New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-20
SCRIBNER.

A paper of leading interest in this number
is Mr. E. c. Stedmau's essay ON Edgar Poe which will
be read with admiration both exquisite study Of
the genius and character Of Poe and profound discus
sion Of tho principles Of literary art and ethical con-
duct The vital germ in Poes spiritual organization is
described by Mr. Stedman the impassioned sense OF
beauty. No man ever lived who was so en-
thralled by an devotion TO loveliness His
worship OF the beautiful was idOlatrv. This
perfect conservation tho absolute Of beauty
made him intoerant Of every mixture in Its presenta
ton. whether Of eentimeltaIism, morals or meta
physics Hence he could never be entirely content with
Emerson, LonRelIow. Lowell, or Hawthorne He took
interest whatever In the question Of moral tendency
BE had perception OF the identity close knship Of
beauty and truth. He had not learned that divine
perfection may be reached either path His
tce Of the fitness Of things and when he put
aside forgot the unseemness Of the 1t seems
indeed a tragedy, as 10 80 well expressed IN Mr.
etedmans heartbreakiug words, that "a SO
ideal unit FOR CONTACT with uRliness. duness, brutal
iy should have come TO cat husks with the swine to be
misused by their human eountefpars, aud to die the
death OF the druHkaFd In the refuge which society
Offers to the most f0rlOrn and hopeless OF tia cast
aways" In the spirit of foe and tender charity Mr.
stedan deals gently with the faults OF Poe Although
many who knew him and even befrierded him, have
spoken freely Of his degrading excesses Mr.. stedman
fnssts that he not man OF immoral habits. Com
pared with the usual men OF the world he was model
projected by his love Of the ideal and his habits
Of Study from sensual debasement Woman was 10 him
me mpersonston Of celestial beauty and her pres
ence he gentle WANING, and refined. There
IN unchae suggestion 10 the whole range OF his writ
inss. Hts works. indeed. are almost too spirit
uai Not Of the earth, their personaRes meet
with the rapture OF dissmbodled spirits. II is
inst says Mr. Btedman that well balanced minds should
rebake tho failngs Of genius But instead Of dwelling
upon their recital with mischieycus pleasure let them
be prosscted by the sympathy which springs from the
consciousness Of human narmlty. stiI, making every
allowance Mr. stedmHn maintains. Pos terribly IN
fault He stood good fortune more poorly than bad.
Any emotion would upset him, and his falls were
with success jus, In sight ne was not born without
acetsn and soul but his dream Of the world that of
iordy pleasgrehose IN which taste and love should
rtgn supreme with him the era justified the means he
had no conception Of the Law Limitations Of liberty
no practical sense OF right This, ne Mr. stcdman
grandiy argues she original sin OF Edgar Poe "a
be jest in order to fesr not humane that
he nsy be loved he must be faithful TO some moral
standard OF his own; otherwise his house, however
beautiful and iorly, IL founded in the sand" Among
other articles, the number contains " Tho Younger
Painters OF America By William C. Brownell, the
second chapter OF the Growth Of Wood OUT Printing"
by T. l. De vInne ''The Kew-Y0rk Seventh" By Clar-
snce G. Buei, with ths continuation of the reEuar
Serials aud poems BY Clarence Cook Celia Thaxter and
etiiernL