New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-19
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

EDGAR ALLAN POE. By E. C. srEDMAN svo BIOS
ton: Houchton, Mifiin s. COMPANY
Here are further contributions TO the stu lncreas
Ing photography of Poe. critic himself, he seems
the occasion Of endless criticism IN others lie
a,scpssed sumnarily in magazines and he IL DIS
.oo,od N large IN volumes People show their own
canius nv writing abont his. He is regarded as
sort of literary mystery. about whom 1t rs Mt tnat
writers shoud have opinions ana theories we
would not say for that might appear ll'na'u'eo'
that the problem of Poe's lilo and production Is an
easy one TO be solved; hut ia IT too soon TO hnt 'h'
We have hal books enough upon the SUBJECT AZ
rcadyS The bulk is out OF proportion to The SUD
iect, nor is there any reason why Mr. roc sh'"'u
have moro Lives" than John Milton. Nesup-
pose that the real origin Of al! thus iecunoN u ~
he fouud IN the TACT that while Poes literary WORK.
or mnch # it, challenges the intcihSehce
of mankind aud not always easily
comprehendcd, there is n degree Oh persona
interest in ms life and adventures. Nhat carlyle
said Of Madam Won Euse Is true OF Zoe. lie was
and is "a Geographic phenomenon lie therefore
njones persons who IKE 10 exhibit their ceNerheSs
bv discussing their fellow creatures and the coh>e-
oneuce is that we hav" had all these books abont
him. nor is there any certainty that We may not
have many more.
Mr. Ircrau,s Life we NAV commend rs full and
FAITHFUL The author has exhibited uncommon H.
custrv aud patience IL thccOeci0n OF bis materials
The story OF a fll and unhappy career Is toId WIN
extraordinary mInutencsS. from IT. beginning 10 S
tragic close Mir. Ingram IS inclined evidently 10
the side of sympathy and excavation; but ne con
ceals nothing OF importance and goes conrageo"SN
IN with the narrative Of Poe's ufrmi'lcs and ms
fortunes and errors, still asking us c'hei oIcc' VI
Indirectly to be lenlcnt, and making the most oil
whatever was noble IN the character OF tire poet
But those W bo read MT. Migrants memoir with the
greatest interest will Lot perhaps greatly a!ter
Their estimate of POe's character. That his NINA
was singulariv Unbalanced; that the Vehem"hcc oi
his critical faculty often led him INTO II Jushce'
that he was a man for whom IL WAS Impossible 10 90
much. and upon whose persistence IN any eStao-
hshed path of industry 1t was unsafe 10 r'lS iHa'
ne had combined with talents of an uncommon ordci
q tendency 10 Ii erary trek and myStlhcadon-al'
THIS Mr.. Iugram's book makes more certain IL
possible. than IT was before. What Poe might have
been and might have done If the way OF his lie had
been WISE We know now better than ever; but We
also know better that either he could not or wOuld
not employ his wonderful abilities TO the best pur'
pose and that bis remarkable talents were nj Tue
mercy of a nature which brooked no control ana OF
q Temperament which led TO intellectual waste ana
iregulated labor. We sorry to say It, but sncu
is the conclusion TO Which Mr.. lngrams most inter-
cstlng book leads US.
MI. Stedma ans monograph has the advantage OF
time BETRAYED into any undue admiration OF ms
hero. There is 10 attempt at afiectonatc conceal
ment The nature Of Poe is spoken OF as " the most
irving and pnrOllabe that ever pooi possessed;
that ever possessed poet"; his temper as uhqnlet
and capricIOuso There a scornful petthe's
that made MIN hard TO help. and drove nm 10
quarrel with his patient, generous friends, ana TO
wage Iguohle conflicts with enemies OF ms own
making" and he too frequently "reSorted to
stlnulanis Hhcb he knew would madden and beSot
him more in n other men" He mad his msfortunes.
but Mr. Stedman says that they were less thaa
those OF some men who have conquered misfortune
Others have been castaways in infancy and friend
less in mani ood and have found no protectors such
as came at his need. Others have struggled and
suff,r red, and have declined TO wear thor hearts
upon their sleeves. They have sought consolation
In their work. ana from their cruelest experiences
have wrung its strength aud glory. Inc literary
crit Icism of Mr. Stedman's brochure Is not Dehhd
that which is personal Great praise is extended to
Poe's short purely ideal eff RS, hut 1t Is acknoWi-
edged that he lacked sustained power of inven-
hon. this beng proved not bv his failure to com
pete an ex ended work. but by bis underestimaton
of lis value" lie lacked the growing pow
AMI sustaining power of Hawthorne" HIS
literary criticisms were waSpsh and I'M
fair: lie had small respect for the fee ing that
it well for a critic 10 discover BEAUTIES since
any one can POINT out faults" HIS satire has an
"ohvious feiocitv' so that lone insilucuYcy lakes
part with tha vict m" " With nuI," II Is sad, " an
end justified the means and he had conception
of he law and limitations OF liberty, 10 practIcaI
sense of n .ht and wrong" His " lack cf will was
inherent" 1t " was weak from the beginning" 1t
"b.camc more and more reduced 10y those hab;s
which of al, the offences OF a noble mind, attack
this 1t onPhuld first
1t viii he seen that Mr.. Stcdmans estimate of Poe
Is strctly critical and not loosely laudatOry. We
might venture TO add something OF our own to IT,
but surely about this waywaId and unfortunate
man of letters there has bccH quite enough written
already.
IARr Weekly os'raieq eyle eon Paris London New"
The present quarterly volume of this jour
nal wed established IN popular I@vor Is less inter-
estjng than usual. whether CONSIDER tue text or the
Illustrations. The text contains 10 hOtauie arIce az
thongh MI W. o. Tn.tram's account Of the late
Henry Merritt; NJ We on's biographical and en,i-
cal sketch OF Tueodul, Ribot; MI Charles Yrarte's
repor Oh The present Of the repairs OF the Faca &c OF
San Marco; and the R-view OF toe ExuiD ton OF the
salon b. Nj P0ppe Burtg all contain matter interest
ing TO red the Il ustrations 'here are GER
faInly two that lover OF good thin2s would
be sorry TO MSS But tis failure TO come 40 10 the
s,aLdard set by the journal itself only Occas oaa-
that II should and then indeed only IN the
nare OF things For supply of good material that
shall be at the same tine lew, Is not con
slant; and although there is a plenty OF NE
things that are Old yet the aim OF
this publication, not being retrospective but |
10 record what dong today tie ed or strives as Tar
rs possible provide his readers VITA gnupses al
least OF what each week brings forth in the world u
Arr And as IT often happens that the week brings
forth lee or nothing the harvest reaped by the enter
prl.lug editor ls scauty one; and such We ma IL