost restitution A wcll-worn frock
coat concealed the absence of shirt, and
imperfect boots disclosed the want of hose
But the eyes of the young man were lumin-
Gus with intelligence and feeling. and his
voice and conversation and manners all
won upon the lawyers regard. Poe told
his history and his ambition, and it was de-
termincd that he should not want means for
Il suitable appearance in society, nor OPP
portunity for just display of his abilities
in literature"
Mr.. Kennedy accompanied him to Il
clothing store and purchased for him re-
spectacle suit, with changes of linen and
sent him to a bath, from which he returned
with the suddenly regaincd style of a gen.
tcman. His new friends were very kind
to him, and awaited themselves of every OPP
portunity to serve him. Through their eff
forts, he obtained the editorship of maga-
zine published at Richmond Va, to which
he contributed numerous articles; but after
the lapse of few months, his old habits
of dissipation began to show themselves
and for week he was in condition of
british drunkenness which led to his dis
missal
Edgar Allen Poe had friends who warned
him of his folly, and urged him to abstain
from Irvine and strong drink" Seldom
have we read a wiser, kinder more forci-
bic letter than one which is given in an
American sketch of his life. The writer,
Mr.. White, who was then his literary en-
plOyer, thus wrote to him:
II cannot address you in such language
as this occasion and my feelings demand;
| must he content to speak to you in my
plain way. That you are sincere in all
your promises, firmly believe; but when
you once again tread these streets, have
my fears that your resolutions will fail, and
that you will again drink till your senses
are lost. If you rely on your strength, you
are gone. Unless you look to your Maker
for help you will not be safe How much
| regretted parting from you, is known to
Him only and myself, | had become at
tached to you; am still; and would will
ingly say return, did not knowledge of
your past life make me dread Il speedy re-
newal of our separation. If you would
make yourself contented with quarters in
my house or with any other private family,
tohere Hquor is not used, ! should think there
was some hope for you; but, II you 90 10 a
taoern or at any place mhere IL Is used at
tabte y0n are not safe You have nne tai
ents, Edgar, and you ought to have them
respcc ted, MS web as yourself Learn to
are respected Separate yourself from Me
6otte and bottle com1anions foreper. Tell,
me If you can and will do so. If you again
become an assistant in my Office, Il must be
understOo cd that all engagements ON my part
cease til moment you get drunk
This was the counsel of true friend,
but Edgar Allen Poe did not adopt II as
the rule of his life.
About 1887 he married lovely girl, but
this event failed to reform him. He con-
tinucd TO drink, gamble and even swindle
people out of money for vicious purposes,
and when his young wife died she was re-
leased from world of darkness, sin and
woe.
In 1874 Poe went to New York, and
there published his wonderful poem THE