The New York herald., 1875-11-18
SKETCH OF THE POETS LIFE.
proceedings were ended.

ShETCH OF The POEI
Edgar Allan Poe born in Boston in 1909, or,
others believe, in Baltimore in 1913 His parents
belonged to the stage; but. both dying when he was
young kind-hcarted merchant OF Richmond, Mr.
John Alan adopted the orphan boy and did much for
him. He took him to England and put him to school
there at Stoke Newngton. On returning to America
Poe entered the University OF Virginia 1t is not true,
most of his bographers assert with the exception OF
Mr.. X H. Stoddard, whose Of the poet is cor
rect and painstaking, that Poe after leaving the
university started a visionary mission Europe
help the Greeks to win their freedom; but
he had brother who did, William. Henry
Leonard Poe. Edgar, thirsting for military glory,
was sent to West Point He was as much
a failure there as at the university, and was only
member OF the Cadet corps for six months when he
court martallcd and discharged Mr.. Allan, who
adopted him. bore many OF his eccentric and ex-
travagant habits with extreme patience until finally
he driven to give him up After that Poe lost
sight of for time, until he appeared in Baltimore
writing fugitive pieces for the magazines From the
DAY he embraced a literary life in Baltimore until he
died there twenty years later, his struggles and
misfortunes make the most pitabe and narrowing
history in the literary annals OF America or undoubted
genius .and with wonderful fertility of production he
could least have lived life of competence and
luxury by his pen alone, but he had fatal flaw
his achievements was darkened in the gloomy misery
OF the man.
AS An EDITOR
Poe was an Indifferent editor He lacked catholicity
OF taste and sweetness of temper. He dogmatic,
impracticabe During his residence in Richmond he
married his cousin, Virginia GLENN, who poor
himself and whose chief qualifications for being his
wife consisted in sweet face, gentle temper and
limited love for him. The young couple fitted from
Ds Dali
and York The longest of his hctions ''rhe Mar
rative OF Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket wos pub
llshed in 1888 After this Poe and his wife back
10 Philadelphia from New York. There he took the
editorship of The Genleadns Magazine which was
started by Burton, the actor During his connection
with this publication OF his finest stcrIes "The Fall
OF the House of Usher,n appeared
IL was in lS4l he became acquainted with Dr. Rufus
Wilmot Grswold, who was aiterward TO become his
remcrseless executor and bographer. DR.. Griswold
succeeded him the editor OF GrGhdm's Magazine
Grswold wrote OF Poe in after years, "His manner
except during his hts OF ntoXcaon, was very quiet
and gcntlemanly. He was usually dressed with sim
plicity and elegance and when he sent for me to
visit him during period OF illness, caused by pro-
tracted and anxious watching the side of his sick
wife, was impressed by the singular neatness and
the air of refinement in his home II was small
house in of the pleasant and silent neghborhoods
far from the centre Of the town, and though slightly
and cheaply furnished everything in it tasteful
and Gty disposed that 1t seemed altogether suitable
for of genius. For this and for most of the
forts enjoyed, his brightest in his darkest
who loved him with more than maternal devotion and
WHEN 1.-THE RAVEN" APPEARED
Poe back New York in the autumn OF 1874 Since
his previous residencd here his reputation had largely
increased He became assistant editor to N 7. Willis
In the Of the Mirror and remained with that
periodical for time Subsequently he connected
himself with the broadway Journal which was CON-
menced in 1s45, and edited by Mr. Henry c. Watson,
young Journalist from Philadelphia, and Mr. Charles 4.
Briggs, author Of Harry France" and other stories.
Immediately to this event the most celebrated Of
rod
the February number OF tho american Re
rtcU. The sensation IL created was
great, and, though his name was not attached to H.
those skilled in literary matters detected him as the
author For this unique poem he received the Of
sl0 Al a later period Poe, in paper entitled "Tho
Philosophy OF Composition explained how il
written and seemed disposed to destroy the strange
fascination that haunted the public mind in regard to
the author He explained in effect that IL was a mere
mechanical work and owed nothing to inspiration
feeling But one ever accepted the explanation.
WHERE ''THE RAVEN" WRITTEN,
Tho house where Poe wrote ''The Ravenn stands
n rocky and commanding emlncnce few hundred feet
from the intersection OF Eightyfourth street and the
ST. Nicholas Boulevard formerly the Bloomngdale
road. IL is plain old fashioned double frame dwell
ing two stories high with eight windows on each side
and at either gable IL has pointed roof nanked
by two tall brick chmneys Old and weather beaten
ii arrests the attention OF the pisscrby in neghbor
hood where most Of the houses Of modern
tion and appearance No date be found for
the erection OF this remarkable dwelling which almost
a hundred years back gave shelter TO Washington and
LIS officers. Mrs Mary Brennan who hved there for
forty-seyen years knew u having reputation
for antiquity when she FIRST went into it. IL TO this
lady that Poe the carly part OF tho spring OF 1874
applied tor lodgings during the season. At that umo
tho houses few and Tar betwecn while the prime
val covered much Of the land around, and the
beauty of the scenery was unmarried py rock blasting
and street cutting Poe brought his wiic Virginia. and
his mother n-law Mrs Maria GLENN, 10 board With
him. and Mrs Brennan relates incident tnat hap
pcncl the night Poos arrival, which well cacu
lated 10 make her remember the Poe aud hs
family occupied the on the upper noor In
room down stars Mrs Brennan sat waiting for her