The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1875-11-20
Letter from Baltimore.
BALrIMoRE, November 18th, 1916.

ed to the memory OF Edgar Allan POe,lyh0se
fame as poet and writer, as scholar and NAN
of extraordinary genius has already gained M
mortality, took place this afternoon at Westmins
ster Presbyterian Church on W. Fayette street.
There was quite large attendance and the cere-
monies especially imposing. George W Childs,
ESQ.,, of the Philadelphia Ledger donated this
exquisite memento. He was present at the I'M
yelling and many other distinguished literary
gentlemen A full account of all that took place,
description, etc., will be in our daily papers of
this afternoon EUening Ne,os) and Tomorrow.
There is no doubt of Poe having been an acc0u-
plshed scholar and extraordinary genfss
knew him quite we'll as did John Howard Payne,
author of ''Sweet Home" etc. Ny last recOllec-
ton and personal interview with Pee vas in
Philadelphia some few months before bis death.
Myself and some friends had gone to tie wharf
opposite Jersey City-"Walnut street'I think
is called-and whilst waiting there oil business,
espied a forlorn, disconsolate looking person,
badly clad, ragged, dirty, sitting silatly and un-
noticed on an old log We approached him and
commenced conversation. He apparel to be in
q dreamy stupor, the result oil hebriation.l
soon recognized him as Edgar A. Poe and spoke
kindly to him. He raised his lead and as
caught the glance of his piercing intelligent eye,
enquired where he was going and what were
his desires. He said he wantd to go to New
York to fill a literary engagement, but had no
money to pay his fare or meet necessary expenses
after he reached that metropolis. The boat was
soon to start We sympathized With the unfor-
tunate poet, put our hands in ourpockets, raised
him ten or twelve dollars, paid hs passage and
put him on board the steamer. This was the
last ever saw of Edgar Allan POI He died
few months afterward in poverty, seeped to the
very dregs. There was something in him, to-
gether with our high appreciation his rare tai
ents which made US feel happy in tie accidental
privilege of doing what we deemed kind act to
one, who though abusing his noble nature and
gifted prerogatives, was still an objed OF adGira-
ton and sympathy His mortal remains have,
until now, slept in humble quetuce and I'M
noticed At last deserving tribute has been
paid to him which will be enduring as ;lss OAR
ble rejecting honor upon Col. Childs, from
whose generous magnanimity and opulence the
exquisite monument unveiled to-day to Pos
memory will stand in honor of both. There is
something beyond the power Of language to por-
tray in the spirit which thus sees in forgotten or
neglected mortality, that mate germ, like the
hidden diamond, when brought to light shows
its pure qualities and virtues. P0e's was truly a
master spirit, though dimmed on earth by, per
chance uncomfortable faults and foibles, still
lives immortal in the memory of his appreciative
have been fully realized before he sunk so low in
enslavement to dissipation and that assisting
hearts and hands could have come forth whilst
he still lived TO save him from the pitifu vortex
that engulTed his mortality. 1t is fault of err
ing humanity that it does not think and act soon
enough to aid and save hayward brothers on the
downward career Of life's pathway until their
journey is ended when sympathy comes too late
to benefit the living. Better give bread aud
meat and raimeut to those in need encourage
them 70 better deeds and reformation, to sobriety
and usefulness whilst existing among Us, than
pile marble monuments mountain high over their
graves, their inanimate dust. If, however, the
former cannot be done, it is we'll to do the latter
thus perpetuating virtae merit and genius though
each may have been ephemerally dimmed and
clouded by faults claiming forgiveness. This is
the first time the incident above related of Poe
ever found its way into print though there
doubtless may have been Others somewhat similar.
