The New York herald., 1874-11-29
Edgar Allen Foe.

Richard Henry Stoddard nas mado valuable
contribution 70 English literature BY publication
OF q new edition OF Poe's poems, with an original
me moir. This book is handsomely printed, and
contains some poems that now appear tor the first
time with Poe's lecture on "The Poetic Principle -
and letter written by him in 1881 criticistng hts
own works.
PoE's LIFE AND LINEAGE.
II has always been marvel that so little should
have been known about Poe-n some respects the
nnest genius that our country has produced.
There are many men living who must have known
Poe for he was born In 1908, and n he had stin
lived would have been in the vigor Of
| ripe manhood. But none OF his friends
have cared enough for his memory 70 give us
the true account OF his life. Griswods memoir IL
simply libel. There have been some publlcatio
In England and France. mainly the noble tribute
! Of Charles Baudeaire, but ~ they were msstly
based upon Griswdd they cannot be accepted as
authorities. Mr.. Stoddard supplies this want to .
certain extent. His memoir Is interesting, but
only indicates what might be done In the way OF
life of Poe II any OF our young writer's would
really study the subject We learn from Stoddard
that Poe was the son Of actress. that he came
from . Norman family, that his father was law
student and seems to have been shiftiess being,
who Afterwards took to the stage-the father play
ing comedy parts badly, the mother appearing a.
Juliet or OphelIs- The mother died two years
after the birth OF Edgar, and the jasher
having abandoned the family the children
were left to arm. Edgar was adopted BY
= Mr.. John Allen. OF Richmond, . friend Of the
family. was taken to England when . child, and
spent nve years in Stoke-Newington where he
studied mathematics and the classics. He re-
turned to Richmond, remained at home @ few
years. entered the University OF Virginia in 1928
and led rather . wild life-drinklng, playing
cards and spending $4,000 on gambling. dress
clothes and champagne. Through the influence
OF his adopted father he was admitted 70 West
Point, General Scott and Chief Justice Marshall
signing his application. Here he continued TO
lead the same Wild life, ''preierring brandy to
champagne" encouraging the report that he
was sthe grandson OF Benedict Arnold" and In
1881 WAS sent before o court martial for gross
neglect OF all dutyn and 'disobedience OF ORDERS"
To these charges Poe pleaded guilty and was SEN
fenced to be dismissed the service OF the United
States, the sentence being carried into effect
March Q, 1881.
HARDsHIPs AND FOLLY.
or course this led to his alienation from his ben
eactor, and in 1888 Poe began literary career in
Baltimore. He continued to write and drink and
dssipate, flying from one mood to another until
his DEATH which took place in 1S4s. His theory OF
editing was tnat the people "l0yed bravos,n and
accordingly ne managed to quarrel with all his
associates. In 1874 he came TO New York and as
socated himself with MIR. Willis on the Home
Journal and afterwards with Charles +. Briggs,
on the Broadpdp Journal About this time he
published "The Raven" and when. the editor OF
the Journal, Mr.. Stoddard, made his acquaintance
and describes his visit to him, '.sllght and
pale. with large, luminous eyes, and
dressed In blackn Afterwards he called
upon. him again and had . quarrel
about the authorship OF IAN Ode to . Grecian
Flute" This terminated the acquaintance. II
had gllmpses OF Poe afterwards in the street.,
says Mr.. Stoddard, "but we never spoke. The last
time remember 10 have seen him was In the
afternoon OF dreary autumn day. A heavy
shower had come up suddenly and he was stand.
ing under an awning had an umbrella, and my
first impulse was to share II with MIN, but some
thing-not unkindness. certainly-wrthneld me. I
went on and left him there in the rain, pale, shiv-
ering, miserable, the embodiment Of his own
Unhappy master, whom unmercitul disaster
Followed iast and followed faster"
WILD, SAD DAYS.
In 1S46 he removed to Fordham and lived in Q
little cottage on the hll which stu stands. "The
Bells" was published, az well as 'Annabei Lee."
In this year he visited Richmond. "wnen he got
as far as Philadelphia he fell in with some OF his
old boon companions and was overcome by the
old temptation, being obliged to ask Ior charity as
means Of reaching Richmond" He spent some
time IN Richmond, working Tor Mr.. Thompson;
lor lew days. '.He was next heard OF az .
explaining Eureka to motley crowd Of bar.
room loungers. He returned to his work again
ss%psfsscs san aas sn'S soe'esy ana gave ssesSTs,
wnca was attended the best pee
pnoe ps 0f with lady Whom had Ved
In youth-and who u now widow-and became
engaged to her lie had Du two things g % 90
delpnia and write q preface for 2 volume OF
"a fatch karoH m i'm m we
DEATH OF PoE
.'He started from Richmond on the I'd or 90 OF
but, between trains, unfortunately took drink
with friend. the consequence Of which was
a state OF deIirlum. 1t was the eve OF an exciting
municipal election, and as he wandered up and
the iawiess agents Of some political club and shut
up all night in cellar. The next morning ne
was taken out 10 state o. ,renzy, araggeu ana
loving day he was found IN back room Of polit-
Cal headquarters and removed to hospital. lie was
insensiDie when found, and remained until
Sunday morning, October 7. The doctor and
nurse were with him when he first slowed con-
scIousness. where am 4 y ne asked. The doctor
answered, You are cared for by your best
friends After pause, during which he APP
his SITUATION Poe replied, my best friend would
be the man who would blow out my prains'
on the sth OF october in the burial ground OF the
Westminster church. The funeral was attended
6ya cousin member 81 sne Ssf Ia
| marriage The spot chosen for his grave was
| near tnat OF his grandfather, General Poe."
Mr. Stoddard has done his work well At the
same time the true lie Of Poe remains to be writ
ten, and whoever will do II Will make contrioU-
| ton 10 literature equal to MoOre's Life Of Byron.
Autumn Poetry.
THOMAS b. ALDRICH.
| J.R Osgood d Co. send US q complete edition
of the poect1cal works Of Mr.. Aldricn. This gen.
/ tleman has long been a favorite among American