The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-09-25
The Allen Mansion, RieImond.
A correspondent recently visited

! a correspondent recently visited tho
Allen Mansion, in Richmond, Va., and
gives the following description of tho
room where Poe wrote the Craven"
and other of his pieces.
Ihe room was large, spacious, and
papered i'll the tlorid style of by gone
age. Two large windows looked to
the southward, giving egress to a wide
covered balcony, with sanded floor.
That part Of the James river thickly
obstructed with little green islands is
visible from here, while beyond lies tho
pretty city Of Manchester. But within
the room all was emptiness, desolation,
and the spirit Of despair. Here it was.
when III Richmond, that Edgar Allen
Foe read, studied, thought, and wrote.
producing many or those wonderful
creations Of genius which challenged
the admiration Of the world. raised
one OF the high windows, pushed open
shutter, Which resisted crcak .ngly my
effort to make it performed Il function
for which it had long been unused, and
stood upon the long wide balcony.
Gazing down over the railing, saw an
enclosure which gave evidence Of hay
ing once been one Of Fl0ra's favorite
hooks. 1t was laid out in labyrinthian
paths, D>rdercd with the evergreen box
which is 80 plentiful and luxuriant.
But now, large lig trees, Grape myrtleS,
50 tenderly cared for, and doubtless
fondly looked upon by the poets beauty
loving eyes, are trying To conquer an
existence in au unequal strife with wild
unfriendly weeds as tall us themselves.
l descended IL flight of rclkety stairs
leading into this forsakon garden, To
gather few mementoeS of my visit
from this once blooming and fragrant
Mrtcrre, and then, rctracing my steps,
toiled up into the garret to see if per
chance L could find anything more
closely Identified with the personality
OF the poet. There before me Oh the
garret floor in piles and scattrrod hith-
er and thither in promiscuous disorder
was Il mass of rubbish That must have
been ages in accumulating. Fragments
OF books picked up, one after another,
searching the pages to see If any Of
them bore his name. Here was part
OF All old lliad. There were dainty en-
vclopes with daintier waXen seals. such
as were fashionable in those DAYS, in
dorsed in delicate writing. There were
bills from Richmond, New York, and
Baltimore merchants, in the name OF
foster-father Allen. Here was a copy
Oh Ihe Columbia Mugazi,e, and very
likely Poe wrote for tnat, but his name
does not appear n this eQRXt III Etfftr Es!ttftn,
blonde, and lace. 1t had enyironed tho
daintiest Of waists in its day, and hid
den a heart bounding with the happy
emotions Of youth and love.
Outside, the fine old Allen Mansion
bears the perceptibie tokens Of neglect
and decay. The window-glass in many
places is shattered, and shutters are
tumbling from their fastenings, the
fence is falling down piece-mcal, the
gate drags heavily Oh single hinge,
paths are ovcrgrowu with grass and
weeds, flowor-beds are obliterated,
while sounds OF love and merriment arc
alien to the place. The kind old foster
parents arc dead and gone, and tho
prodigal 80 often welcomed there with
JOY and pride, and yearneh for with
broken hearts. crosses its threshold
"neVermOro."