The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-04-18
An Episode IL, the LIre q a poet.
BY j. N. BARTH0L0w.

EIEMNgA. Z ISL zoo
Let me give you an inauspclotls in
cident in the life of Edgar Allen Poe,
which | CHANGED to he witness of
during residencein the city OF Saltl-
more and which your spelling bee, and
particularly the word "alcohoP as
"given out" at its last tourney, recalls
prominently 10 mygmlnd.I AZ
Poe's mastery irregularity tyou may
think that word "masterlyp QuiXOtic
in this connection, but it amt
your buryin', and I'm going to
have it my u wny)A@ Was tstrong
drink, and even as boy l was
wont to appear in that "nighied color"
of the mind, of which Gertrude, the
queen-mother of Hamlet, speaks, at
beholding this brilliant young man
dissolving the pearl of his genius in
the cup of Bacchus "a presumptious
young sprite at my ltow, who habitu-
ally proianes my penmanship with the
most scandal0us commentaries, says
that cup of Bacchus looks to her like
cut of tobacco Such audacity! shall
immediate her. From this, then, you
may perceive how ardent my
desire was that from such in
tellects, at least,sg this liquid
sting should be held as was the water
from the tabled Tantalus, and at every
exertion of my hero, to fight down the
tempter, | was buoyant with all a
child'ss pure and. fresh enthusiasm,
hoping for his vanquishment of the
despuiler. Specifically was this the
case when once, after terrible
lapse, he rose from his horrible
surrender to struggle with the monster.
1t was like the meeting of two arch
angels in mortal fray! How the Image
of his face on that day rises before me!
Its pathetic grace, all expression when
it always wore, but which seemed to be
etherialized into a mere touching
beauty after his gross orgies, was rare
interest to me as | watched him for
many hours in his glorious resistance
to the demon--a resistance in which
his spirit appeared to be fortressed by
the invulnerability of Milan steel.
To all the convivial invitations OF
his boon companions, he would make
the same cfeai~ringng, infiexibie mo-
In passing a saloon he would close his
eyes or avert his head. Even the de-
cOying glitter of windows, in when
were displayed trophies of Pomona,
such as peaches or cherries STEPPED IN
stimulants, would be avoided. Al
every point he met his subtle enemy
with dauntess crest. Finally haV-
ing mastered to some extent, his Merry
thirst, he was retracng his steps home
ward when the eadence ofyoung, voices
coming from an open scho0lroom door
attracted him, and hating in front OF
the entrance he saw that the occupants
were resolved into committee OF the
whole, in spelling match. The blrd-
like voices and the sweet cherublc
faces of the little ones We're an encpaht-
ment to him. Fatal captivation! I'M
mediately OH being seated his alien
ton was called to some fruit which
was arranged Oh the tutors desk ana
behind them small glass partially
filled with what appeared to be discoi.
ored water. The incongruity OF so dis
turbingan element asffuit IN a school-
room, provoked Poe to of the teach
er the objectiof its presence
'Ohm exclaimed that functionary,
'that is my most effective ally in pre-
serving the interest of my little
charges in their photography" This,
he continued, elevating an orange ana
speaking with an intonation designed
to be heard by the acutely eager up,
turned faces, as well rs the mystiiied
Inquirer, iIthis Is for the girl or boy
who spells correct the most words
The peach is for the next best, the APP
pie for the third, and this (raising
wine glass containg small quantity
mber- coloretl fiuid--adelicate, harm
less aine) Is for stse enext." As the
glass wss replaced poe's eyes, with
lightning glance, wandered over the
faces of The children. He saw
their every liniment incandeseen'
with desire. Instantly his own
lace was as white as cere-cl0th. Hi'
soft beautiful dark eyes were misty
with tears and = shuddering like
frightened child, and with a moar
upon bis lips, like the cry of the los
when no. one ia near, he suddenly