In one of my recent letters | noticed the i'm
provemens now progressing and completed with
in the northern suburban region Of Baltimore,
out north Charles street, this side and beyond
Boundary avenue in Baltimore County, or what
is termed the "belt." | observe further that our
enterprising architect aud builder, Michael Roche,
ESQ, whose name | previously connected with
the improvements mentioned is about commence
ing four more superb houses-one of them dou-
ble-on the northwest corner of Boundary ave-
cue and north Charles street, in Baltimore coun-
ty. He intends, very soon, laying the founda-
ton Of several others, contiguous, also in the
county. These when completed will add over
one hundred and fifty Thousand dollars more to
the taxable basis Of your county. They will
command, probably, $15 900 apiece on the aver
age, be Of the very latest and modern style -
During next spring and summer-or next year
he expects to 60 on improving almost indefinite
~ in that vicinity. Added to bis own capital in
these enterprises is also the large means of several
others of our most oppuent citizens who cooper
ate with him The fact that improvements so
desirable are going forward in the region men
toned, is conclusive evidence that our Baltimore
city authorities should turn their earnest atten-
ton to the speedy opening OF St. Paul. north
Calvert and North Streets out 10 the boundary
line on Boundary avenue. Laborers are now 1t
work grading north Calvert street. They are
encroaching rapidly on the old Howard mansion,
memorable landmark Of probably sixty years
standing, called "Belvidere, " and it will soon
disappear forever giving place to new improve
mens. Some portions of st. Paul street. north
wardly towards the Falls, are being graded, and
grounds contiguous preparatory to opening other
streets and building thereon, are also undergoing
excavation and grading processes. All these
when opened with bridges across the Falls will
make straight, commanding, superb avenues for
drives, etc. and afford ample facilities for travel
to and fro 10 that rapidly growing suburban re-
gion towards which population is gradually
tending ircm the interior and more thicky set
tied business portions of our city. Maryland
avenue next adjoining, west OF Charles street, is
opened and bridged bey oud the boundary. This
is very fne street and is being rapinly built
upon a considerable distance cut in The county
Mr.. Lind, a we'll known architect, in company
with Mr.. Denmead and others, large capitalists,
are also putting up many admirable and valua-
BILE residences in the region here referred to, thus
giving still more substantial aid to your county
Treasury ia the way OF taxable basis within the
"bet." Our Baltimore city authorities cannot
too soon turn their especial attention to the open
ing and bridging of all these streets running into
the county or to the boundary line.
There is no very special news worth noticing
to-day. Political matters have agreeably sab
sided. There are doubts whether anything will
be done at this session OF the Legislature towards
the recent election frauds in Balti-
more. 1t is supposed John Gill, Esq, OF Bati-
more, will be prominently put forth as Speaker
OF the House of Delegates He is very intelli-
gent, clever, promising young gentleman and
rising favorably. Dr. E. j. Chasty is likewise
spoken of in that connection. Baltimore is most
likely to get the Speaker.
Hon. S. Teackle Wallis has returned enjoying
greatly improved health He seems very well
satisfied with the situation and hopes for good
results even thus far, from the Reform move
ment.
Our municipal government moves on quite
smoothly under Mayor L4trose's al ministraton.
The trial of police officer MCDenAld for killing,
some months ago, colored man named Dan'l
Brown by shooting him with q pistol, is now
ia our Criminal Court 1t will,
probably, occupy all week and part of next, ulti-
mating, perhaps, in verdict Of manslaughter.
1t excites much interest as tending to show what
rights policeman has to Justify him in taking
life, or how far he may go in the discharge Of
his duties.
John E. Owens, with a beautiful young lady
Of Washington, miss Miunet Sherwood, her non
de plume, are soon to appear at Ferd's Opera
House here 1t will be nearly the first appear
ance on the stage of this highly gifted lady
She is OF excellent family EgsToR.
Letter from the slipper End"
RAYvILLE, November 18th, 1875.
Editors Union Having seen nothing from
the pen of your special correspondent, "Pickles,
of Rayville," for some time, thought would
drop you line on matters and things in gen.
eral. The weather is very pleasant and farm
ers are nearly through with their Germ husk-
ing, buckwheat threshing, potato digging, &c.
The corn and buckwheat crops are good, but