The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-11-18
EDGAR A. P0ES MONUMENT.
THE DEDICITORY CEREMONIES IN
BlLTIMORE YEsTERDAT
foc's Literary Character and Gcnius-Ipter-
estinE "Reminiscences Of tho Poet-R ufus
w. GriswoiTs Biography Set RiEtt.

W. NrisWotub btoGrNpuy bct htHht.
BALrIMoRE, Nov. 1.-THE ceremonies at
tending the unveiinR and dedication Of tho
monument In memory OF the poet, Edgar Allan
Poe. 10 Westminster church yard took place
this afternoon. The exercises preliminary to tho
unveiling were held In the Western Female
High School, In which bulldog. adjoining the
church ysrd, the initial movement was taken In
October, 1885, TO devise some means best adapt
ed to perpetuate the memory Of one who has
contributed largely to American literature.
The dav was bright an ] In every respect pro-
pitious 10 happy completion OF the exercises.
Before two O'Clock the vast hall OF the school
house was thronged. many unable to obtain
seats standing in the aisles. The platform was
occupied by invited guests, nearly all Of whom
were citizens OF Baltimore, with the exception
OF Walt whitman, who was the only poet pres
ent. Ate15 7. NJ. the exercises began with the
singing OF verdi's Pilgrims Chorus by the Phll-
h.rmonc Society, which was rendered With fine
Prof. WIN. Elliott. Jr.. President OF the Bsiti-
moro CITY College, then delivered q historical
address on the movement to erect the Poe mon
movement to Miss Saran 8. Rioe, PRINCIPAL Of
the Western Female High School. Mr. Elliott
spoke Of the nrst internent OF Poe, on Oct. o.
lsl9. Eight persons only followed the body ot
the poet to the or we, whom to d thousands
have come to honor, an whose genius has de-
lighted the whole world.
Miss sarah 5. Rice then read letters in reply to
Invitations to partlcip,te ia the ceremonies
from William Cullen Rryant Oliver Wendell
Holmes. John G. whittier, MARGARET J. Preston,
lnomas Bailey Aldrich, John @. SAKE, J. G. Hol-
land. James Russell Lowell, Sarah Helen Whit
man, Aired Tennyson, Henry W. Longfellow,
and =. ID. Lewis Of BROOKLYN. Mr.. Lewis. who
was personal friend of Poe from lsi5 up to tho
time Of his death. wrote some Interesting remit
nscences OF the poet. At the close Of his letter
he sdys
or en- nv M an. e ncTp s @ h
truth a most abstcmous and exemplary man. But
Of conyyIn ifierd he took singie glass even of
m sssesS nsed haa .arqSIs M m qss1 1s
OF responsible ior Ill scis Bi biogrsp6efs nave not
sarns eject by " eoaTa% s have @ssacd @ h, errors
nv S G Si as seSn pSsd sUc@.n ae
e99Sos 'GnSa The ~ as Ss ana a1 ne En-, nsTei ora
Prof Henry r. Shepherd, Superintendent OF
the public schools OF II fillmore, followed with
an admirable address on tue genius anc literary
literary or CLASSICAL poets In that ustrious pro-
| cesson that Includes the names OF Milton, Ben
JonsOn. Shelly. and Keats.
Mr.. Joho II. Ii. Lliro6e then gave some per-
| sonal "reminiscences Of Poe. He l. the only sur
chosen by the Baltimore Saturday Re-ietg In
! lSS 10 award prizes for the best poem and tale.
TIE other 'nemters Of the committee were the
late Hoo. John y. Kennedy and Dr. James IL.
| Miller. MIR. Latrooe said he was chosen to open
the packages OF prose and poetry and read the
| contents. He relates how package after pack
age II prose was consigned to the ba iket after
re ding page or dozen lines, until the com
worthy Of prize, when he noticed a = n ali quar-
| to bound book tnat I'D until then escaped at-
tention: 1t contained an envelope with mot
isr., an imitation Of printing, He had
not proceeded far In the reading before
nrst tale finished. be went 70 the second, then 10
the next, and did not stop until he had gone
OF choice, and parts Of the tales were re d
| again, the committee finally selecting Ms.
scent into the Maelstrom' and that wa. at one
time preferred; opening the envelope accom-
panylns The volume ihey found The name OF I'd
In Dr, Griswoid's biography Of Poe that the
| committee UNANIMOUSLY decided that the prize
should be gwen TO the first genius who had
written legibIy," and that mot another TN anu
Griswod's statement that Mr. Kennedy accom-
panied Poe to clothing store and purchased for
Tim respectable sui!, with change OF linen.
! ana sent him 10 bath, IA pronounced By Mt.
| Littobe "A a sheer fabrication.
At the Conclusion Il Mr.. Latrobe's remarks
the assembly proceeded 20 Westminster church.
yard. where the monument was unveiled by Miss
| Rice ana young ladies' who assisted her IN tho
| nrst literary entertainment given ten years ago
| In behalf Of the monument association. The
| PnilbArmonic Association. numbering one hun
dred voices, then chauted the following dirge,
| ton, OF BaltimOrei
Softly sleep. softly sleep.
Sleep sleep 70 slumoerr deep.
over thy grave let the vli Winds uzoAn-
Under this fir memorial stone,
Poet thou eumberest wel.
All thI sorrovs DER, sleep for evermore, sieepI
Peoce aud rest, peace aud rest
o. weary soul, De thinei
Bcst rest 10 eArth's cool 0reAat
| Sheltered from storm SHINE.
| Darkness no more Obscurrs & ~.
| Out OF toe night eternsl day
Beams forth with power divine.
AL TOY sorrovs Ger, sleep for evermors. sleep
| The monument IL Of Maryland marble, stand
| ing with the base about twenty feet nigh. II Ia
| OF simple bat elegant design. with little or
| namentation. On one side there Is media
| bust OF the poet. With the name OF Edgar Allan
| Poe Inscribed beneath On the reverss side tt
| bears ths simple insoription
Born January 30, 1900