New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-12-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
sronn,PD,s EDITION OF ZOE.


j. WlddleIon. 49, ,D :.
The principal feature in this new cot'on VI w,
the original memoir with which the eui'o' ,ii'u"
eesthe first complete collection OF MS poecai Wo'AS.
Mr. Stoddard has made special study Oh the lue ol
fhe erratic genius and has not only corrected nu-
merous errors in the previous biographical accounts
hnt has set forth the facts of his gc history in
s,agularly impressive manner.
Poe il appears was born IN Boston (Feb. 10 1902
and not has been generally supposed IN Baltimore
in the year 1911. His parents were both connected
with tn stage. and il was duIing temporary en-
gagement In the former city that Edgar Allan
was born. His mother. who had been deserted by
her husband for several months before her DEATH died
in poverty and distress in Richmond, Va on the 18Th
of December, 1911. Edgar who was left an orphan
while less than three years old-for the father soon
Allowed his wife 10 the grave-was adopted by Mt
John Allan. n merchant of Richmond. This gentle
man was married. but without children, and he
soon formed a great attachment to his new charge
at once puttiug him in the way to become a spoiled
child. He was foolishly proud Of the handsome
boy, that he insisted on letting him have his own
way an all things, and would permit nobody TO Cross
him for fear that 1t would break his spirit.
Al The age of seven, Edgar accompaniedhi7 adopted
parents tour in England, and was placed at VII
lagc school near London, where he remained five or
AK years Upon his return to the United States he
where he continued Tor three four years
under the best masters His sensitive tenpcra-
Incnt soon began to show Itself in Quickntss to
take ollense Whete no oHen>o intended. His
seii-esteem was uoydiuato. lie was in the habit OF
inValing his fancied enemies on the point OF dog
gerpl verses which much IehShed by MI
Allan but BY the friends 70 whom lie read them were
secretly pronounced to be ira h. There is no doubt
that he was Ill governed 10y his doting guardians He
took crafty advantage of their weaknesses, which
could not escape his penetration, and soon became
paragon of deceit and evasion. He ovinced a de-
eded talent f,r eXtcmnortneOus storytelling, and
was noted for his skill in defamation, especially
Of poetry. The part Of Cas5ius in Julius Cesar"
was a favorite, which, aided by his flashing eyes and
expressive mouth. lie would render with cousuHl-
mate art. Sill he had no wish to become an ac.QT,
as Ire considcrel himself the heir of Mr. Allan, who
at that time had recently come into possession q
large fortune Left Lim by . wealthy relative, ~
the age of seventeen Poe entered ts University of
Virginia but remained only single session. OF less
than year in length.
1t has been sad That he was one Of the most dis
solute young men in college, which was then noted
for its axncss OF morals, but this TO he dis
proved 10y the evidence brought forward by Mr..
Stoddard. lie was not addicted to drinking, but
had an excessive passion for cardplIyinG at which
be lost about 5000 within the year. His father
was often called upon to pay his gambing-debts.
and on one occasion, after just discussing large
sum for tina. purpose. ho received bills fJr immense
quantities Of champagne and seventeen brc2dcoth
coats which he had lost at the caTd-t1blc. After
leaving college Poe was sill tolerated il the family,
partly no doubt through the influence Of Mrs. Allan,
who retained an affection for him in spite of his
waywaGduess and pcryer.Ity. Hi' first volume Of
poetry was publ he'd in Baltimore in 1922. Mr.. Stod
darl does not consider it a wonderful production for
IA young man OF twenty, and ii docs not seem to
have attracted much motto, from the pubic.
About Lis time. Poe was admitted a cadet at
West Point. he remained at the Military Academy |
only Eve months, having entirely neglected The !
studies Of the place, and failed at the first eSamina-
ton. Ills intellectual ability was recognized rs al |
vino kuew bin. Inc w4ol bent Of h' mind was
towards criticism, rather towards fault |
finding, which is qlite a different thing lie took !
supreme delight in cayiling at writer's and works of
acknowledged exc Hence One OF ms associates at
West Point remarks that he never heard him speak
in praise of any English author living or dead. At
this time he hal done no,hi1g in literary way of
any importance. lie was TOO idle to take much
pans with anything, and too dS,ipated 10 be ambl-
tons lie now da0k brandy instead Of cham
ragnc hi favori.e D)tl ion at coll &C. and sell
dom without bottle Of the best that could be
snugolcd into his room. IL shattered his nerves.
and made bin look much older than he was
Af,cr hi, dismissal from West Point lie is SAID to
have returned to the house Of Mr. Allan, who had in
Tho meantime married a second wife, but was soon
disc9idel Ly his bcnclactor, who died three years
afterwards leaving three children to inherit his
large fortune. IN 1855 Poe became = contributor
20 the South IN Literary MESSENGER and in the
sane year took up Ii, residence ia Richmond. In
few months ne installed editor Of that Maya
zine bu evirccd little aptitude or taste for the posi-
ton. He would ll a vacant space with productions |
OF Lis own that had already been printed forgetting
TO mention the fact, and which. Nj. SJoddaId |
quantity remarks, were very useful to him when |
not in the mood for writing, and never
host their usefulness while he alive"
Poe is represented rs destitute of the catholic
ity of taste and sweetness of temper essential to the
making of a good editor. He was dO-matic and In
solcnt and always in hot water. He had the genius
Of the Celt for creating n row. and made almost
every literary man with whom he came in contact
his enemy. His reviews were usually personal,
and therefore wortble lie had no settled stand
aid OF cr icsm except hat lie was iufail5le, even
when contradictory" His habits Of drinking agra
waited the trouble aud in January 1881, be retired
from the Magazine.
During his stay in Richmond he had mar
ried his cousin. Virginia GLENN, who was as
poor as himself and with no qualification for being
his wife lat sweet face. a gentle temper, and
love for her husband After various removals from |
city to city. Poe At last came TO New-York in 1914
where no had lived short time about six years be-
fore and soon became prominent journalist and
magazine writer. MI StOddard at that time
Just entering upon the poetcal career in which he
has since such honorable distinction and by q
whimsical irony Of circumstances the very superb
GRITTY of his Youthful talents involved him in mis-
understanding with the potent critic. The affair
can be related IN no words but his own.