The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-09-23

In discussion of the mental condition
| OF Edgar A. Poe, in Scribner for October,
under the title OF "A Mad Man of Let
ters," Mr. +. G.. Fairfield gives the fol-
lowing conflicting accounts OF the com.
position OF "rhe Raven"
Another fact that seems to witness to
his epIleptic condition is constituted by
the habitual lying that marked the later
and bestknOwn part OF his career. One
instance must illustrate the many. ]
shall take 1t for granted that the general
reader is familiar with that remarkable
analytic paper in which he describes the
composition OF "The Raven" and the
plan upon which it was constructed.
American literature contains nothing
cleverer in its way, and Its cleyerness is
manifold enhanced when it is under
stood that 1t is simply and unequivocally
fiction, as the actual circumstances. .un-
der which The poem was written con-
clusively show.
Poe then occupied a cottage at Ford
hama kind of poets nook just out of
hearing OF the busy hum OF the city. lie
mad walked all the way from New YORK
that afternoon, and, having taken cup
of tea, went out i'll the evening and
wandered about for an hour orsmore.
His beloved Virginia was sick almost
unto death; he was without money to
procure the necessary medicines. He
was out until about ten O'Clock. When
he went in he sat down at his writing
table aud dashed off 'The Raven" He
submitted it to Mrs. Clemm for her
consideration on the same night, and
it was printed substantially as it was
written.
This account OF the origin of the poem
N n mo n ful pf
1865 by gentleman who professed to be
indebted TO Mrs. GLENN Tor the facts as
he stated them; and in the course of a
saunter in the South in the summer of
1861, | took occasion to verify his story
by an interview with that aged lady.
Let me now drop Mrs. Clemm's version
for paragraph to consider another,
resting upon The testimony of Colonel
du Sole, who was intimate with Poe at
this period, and concurred in by other
literary contemporaries who used to
meet him oil midday for budget of
gossip and glass OF alc at Sandy Welsh's
cellar in Ann street.
Du. Sole says that the poem was pro-
duced stanza by stanza at small inter-
walls, and SUI mitted by Poe piecemeal to
the criticism and emendation of his in
Inmates, who suggested various altera-
llOuS anu ouUSlltuIlOuos Oc tuODIGu
many OF them. Du Sole quotes particu-
lar instances OF phrase That were in
corporated at his suggestion, and thus
"TUe Raven" was a KIND OF joint-stock
affair Ill which many minds Aeld small
shares OF intellectual capital. Al length,
when the last stone had been placed in
position and passed upon, the structure
was voted complete.
The reconciliation of these conflicting
versions lies, possibly, in the bypothe-
sis that he wrote the poem subtantially,
as stated by Mrs. Clemm, and alterward,
WITH the snrewd idea OF stimulating eX-
pectation little, or by way of subtle
and delicate flattery, submitted it to his
friends stanZa by stanza. adopting such
emendations and suDstitutions of phrase
as tickled his ear or suited his fancy.
Such alterations would scarcely affect
the general tenor OF the text, as Mrs.
Clemm first heard it, and, considering
the length OF The poem, appear to have
been very few and of small Importance,
granting all that Colonel du Sole CLAIMS.
Besides, it was like him to amuse him.
self in this way, hoaxing his friends, and
then laughing in his sleeve at them.